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.
I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
Uh and left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore
Oh no I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore
No, I
No, I
Forgive them that tear down my soul
And bless them that they might grow old
And free them so that they may know
That it's never too late
For the many times what seemed like a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
Oh, I found the ways, oh why it had to be
Mired in denial and saw all the rain
If we ever find it's true
That we have the strength to choose
Oh, freedom or the chains
We have together
I'm gonna tell you a story
Stand up for righteousness
What? (Stand up for justice)
What? (Stand up for truth)
How can a person grow up with all this around them?
You got to call on that something
Where does it come from?
That can make a way out of no way
All this hatred?
What we've got here is
(Fear)
That power that can make a way out of now no way
Failure to communicate
I tell ya I seen the lightning
I've heard the thunder roll
Everybody's acting like we can do anything
And it don't matter what we do
Maybe we gotta be extra careful
Because maybe it matters more than We even know
Sometimes (hatred isn't somethin' you're born with)
I feel discouraged, it gets taught
Sometimes I feel discouraged, I felt this fear
He promised never to leave me
Never to leave me alone, no never alone, no never alone
Let's get something straight, alright?
Promised never to leave me
This whole thing was fucked up
Never to leave me alone
All men betray all lose heart
I don't want to lose heart, I want to believe
Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood
I have a dream
Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last
Oh I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought down in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
Oh no I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought back in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
(Oh, oh)
That I've been brought down in this storm
Uh and left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore
Oh no I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
Oh that I can't find my way back, my way anymore
No, I
No, I
Forgive them that tear down my soul
And bless them that they might grow old
And free them so that they may know
That it's never too late
For the many times what seemed like a memory
I searched and found the ways you used to lure me in
Oh, I found the ways, oh why it had to be
Mired in denial and saw all the rain
If we ever find it's true
That we have the strength to choose
Oh, freedom or the chains
We have together
I'm gonna tell you a story
Stand up for righteousness
What? (Stand up for justice)
What? (Stand up for truth)
How can a person grow up with all this around them?
You got to call on that something
Where does it come from?
That can make a way out of no way
All this hatred?
What we've got here is
(Fear)
That power that can make a way out of now no way
Failure to communicate
I tell ya I seen the lightning
I've heard the thunder roll
Everybody's acting like we can do anything
And it don't matter what we do
Maybe we gotta be extra careful
Because maybe it matters more than We even know
Sometimes (hatred isn't somethin' you're born with)
I feel discouraged, it gets taught
Sometimes I feel discouraged, I felt this fear
He promised never to leave me
Never to leave me alone, no never alone, no never alone
Let's get something straight, alright?
Promised never to leave me
This whole thing was fucked up
Never to leave me alone
All men betray all lose heart
I don't want to lose heart, I want to believe
Black men and white men together at the table of brotherhood
I have a dream
Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last
Oh I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought down in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
Oh no I won't be told anymore (if we ever find it's true)
That I've been brought back in this storm (that we have the strength to choose)
And left so far out from the shore (oh, freedom or the chains)
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore (we have together)
(Oh, oh)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Madagascar Lyrics as written by Jr. Martin King
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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