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.
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
We read the writing on the wall
We heard the talk about us
We watch the phone
You never call
So now we're calling your bluff
We've got the fire inside
We've got the fight in our blood
There's no surrender tonight
No way in hell we'll give up.
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
'Cause it's the last call
It's on tonight
It's either fly or fall
Do or die
We'll take 'em one by one
'Til we run this town
Riot with the lights out
Shut it down
The stakes are raised
The game has changed
'Cause now there's something to loose
We separate the ones who fake
From those with something to prove
So make your way or dig your grave
Or else the world's gonna choose
Are you some kind of mistake
Or are you front page news
The brighter the fire
The higher the fighter will go
'Cause it's the last call
It's on tonight
It's either fly or fall
Do or die
We'll take 'em one by one
'Til we run this town
Riot with the lights out
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut-Shut it down
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
'Cause it's the last call
It's on tonight
It's either fly or fall
Do or die
We'll take 'em one by one
'Til we run this town
Riot with the lights out
Shut it down
O wo oh o wo o oh (Shut it down) o wo o o oh (Shut it down)
O wo oh o wo o oh (Shut it down) o wo o o oh
Shut it down
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
We read the writing on the wall
We heard the talk about us
We watch the phone
You never call
So now we're calling your bluff
We've got the fire inside
We've got the fight in our blood
There's no surrender tonight
No way in hell we'll give up.
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
'Cause it's the last call
It's on tonight
It's either fly or fall
Do or die
We'll take 'em one by one
'Til we run this town
Riot with the lights out
Shut it down
The stakes are raised
The game has changed
'Cause now there's something to loose
We separate the ones who fake
From those with something to prove
So make your way or dig your grave
Or else the world's gonna choose
Are you some kind of mistake
Or are you front page news
The brighter the fire
The higher the fighter will go
'Cause it's the last call
It's on tonight
It's either fly or fall
Do or die
We'll take 'em one by one
'Til we run this town
Riot with the lights out
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut it down
Shut-Shut it down
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
O wo oh o wo o oh o wo o o oh
'Cause it's the last call
It's on tonight
It's either fly or fall
Do or die
We'll take 'em one by one
'Til we run this town
Riot with the lights out
Shut it down
O wo oh o wo o oh (Shut it down) o wo o o oh (Shut it down)
O wo oh o wo o oh (Shut it down) o wo o o oh
Shut it down
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