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.
[ CHORUS 2X ]
Livin in these last days and times, check yourself
And what you feed your mind, I know you
Can't be blind livin in the future
[ VERSE 1: Vex ]
I got Armageddon weaponry like the 7th Seal
Jahwe send me soundwaves (sshaa-sshaaa) that you feel
Hail and fire, a burning mountain, it's on
In one line, a 3rd of earth and waters are gone
Check my vocal, more hotter than sun in Alcapulco
Normany inequite splitter, and ignorance get rid of
I spitter, start into space, it's like the moon and sun
How many worthy of Heaven? No, not one
Throw the devil in a bottomless pit, judgment begin
Angel from the Euphrates killed a 3rd of his men
Then I change form, bustin in abnormal type tactics
Flippin styles like acrobatics
So who can do what he do, flip a style that's free too
With more fat formulas techniques than T2
See through falacy with my x-ray vision
Wreckin raps inside my derby like demolition
Style switch, envision my brain-splittin atoms in the track
I'm beyond critical mass, feel the lyrical blast, black
It's the P.O.W. in the lyric-proof jacket
My quicker spray richochet your racket out my bracket
From the attic of the Boogiemonsters shack
It's the revolutionary black hole sun on attack
Bring it back
[ CHORUS 2X ]
[ Mondo ]
???? is pro-black and to my folks it sound silly
But it's lockdown straight from Rhode Island to Philly
As the crackdown begins, intensity reaches to the maximum
And you really get to see who is your friends
The same sneakers angle from the telephone cable
Five-o forever patrollin, my neighborhood is never stable
These days, this appears to be a concentration camp
Eliminatin welfare and still fishin for a victim
Cause from 200 down to 95th Street is all blackly populated
Then go further downtown, it ain't debated
Who inhabitates the best, come on, we segragated
But that's aight, somebody's comin like a thief in the night
The police state technique is to practice on the cattle
On the humble for that worldwide battle
Illest when I feel this, yo Domingo, slide the faders on the bass
And I'ma lay it all out in they face
Most of the Presidents was Masons with one thing in mind
To keep it in the family they must elimate the swine
And the swine is us, and whose God do +you+ trust?
It's gettin realer by the second in the future
[ CHORUS until end ]
Livin in these last days and times, check yourself
And what you feed your mind, I know you
Can't be blind livin in the future
[ VERSE 1: Vex ]
I got Armageddon weaponry like the 7th Seal
Jahwe send me soundwaves (sshaa-sshaaa) that you feel
Hail and fire, a burning mountain, it's on
In one line, a 3rd of earth and waters are gone
Check my vocal, more hotter than sun in Alcapulco
Normany inequite splitter, and ignorance get rid of
I spitter, start into space, it's like the moon and sun
How many worthy of Heaven? No, not one
Throw the devil in a bottomless pit, judgment begin
Angel from the Euphrates killed a 3rd of his men
Then I change form, bustin in abnormal type tactics
Flippin styles like acrobatics
So who can do what he do, flip a style that's free too
With more fat formulas techniques than T2
See through falacy with my x-ray vision
Wreckin raps inside my derby like demolition
Style switch, envision my brain-splittin atoms in the track
I'm beyond critical mass, feel the lyrical blast, black
It's the P.O.W. in the lyric-proof jacket
My quicker spray richochet your racket out my bracket
From the attic of the Boogiemonsters shack
It's the revolutionary black hole sun on attack
Bring it back
[ CHORUS 2X ]
[ Mondo ]
???? is pro-black and to my folks it sound silly
But it's lockdown straight from Rhode Island to Philly
As the crackdown begins, intensity reaches to the maximum
And you really get to see who is your friends
The same sneakers angle from the telephone cable
Five-o forever patrollin, my neighborhood is never stable
These days, this appears to be a concentration camp
Eliminatin welfare and still fishin for a victim
Cause from 200 down to 95th Street is all blackly populated
Then go further downtown, it ain't debated
Who inhabitates the best, come on, we segragated
But that's aight, somebody's comin like a thief in the night
The police state technique is to practice on the cattle
On the humble for that worldwide battle
Illest when I feel this, yo Domingo, slide the faders on the bass
And I'ma lay it all out in they face
Most of the Presidents was Masons with one thing in mind
To keep it in the family they must elimate the swine
And the swine is us, and whose God do +you+ trust?
It's gettin realer by the second in the future
[ CHORUS until end ]
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Beginning of the End [Album Version] Lyrics as written by Mondo Mc Cann Domingo Padilla
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.