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.
There's a picture of a wall across the TV screen
There are people milling 'round on either side
They've been waiting for the border to come tumbling down
Some for years and others all their lives
The guards receive their orders and the keys are turned
Rusty gates swing slowly open wide
And long forgotten dreams and aspirations are awoken
And take to foot to reach the other side
It's just a wall, but it's kept them in for all this time
Just a wall, but either side is prison
Keep them in or lock them out, it's very much the same
But now the times have changed and changing has begun
It's just a wall and now the wall must come undone
There's a fence between my next door neighbor's house and mine
There are two big dogs on leashes and in chains
There are curtains pulled and doorways closed and secrets kept
And iron bars on many window panes
And these neighbors barely manage "how you doing'?
And the boundaries of the houses are clearly drawn
But there's a thicker line that's carried in the air and no one sees it
And there's little can be done until it's gone
It's just a wall, but it's kept us in for all this time
Just a wall, a wall of isolation
Now you see it, now you don't, it's very much the same
But now the times have changed and changing has begun
It's just a wall and now the wall must come undone
There's a picture of a wall inside the mirror
A reflection of the hostages inside
There's a child, there's a victim, there's a fool and there's a friend
And the bars are reinforced with fear and pride
But the wall I built around this heart protected me
It was constructed out of innocence and pain
And now it's taking every ounce of strength I have to pull it down
But I'm determined that it won't be built again
It's just a wall, but it's kept me in for all this time
Just a wall, but its usefulness is ended
Change the world or change the mind, it's very much the same
Nothing changes 'til we're changing one by one
And when we do is when the walls will come undone
Every battle will be won
Every wall will come undone
There are people milling 'round on either side
They've been waiting for the border to come tumbling down
Some for years and others all their lives
The guards receive their orders and the keys are turned
Rusty gates swing slowly open wide
And long forgotten dreams and aspirations are awoken
And take to foot to reach the other side
It's just a wall, but it's kept them in for all this time
Just a wall, but either side is prison
Keep them in or lock them out, it's very much the same
But now the times have changed and changing has begun
It's just a wall and now the wall must come undone
There's a fence between my next door neighbor's house and mine
There are two big dogs on leashes and in chains
There are curtains pulled and doorways closed and secrets kept
And iron bars on many window panes
And these neighbors barely manage "how you doing'?
And the boundaries of the houses are clearly drawn
But there's a thicker line that's carried in the air and no one sees it
And there's little can be done until it's gone
It's just a wall, but it's kept us in for all this time
Just a wall, a wall of isolation
Now you see it, now you don't, it's very much the same
But now the times have changed and changing has begun
It's just a wall and now the wall must come undone
There's a picture of a wall inside the mirror
A reflection of the hostages inside
There's a child, there's a victim, there's a fool and there's a friend
And the bars are reinforced with fear and pride
But the wall I built around this heart protected me
It was constructed out of innocence and pain
And now it's taking every ounce of strength I have to pull it down
But I'm determined that it won't be built again
It's just a wall, but it's kept me in for all this time
Just a wall, but its usefulness is ended
Change the world or change the mind, it's very much the same
Nothing changes 'til we're changing one by one
And when we do is when the walls will come undone
Every battle will be won
Every wall will come undone
Lyrics submitted by bananahero
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Great version of a great song,
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