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.
Had a flash of mad inspiration
And just the bestest of intention
Oh but that's the blood that you need to bleed
Yes that's the mother of invention
When you've had it with the aggravation
And you're swamped up in the complication
Just nothing but the road to ration
Sing!
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Oh!
Here come
In my past life I was a woman's soldier
And yes I was once a woman's slave
Oh I've been roaming all over for ages babe
Ain't gonna make it in just one day oh no
When you've had it with the aggravation
And you're swamped up in the complication
Just nothing but the road to ration
Sing!
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Broke my back for the pharaoh
Rolling limestone from the mine
But baby I built those pyramids
Oh just a one brick at a time
When you've had it with the aggravation
And you're swamped up with the complication
Just nothing but the road to ration
Sing!
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
With all your trenches empty
And all your martyrs gone
If you've been going through that heaven baby just keep going
Your capital is trouble
And command been overthrone
With your last hand on your last maybe
Baby just keep going
Yeah
99 percent
99 percent
99 percent
Oh
99 percent
99 percent
Yeah
99 percent
99 percent
Yeah
99 percent
Ooh oh
And just the bestest of intention
Oh but that's the blood that you need to bleed
Yes that's the mother of invention
When you've had it with the aggravation
And you're swamped up in the complication
Just nothing but the road to ration
Sing!
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Oh!
Here come
In my past life I was a woman's soldier
And yes I was once a woman's slave
Oh I've been roaming all over for ages babe
Ain't gonna make it in just one day oh no
When you've had it with the aggravation
And you're swamped up in the complication
Just nothing but the road to ration
Sing!
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
Broke my back for the pharaoh
Rolling limestone from the mine
But baby I built those pyramids
Oh just a one brick at a time
When you've had it with the aggravation
And you're swamped up with the complication
Just nothing but the road to ration
Sing!
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na Na-na-na
Na-na-na-na-na-na
With all your trenches empty
And all your martyrs gone
If you've been going through that heaven baby just keep going
Your capital is trouble
And command been overthrone
With your last hand on your last maybe
Baby just keep going
Yeah
99 percent
99 percent
99 percent
Oh
99 percent
99 percent
Yeah
99 percent
99 percent
Yeah
99 percent
Ooh oh
Lyrics submitted by BettyBlueTU
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