The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Let me reintroduce myself
As a man with a cause
I've had a lot of time to think
And look at who we are
And I've got nothing left to say
But we've got to carry on
And I've got so much left to do
But I'll start with this song
Why do they lie?
Why can't you see?
Get up everybody
Stand up with me
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Stand up with me!
Let's go!
Take the world with me
You've got something on your mind
But you get in your way
Don't tell us tomorrow
You better buy change today
And all we have is who we are
And all we know is pretending
You gotta think of something real
Save the life worth spending
Why do they lie?
Why can't you see?
Get up everybody
Stand up with me
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Stand up with me!
Let's go!
Take the world with me
So if you've got a torch to carry
Hold it high!
And take the world with me
Let it burn, let it burn, let it light up the sky!
Stand up! Get up, let's go
Stand up! You've gotta let them know
Stand up! You've gotta make them see
Get up people! Stand up with me!
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming!
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! So I'll sing!
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming!
Let's go! Everybody!
C'mon everybody, stand up with me!
So let's go! Let's go!
Take the world with me!
Let's go!
As a man with a cause
I've had a lot of time to think
And look at who we are
And I've got nothing left to say
But we've got to carry on
And I've got so much left to do
But I'll start with this song
Why do they lie?
Why can't you see?
Get up everybody
Stand up with me
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Stand up with me!
Let's go!
Take the world with me
You've got something on your mind
But you get in your way
Don't tell us tomorrow
You better buy change today
And all we have is who we are
And all we know is pretending
You gotta think of something real
Save the life worth spending
Why do they lie?
Why can't you see?
Get up everybody
Stand up with me
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Stand up with me!
Let's go!
Take the world with me
So if you've got a torch to carry
Hold it high!
And take the world with me
Let it burn, let it burn, let it light up the sky!
Stand up! Get up, let's go
Stand up! You've gotta let them know
Stand up! You've gotta make them see
Get up people! Stand up with me!
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming!
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! So I'll sing!
Let's go! Everybody!
Let's go! Tell 'em we're coming!
Let's go! Everybody!
C'mon everybody, stand up with me!
So let's go! Let's go!
Take the world with me!
Let's go!
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
ha.ha i was about to post this lyrics but gee someone alredy did it =) anyways... awesome song Cartel never stops amazing me... =) they are awesome.... i think this song is about realizing that we have (or they ) have some much more left to do..in our(their) lives... idk =)
This song fer sure redeems Cartel from the wreck the sophomore slump that was their self titled album. I cannot wait for Cycles.
it wasnt that bad but it wasnt that good either... i enjoy listening songs like Wasted..and some others but Cycles looks like its going to be way better that the self-titled...=)....
Brilliant song. I have high hopes for Cycles.
love cartel and love this song...they are amazing makes me wanna bring ppl together!! =]
I think this song means people are pretending to be something they aren't and its not getting them anywhere! You need to speak up and say what you are thinking and do what you want to do and not just live a lie because it wont get you anywhere in life
Some of you are saying it has something to do with having strong will power. I don't understand how you missed the biggest clue...
"Let me reintroduce myself As a man with a cause I’ve had a lot of time to think And look at who we are"
Clearly he isn't talking about self here, rather the collective whole (everyone). Why would his cause be about self? Makes no sense coming from Cartel.
The second biggest clue is he says: "Why do they lie Why can’t you see Get up everybody"
"Why do they lie" First of all who is they and what lie was it? Do you still think its about self or does it seem more like he is trying to say something about a controlling group? "Get up everybody..." Clearly it is about something much more deeper than some ego-satisfying crap.
"So if you’ve got a torch to carry Hold it high Come take the world with me Let it burn let it burn let it light up the sky"
This just makes it all the more obvious he is speaking about standing up against a controlling group that lies to everyone and he is saying don't he scared and come bring them down with me...