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.
Are there no fighters left here anymore?
Are we the generation we've been waiting for?
Or are we patiently burning, waiting to be saved?
Our heroes, our icons have mellowed with age
Following rules that they once disobeyed
They're now being led when they used to lead the way
Do you still believe in all the things that you stood by before?
(That you stood by before)
Are you out there on the front lines, or at home keeping score?
Do you care to be the layer of the bricks that seal your fate?
(The bricks that seal your fate)
Would you rather be the architect of what we might create?
(Go)
They laid out the blueprints, they poured down a base
Concrete solutions to slow our decay
But when they are gone
Who the fuck's gonna take their place?
Yeah, will it be the cynic, the critics galore?
The cliché apathetic, passed out on the floor
The trusting complicit who collectively ignore
Do you still believe in all the things that you stood by before?
(That you stood by before)
Are you out there on the front lines, or at home keeping score?
Do you care to be the layer of the bricks that seal your fate?
(The bricks that seal your fate)
Would you rather be the architect of what we might create?
Don't you remember when you were young
And you wanted to set the world on fire?
Somewhere deep down, I know you do (hey, hey, hey, hey)
And don't you remember when we were young
And we wanted to set the world on fire?
'Cause I still am, and I still do
Make no mistake, we are not afraid
To bear the burden of repeating
What they're thinking anyway
Let's raise the stakes
On the bet we made
Let's decide to be the architects
The masters of our fate
Yeah, we still believe in all the things that we stood by before
(That we stood by before)
And after everything we've seen, there may be even more
I know we're not the only ones and we were not the first
(We were not the first)
And unapologetically we stand behind each word
Are we the generation we've been waiting for?
Or are we patiently burning, waiting to be saved?
Our heroes, our icons have mellowed with age
Following rules that they once disobeyed
They're now being led when they used to lead the way
Do you still believe in all the things that you stood by before?
(That you stood by before)
Are you out there on the front lines, or at home keeping score?
Do you care to be the layer of the bricks that seal your fate?
(The bricks that seal your fate)
Would you rather be the architect of what we might create?
(Go)
They laid out the blueprints, they poured down a base
Concrete solutions to slow our decay
But when they are gone
Who the fuck's gonna take their place?
Yeah, will it be the cynic, the critics galore?
The cliché apathetic, passed out on the floor
The trusting complicit who collectively ignore
Do you still believe in all the things that you stood by before?
(That you stood by before)
Are you out there on the front lines, or at home keeping score?
Do you care to be the layer of the bricks that seal your fate?
(The bricks that seal your fate)
Would you rather be the architect of what we might create?
Don't you remember when you were young
And you wanted to set the world on fire?
Somewhere deep down, I know you do (hey, hey, hey, hey)
And don't you remember when we were young
And we wanted to set the world on fire?
'Cause I still am, and I still do
Make no mistake, we are not afraid
To bear the burden of repeating
What they're thinking anyway
Let's raise the stakes
On the bet we made
Let's decide to be the architects
The masters of our fate
Yeah, we still believe in all the things that we stood by before
(That we stood by before)
And after everything we've seen, there may be even more
I know we're not the only ones and we were not the first
(We were not the first)
And unapologetically we stand behind each word
Lyrics submitted by WillCreary, edited by Tollo, TheUsername, Tserra, LeMarkyDussod
Architects Lyrics as written by Joseph Principe Brandon Barnes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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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Freaking loving this song! It sounds a lot like their older stuff which is great. The song is about how today there aren't many people who stand up for what we want: revolutionaries. Today we just accept what is given to us, not knowing that we CAN make a difference. We can fight for change. We're scared of taking chances like the revolutionaries before us, who made America what is is. But now that the 'man' is taking away the rights those of previous generations fought so hard for, we need a new breed of revolutionaries. I'm all for violent revolution by the way.
Another thing, the line: "Don't you remember when you were young ,and you wanted to set the world on fire?", is a reference to Against Me!'s song "I Was A Teenage Anarchist", which has the same line. IS there a connection between Rise Against and Against Me! (other than the 'against') that would make Tim reference the song this way? Just curious.
Read my reply below, I saw the link too and believe its a reply to "I Was a Teenage Anarchist" even the way Tim sings that section sounds more like Against Me! than the rest of the song