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.
You lost faith in the human spirit
You walk around like a ghost
Your star-spangled heart
Took a train for the coast
When you shine you're a hilltop mansion
So how'd you lose the light?
Was it blown by the wind
In the still of the night?
You're up against the wall
Up against the wall
There's something dying on the street
When they knock you down
You're gonna get back on your feet
('Cause you can't stop now)
I always saw you as a kind of keeper
A mother to a child
But your boys have grown soft
And your girls have gone wild
From the Blue Ridge to the Black Hills
To the Redwood sky
The season may pass
But the dream doesn't die
Now don't you drop the ball
Up against the wall
There's something dying on the street
When they knock you down
You're gonna get back on your feet
('Cause you can't stop now)
And when they break your heart
And when they cause your soul to mourn
Remember what I said
Boy, you was battle born
('Cause you can't stop now)
You was battle born
When the night falls on the land
Are you haunted by the sound?
It's gonna take more than a hand
To turn this thing around
Won't you lean it on me?
Rescue, set me free
Up against the wall (up against the wall)
There's something dying on the street
When they knock you down (up against the wall)
You're gonna get back on your feet
'Cause you can't stop now ('cause you can't stop now)
And did they break your heart? (Did they break your heart?)
And did they cause your soul to mourn?
Remember what I said (remember what I said)
Boy, you was battle born (you were battle born)
'Cause you can't stop now ('cause you can't stop now)
Come on, show your face (come on, show your face)
Come on, give us one more spark (give us one more spark)
We'll sing your song of fire (sing your song of fire)
Unless we fall into the dark (fall into the dark)
'Cause you can't stop now ('cause you can't stop now)
You never live, you never learn
You never shine if you never burn
A rising tide, the undertow
The famine and the overflow
Well, turn away, welcome home
You walk around like a ghost
Your star-spangled heart
Took a train for the coast
When you shine you're a hilltop mansion
So how'd you lose the light?
Was it blown by the wind
In the still of the night?
You're up against the wall
Up against the wall
There's something dying on the street
When they knock you down
You're gonna get back on your feet
('Cause you can't stop now)
I always saw you as a kind of keeper
A mother to a child
But your boys have grown soft
And your girls have gone wild
From the Blue Ridge to the Black Hills
To the Redwood sky
The season may pass
But the dream doesn't die
Now don't you drop the ball
Up against the wall
There's something dying on the street
When they knock you down
You're gonna get back on your feet
('Cause you can't stop now)
And when they break your heart
And when they cause your soul to mourn
Remember what I said
Boy, you was battle born
('Cause you can't stop now)
You was battle born
When the night falls on the land
Are you haunted by the sound?
It's gonna take more than a hand
To turn this thing around
Won't you lean it on me?
Rescue, set me free
Up against the wall (up against the wall)
There's something dying on the street
When they knock you down (up against the wall)
You're gonna get back on your feet
'Cause you can't stop now ('cause you can't stop now)
And did they break your heart? (Did they break your heart?)
And did they cause your soul to mourn?
Remember what I said (remember what I said)
Boy, you was battle born (you were battle born)
'Cause you can't stop now ('cause you can't stop now)
Come on, show your face (come on, show your face)
Come on, give us one more spark (give us one more spark)
We'll sing your song of fire (sing your song of fire)
Unless we fall into the dark (fall into the dark)
'Cause you can't stop now ('cause you can't stop now)
You never live, you never learn
You never shine if you never burn
A rising tide, the undertow
The famine and the overflow
Well, turn away, welcome home
Lyrics submitted by phoebe9261, edited by Gravecrux, Drknight16, VoiceOfReason67
Battle Born Lyrics as written by Dave Brent Keuning Brandon Flowers
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I hate to politicize lyrics, but even though this song is named after Nevada's state nickname, the state that The Killers are from. But it seems like it could be about the United States as a whole, how we used to be such a strong nation ("When you shine, you're a hilltop mansion"), but we're getting weaker and we're in a rapid downfall ("But your boys have grown soft and your girls have gone wild") as a society. The first verse ("You lost faith in the human spirit. / You walk around like a ghost. / Your star-spangled heart / took a train for the coast") and the verse that says, "Did they break your heart? Did they cause your soul to mourn? Remember what I said. / Boy, you was battle born. / And you can't stop now" sounds like a call to fiercer action in the Middle East. Nevada is called the Battle Born State because it became a state because of the Civil War (known in the South as the War of Northern Aggression). And this country is battle born too. We didn't pussyfoot in the American Revolution, why should we do that now?
I think there no doubt that they are describing their religious beliefs (Mormon) of America and the American people through their lyrics. To be honest, it gives me the creeps to think that they think of America this way and we have a presidential candidate that promotes the Killers. That would suggest that he must feel this way also. I thought I was the only one picking up on this. Did you see the Colbert Report with the Killers? Do you think Stephen was trying to tell us something?
kevlane, youre an idiot.
Those were my thoughts as well. Sometimes I feel like "I've always seen you as a kind of keeper, A mother to a child" could be a reference to the statue of liberty. I've also wondered if, in the same spirit you defined, it could be about soldiers returning home and the difficulties they face.
I'm British, and when I first heard this song it instantly made me think of the US. I mean you're whole country is Battle Born in one way or another. You guys have taken some serious hits in the last... say 15 years, and you can't take the future for granted like you used to any more. For me the secret is in the mournful line "There's something dying on the street" to remind you what you should be fighting for, For the people how need help the most. If you really want to get political "It's gunna take more than a hand" could mean smiths invisible hand - more than just self interest. Either way I hope you do fight on, Europe's feeling its age, western democracy kind of needs you right now.<br />