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.
A man at home with a hammer in hand
Is thinking about his life
Deciding that it would be best
To kill his children and his wife
A woman at home with a ring on her finger
Is thinking about herself
Her husband is a good man
But she has sex with someone else
Oh the thought of what sets a person free
Before I could ever love you back
You gave your love to me
Now I see my sentencing reprieve
You offer me your everything
Even though I am still me
I woman with lots of money
Whose plans were left in doubt
Because of the baby in her womb
So she pays to have its brain sucked out
A man in desperation
A girl in his bed
She doesn't want to make love
So she will get raped instead
Oh the thought of what sets a person free
Before I could ever love you back
You gave your love to me
Now I see my sentencing reprieve
You offer me your everything
Even though I am still me
Thieves and liars
Murderers and whores
Homosexuals, extortionists
Pedophiles, abortionists
Junkies and rapists
Adulterers and terrorists
Every woman, every man
All ransomed by your love for them
Is thinking about his life
Deciding that it would be best
To kill his children and his wife
A woman at home with a ring on her finger
Is thinking about herself
Her husband is a good man
But she has sex with someone else
Oh the thought of what sets a person free
Before I could ever love you back
You gave your love to me
Now I see my sentencing reprieve
You offer me your everything
Even though I am still me
I woman with lots of money
Whose plans were left in doubt
Because of the baby in her womb
So she pays to have its brain sucked out
A man in desperation
A girl in his bed
She doesn't want to make love
So she will get raped instead
Oh the thought of what sets a person free
Before I could ever love you back
You gave your love to me
Now I see my sentencing reprieve
You offer me your everything
Even though I am still me
Thieves and liars
Murderers and whores
Homosexuals, extortionists
Pedophiles, abortionists
Junkies and rapists
Adulterers and terrorists
Every woman, every man
All ransomed by your love for them
Lyrics submitted by eltroyo11
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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there is a site out where Josh explains all the tracks on this album. so I am just going to copy and paste! =] A Man With A Hammer: I thought it would be great to just write a traditional worship song about how big the love Jesus has for his people is. When I sat down to write the first verse, it described a man killing his wife and kids with a hammer. Then I was writing about a woman who aborts her baby so that it won't interfere with her career and a man who rapes a woman who refuses to show him affection. It was all so tremendously dark and bleak, and this amazing light shines on all these grotesque circumstances when we celebrate the fact that for each of these "bad" individuals, the love of Jesus is as strong and beautiful and as all encompassing even in the midst of these terrible things they do, as it is for any other person. It's wonderful to just sing about God's love being great, but when we actually examine how big it is and how deep it runs even for the kind of people we aren't willing to love ourselves, we start to scratch the surface on how wonderful that love truly is.