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.
We are intent only on our own gain
Tune in and avert your eyes to the blank telescreen
They're watching you sleep, telling you to eat
What could be soylent green
Now, now, now look away and go back to bed
They will get what they need
When we sleep, work, and play
When we consume and obey
'Cause we are all born in to a controlled mindset
Godmoney makes a death threat on ethics
Governed by greed and a stale routine
Can we just justify the means if we're
Plugged in, tuned out?
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Get schooled, get married, get it on
Start a family. Hurry, move along
You might start to think, make a different move
Lose your only mind that you've never used anyway
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all to be
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
And look closer in
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all
They want benign complacency
This is where we start to look closer
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Now, now look closer
Tune in and avert your eyes to the blank telescreen
They're watching you sleep, telling you to eat
What could be soylent green
Now, now, now look away and go back to bed
They will get what they need
When we sleep, work, and play
When we consume and obey
'Cause we are all born in to a controlled mindset
Godmoney makes a death threat on ethics
Governed by greed and a stale routine
Can we just justify the means if we're
Plugged in, tuned out?
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Get schooled, get married, get it on
Start a family. Hurry, move along
You might start to think, make a different move
Lose your only mind that you've never used anyway
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all to be
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
And look closer in
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all
They want benign complacency
This is where we start to look closer
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Now, now look closer
Lyrics submitted by themikeman
Look Closer Lyrics as written by Daniel Coddaire Audelio Flores
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I can't believe no one has commented on this song yet...
This song is a major thought piece after you digest the song and think about it as you go through the day.
"telling you to eat what could be soylent green" I had eaten Taco Bell earlier that day, and while I don't think it is anything like soylent green, I didn't really know what I was eating. Even if it was grade A beef, with all of the steriods injected into the meat and bioengineering of the food farm animals eat, I'm not sure that I'm comforted.
"Get schooled, get married, get it on. Start a family. Hurry, move along." Why is everyone so eager to give away their freedom? Marriage & children should be delayed until one is mature enough to handle the outcomes of the decision. At 23, I'm oblivious to the upside of having a kid & career/life at my age, but everyone around me seems to be doing it.
I think the point is a comment on people's willingness to comply & obey, or at least be a complicit bystander, more than it is a political statement.
If you like the lyrics to this song, check out Third Eye Blind "Non Dairy Creamer."