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.
C'mon, hold on tight
Picture yourself in black and white
Tell me does it make you tired
Living in artificial light?
Hey you, happy sad
Comfortable in your confidence
But you're afraid to die when you lay in bed
And you talk to avoid the silence in your head
Dancing on the rooftop of our secret
Why do we pretend there's nothing wrong?
Come on hold on tight
Picture yourself in the flashing lights
You can hear them talk, you can feel their eyes
Feeding your superficial high
Hey you, beautiful dressed
Who are you trying to impress?
When you move your hips you don't look up
But you cannot dance when the music stops
Don't you feel the weight upon your shoulders?
Why do we pretend there's nothing wrong?
(No one here is innocent)
[Chorus]
Send your army of angels (We've lost all sense of direction)
Send your army of truth (Reveal yourself to us)
Send your army of angels (So long we've been disconnected)
Master, what can we do?
Come on, hold on tight
Picture yourself through the camera's eyes
When your script is lost and your knees are tired
The auto-cue shows repeating lights
Hey you, is this the end?
Are you comfortable with the evidence?
Or do you burn your films with a cigarette
Like the leading scenes of an accident
Don't you feel the weight upon your shoulders?
Erase, rewind, pretend there's nothing wrong?
(No one here is innocent)
[Chorus x2.5]
Picture yourself in black and white
Tell me does it make you tired
Living in artificial light?
Hey you, happy sad
Comfortable in your confidence
But you're afraid to die when you lay in bed
And you talk to avoid the silence in your head
Dancing on the rooftop of our secret
Why do we pretend there's nothing wrong?
Come on hold on tight
Picture yourself in the flashing lights
You can hear them talk, you can feel their eyes
Feeding your superficial high
Hey you, beautiful dressed
Who are you trying to impress?
When you move your hips you don't look up
But you cannot dance when the music stops
Don't you feel the weight upon your shoulders?
Why do we pretend there's nothing wrong?
(No one here is innocent)
[Chorus]
Send your army of angels (We've lost all sense of direction)
Send your army of truth (Reveal yourself to us)
Send your army of angels (So long we've been disconnected)
Master, what can we do?
Come on, hold on tight
Picture yourself through the camera's eyes
When your script is lost and your knees are tired
The auto-cue shows repeating lights
Hey you, is this the end?
Are you comfortable with the evidence?
Or do you burn your films with a cigarette
Like the leading scenes of an accident
Don't you feel the weight upon your shoulders?
Erase, rewind, pretend there's nothing wrong?
(No one here is innocent)
[Chorus x2.5]
Lyrics submitted by toadtws
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