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.
Little light, lead us through the night
And if we die, burn down the forest
Chariots, carry us
Distances we don't care to walk
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
Why doesn't anyone I know sleep?
Are they all just scared of their dreams?
When they lay their heads down at night
What are they haunted by?
Why won't anyone just close their eyes?
Could it hurt them to rest for a while?
Do they need their friends to be a lover?
Or a lover to be a friend?
Because I'm on my way to hell
Well, I've tried God knows that I've tried
I'm on my way to hell
One time, two times
Three times again
Sitting duck, running out of luck
Our car's stuck on the train crossing
How am I ever gonna know peace?
How will I ever see your light through the trees?
I want to burn down everything we've begun
I want to kill and eat my young
Because I'm on my way to hell
Well, I've tried God knows that I've tried
I'm on my way to hell
One time, two time
Three time again
I'm on my way to hell
Well, I've tried God knows that I've tried
I'm on my way to hell
One time, two time
Three time again
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
Oft times clouded is the ray
That in heaven beckons me
Oft my wandering heart is lured
On some bypath far from thee
Father, when my footsteps stray
Guide me back into thy way
Father with thee, oh, let me be
On life's highway, god with thee
And if we die, burn down the forest
Chariots, carry us
Distances we don't care to walk
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
Why doesn't anyone I know sleep?
Are they all just scared of their dreams?
When they lay their heads down at night
What are they haunted by?
Why won't anyone just close their eyes?
Could it hurt them to rest for a while?
Do they need their friends to be a lover?
Or a lover to be a friend?
Because I'm on my way to hell
Well, I've tried God knows that I've tried
I'm on my way to hell
One time, two times
Three times again
Sitting duck, running out of luck
Our car's stuck on the train crossing
How am I ever gonna know peace?
How will I ever see your light through the trees?
I want to burn down everything we've begun
I want to kill and eat my young
Because I'm on my way to hell
Well, I've tried God knows that I've tried
I'm on my way to hell
One time, two time
Three time again
I'm on my way to hell
Well, I've tried God knows that I've tried
I'm on my way to hell
One time, two time
Three time again
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
I'm on my way to hell
Oft times clouded is the ray
That in heaven beckons me
Oft my wandering heart is lured
On some bypath far from thee
Father, when my footsteps stray
Guide me back into thy way
Father with thee, oh, let me be
On life's highway, god with thee
Lyrics submitted by cartoon violence, edited by ejtibbs
Noro Lyrics as written by Vincent Accardi
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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If Archers didn't go "the God I believe in never worked on a campaign trail," I might agree with you. Who knows. The feeling I get from a lot of the lyrics (and remember, Vinnie wrote a lot of Daisy, and we don't know who wrote Noro) isn't so much that he lost faith in God, but in organized religion. Like the forest, I kind of see as a metaphor for what other people tell us we should believe, and he wants to see the light beyond that. Someone posted on the Bought a Bride page that an alternate recording of that song has the line "folded up my prayer book, I couldn't see the light," which also makes me think this. Like he isn't finding God in the words of human beings, you know?