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.
We need a myth
We need an amethyst bridge
We need a high hanging cliff
Jump, fall and lift
We can make it
We need a myth
We need a path
Through the mist
Like in our beds
We were just kids
Like what was said by our parents
I guess
What we're after is just this
We need a myth
I feel my heart's like a fist
I words spilling out
From the blessed lips
Of any prophet or goddess
I need a myth
Brought back to life by a kiss
Scrape away grey cement
Show me the world as it was again
In a myth
A red ribbon to reconnect
The lady's head to her neck
And to forget that her throat
Was ever slit
I guess
What we're after is just this
A myth
And I'm sick
Of all these picture books that try
To steal some old reflections for their light
But desperate measures point to desperate times
Which is why
We need a myth
We're cut adrift
We need a mass uplift
The world is trembling and weeping
And at the point of believing
In a myth
The sun that shines on my head
The moon that lights me to bed
Were two identical twins
In a myth
I heard the voice of a friend
On Lethe's banks
Wading in
He said
"Before I forget
We need a myth
As we lean in to kiss
To get two nails
Through the wrist
To get covered in blood
And to get covered in spit
And to forgive."
And if all we're taught is a trick
Why would this feeling persist?
And with the truth closing in
I must insist
We need a myth.
We need an amethyst bridge
We need a high hanging cliff
Jump, fall and lift
We can make it
We need a myth
We need a path
Through the mist
Like in our beds
We were just kids
Like what was said by our parents
I guess
What we're after is just this
We need a myth
I feel my heart's like a fist
I words spilling out
From the blessed lips
Of any prophet or goddess
I need a myth
Brought back to life by a kiss
Scrape away grey cement
Show me the world as it was again
In a myth
A red ribbon to reconnect
The lady's head to her neck
And to forget that her throat
Was ever slit
I guess
What we're after is just this
A myth
And I'm sick
Of all these picture books that try
To steal some old reflections for their light
But desperate measures point to desperate times
Which is why
We need a myth
We're cut adrift
We need a mass uplift
The world is trembling and weeping
And at the point of believing
In a myth
The sun that shines on my head
The moon that lights me to bed
Were two identical twins
In a myth
I heard the voice of a friend
On Lethe's banks
Wading in
He said
"Before I forget
We need a myth
As we lean in to kiss
To get two nails
Through the wrist
To get covered in blood
And to get covered in spit
And to forgive."
And if all we're taught is a trick
Why would this feeling persist?
And with the truth closing in
I must insist
We need a myth.
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You last paragraph exposes your personal bias against religion. I was with ya up until you discredited yourself :)