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.
Suddenly lost inside a fantasy
Everything not quite what it seems to be
Slipping and falling through the looking glass
Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey (prey, prey, prey)
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
Taking the blue pill only made you cry
And all that the red pill did was make you forget why
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
Everything not quite what it seems to be
Slipping and falling through the looking glass
Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey (prey, prey, prey)
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
Taking the blue pill only made you cry
And all that the red pill did was make you forget why
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
They watch and they feed
They take what they need
They bite as you bleed
The birds of prey
You disappear with the dawn
You only see what you want
There is no right, there's no wrong
You only see what you want
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
When you're out with the birds of prey
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This song has several meanings for me, I do agree with the take that it's about peer pressure.
More in depth, it's about experiencing something that we perceive as immoral, while the song tells that it only depends on your perspective, because in essence ={Slipping and falling through the looking glass--living it instead of observing-- Catching a glimpse at all that lies behind the masks--seeing the realness behind appearances--} the experience is amoral, just like instincts. This song gives me a feel of sin, and also animal tendencies (not related to spirit), thus carnal impulses.
It makes me think of vultures. (This actually happened.) A vulture will sense a dying creature and it will shadow it, and jump at it at its weakest or mortal phase. Even if it is a child. (search: African+child+vulture+photo) {They watch, feed, take what they need, bite as you bleed}
I also see it as a metaphor for real people such as people among the peer pressure, and even inner demons such as tendencies that drive us to indulge uncontrollably but I don't want too go spiritual, because it's a bit more far fetched. There are people who can cause us to self destruct, and these can also be our birds of prey.
The blue pill allows us to remain in our default stage--being of innocence, discontent, or whatever. The red pill is the pill of "hyper" consciousness. It frees you from remorse or morality, you're disconnected to your solid lines between right and wrong, just like the drunker some people get, the blurrier their reasoning becomes. So you start acting more by impulses {you only see what you want}.
In conclusion, the abstract lyrics make me think of the birds of prey as vultures, peer pressure, narcotics (being under the influence--alcohol included), and simply doing something that is extremely out of your element be it excessive laziness, pleasuring activities, or means to an end (fame, fortune, etc...).