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.
I'm at war with the world and they
Try to pull me into the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I'm slippin' from your arms
It's getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
I'm at war with the world cause I
Ain't never gonna sell my soul
I've already made up my mind
No matter what I can't be bought or sold
When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
In the dark
I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Try to pull me into the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I'm slippin' from your arms
It's getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
I'm at war with the world cause I
Ain't never gonna sell my soul
I've already made up my mind
No matter what I can't be bought or sold
When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
In the dark
I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
Here, right here
Right now, right now
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Waking up waking up
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21
Awake and Alive Lyrics as written by Brian Howes John Cooper
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like this song. And I'm in agreement that it is about feeling awake and alive in faith with God.
However, just one part of the song always irks me (which is annoying cos this is one of my favourite songs): "I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life"
This is after saying he's awake and alive in his faith with God, but this particular line just comes off to me as "I'm still going to go my own way [and not God's]".
I know what he's getting at, but it just seems like bad wording (to me).
I know what you mean. I saw one live performance though and before he sang this song he stated that he agrees with marilyn manson when they say that they will sing about whatever they want, he said sometimes he feels like singing about his faith in jesus christ because 'this is rock and roll and he's gonna about what he wants'..<br /> This verse made a bit more sence to me when I heard his point of view.
He says "I do what I want cause this is my life" because he's talking to the world, he's saying "Hey, world, I'm not going to do what you want me to do, I'm going to do what I want to do, and I want to live my life for Jesus Christ."
At first... I wondered if maybe it was about Jesus raising from the dead.. Because and "I'll do what I want" and "I'm still going my own way" might be because the devil tempted him, or the pharisees and non-believers. Or.. For a christian, people will tell them its not real.. and not to believe. Saying "Don't tell me what to do... This is my life.. I believe what I want" and "I'll believe in God if I want to thats the way I choose to go"