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.
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
x9
drivin' me nuts bolts screws.
i got the blues.
the pain grooves.
from programmed news.
of honey-coated lies.
that your eyes.
can't believe.
they weave.
the devil's magic.
with the latest gadget.
from the mean machine.
runnin' the same game with another name.
down your brain blowin' your mind.
stealin' your time.
smooth and slick.
with the latest trick.
to get rich quick.
from nonsense.
at your mind's expense.
as your mind digs the scene.
from the mean machine.
designed to drive your brain insane.
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
loudspeakers blasting inside your head.
saying what someone else said.
for you to do.
what they want you to.
no!
go!
fast!
slow!
getting you high.
off the latest lie.
telling you when where how and why.
as your mind digs the scene from the mean machine.
runnin' the same game.
with another name.
automatic...
synthethic genetic...
soul.
x5
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
sufferings of insanity.
playin' on your vanity.
as they distort your sense of self telling you what you need.
how to succeed.
as they steal all your wealth
probing your mind.
tryin' to find.
how to scheme on you the best.
from programmed schools.
with devilish rules.
puttin' you.
ha!
to the test.
death dealin' devices.
sold at high prices.
designed with you in mind to buy.
as they kill you slow.
some of ya'll don't know.
you're payin' a machine to die.
mechanized lies.
dressed up in disguise.
in forms of various kinds.
treachery and deceit.
the people must defeat.
in a battle for freein' its mind.
for complete domination.
is the goal of the nation.
of all free thinkin thought.
and those who oppose.
will be killed by their foes.
the flunkiest of souls have been bought.
transplants to revive the livin' dead.
replace the truth with lies instead.
newspapers radios T.V.s.
spreadin' lies across the seven seas.
robot men with computers for brains.
spaceships, cars, trains, and planes.
calculated to blow your mind.
movin' faster than your sense of time.
livin' soft while the people work hard.
for the devil will have you believe he's god.
chemical drugs that'll give you a high.
while the mean machine creates another lie.
for power, glory, and worldwide fame.
while runnin' that same game.
with another name.
automatic...
automatic...
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
it's all the future equation.
for worldwide invasion.
that comes in the name of peace and goodwill.
but they're lyin'.
and they keep on tryin'.
to set the people up for the kill.
population control.
for the people with soul.
all over the planet earth.
manipulatin' their will.
with a tiny white pill.
to control their natural birth.
behind the scenes schemes furthering the mean machine's dreams.
of conquest and world domination.
from the furthest depths in the universe to the smallest earthly nation.
radar, sonar, laser-beam,
jets, tanks, submarines,
megaton, h-bomb, napalm gas...
all this shit will kill you fast.
all products of the mean machine.
the devil disguised as a human being.
and he will even preach that god is dead.
and some of ya'll will believe what this devil has said.
and he will then act as the world's police.
and the sun will rise up at the west and set down at the east.
and when it came time for the end...
and when it came time for the end...
and when it came time for the end
the men will look like the women.
and the women like the men.
and some will dance.
in a hypnotic trance.
like as if they have no care.
but these will be signs.
of the changing times.
that the end is drawing near.
for it was prophesied many centuries past.
that the end will come in a fire and holoca'st.
and only the righteous people will survive the blast.
and the devil's machine will bring about his own end.
and peace love and joy will reign once again.
and man will understand, man!
x6
and man will understand and live in harmony and peace.
and the sun will once again rise up in the east.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
x9
drivin' me nuts bolts screws.
i got the blues.
the pain grooves.
from programmed news.
of honey-coated lies.
that your eyes.
can't believe.
they weave.
the devil's magic.
with the latest gadget.
from the mean machine.
runnin' the same game with another name.
down your brain blowin' your mind.
stealin' your time.
smooth and slick.
with the latest trick.
to get rich quick.
from nonsense.
at your mind's expense.
as your mind digs the scene.
from the mean machine.
designed to drive your brain insane.
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
loudspeakers blasting inside your head.
saying what someone else said.
for you to do.
what they want you to.
no!
go!
fast!
slow!
getting you high.
off the latest lie.
telling you when where how and why.
as your mind digs the scene from the mean machine.
runnin' the same game.
with another name.
automatic...
synthethic genetic...
soul.
x5
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
sufferings of insanity.
playin' on your vanity.
as they distort your sense of self telling you what you need.
how to succeed.
as they steal all your wealth
probing your mind.
tryin' to find.
how to scheme on you the best.
from programmed schools.
with devilish rules.
puttin' you.
ha!
to the test.
death dealin' devices.
sold at high prices.
designed with you in mind to buy.
as they kill you slow.
some of ya'll don't know.
you're payin' a machine to die.
mechanized lies.
dressed up in disguise.
in forms of various kinds.
treachery and deceit.
the people must defeat.
in a battle for freein' its mind.
for complete domination.
is the goal of the nation.
of all free thinkin thought.
and those who oppose.
will be killed by their foes.
the flunkiest of souls have been bought.
transplants to revive the livin' dead.
replace the truth with lies instead.
newspapers radios T.V.s.
spreadin' lies across the seven seas.
robot men with computers for brains.
spaceships, cars, trains, and planes.
calculated to blow your mind.
movin' faster than your sense of time.
livin' soft while the people work hard.
for the devil will have you believe he's god.
chemical drugs that'll give you a high.
while the mean machine creates another lie.
for power, glory, and worldwide fame.
while runnin' that same game.
with another name.
automatic...
automatic...
automatic push-button remote control.
synthetic genetics command your soul.
it's all the future equation.
for worldwide invasion.
that comes in the name of peace and goodwill.
but they're lyin'.
and they keep on tryin'.
to set the people up for the kill.
population control.
for the people with soul.
all over the planet earth.
manipulatin' their will.
with a tiny white pill.
to control their natural birth.
behind the scenes schemes furthering the mean machine's dreams.
of conquest and world domination.
from the furthest depths in the universe to the smallest earthly nation.
radar, sonar, laser-beam,
jets, tanks, submarines,
megaton, h-bomb, napalm gas...
all this shit will kill you fast.
all products of the mean machine.
the devil disguised as a human being.
and he will even preach that god is dead.
and some of ya'll will believe what this devil has said.
and he will then act as the world's police.
and the sun will rise up at the west and set down at the east.
and when it came time for the end...
and when it came time for the end...
and when it came time for the end
the men will look like the women.
and the women like the men.
and some will dance.
in a hypnotic trance.
like as if they have no care.
but these will be signs.
of the changing times.
that the end is drawing near.
for it was prophesied many centuries past.
that the end will come in a fire and holoca'st.
and only the righteous people will survive the blast.
and the devil's machine will bring about his own end.
and peace love and joy will reign once again.
and man will understand, man!
x6
and man will understand and live in harmony and peace.
and the sun will once again rise up in the east.
Lyrics submitted by marku2003
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