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 are proud individuals living on the city
But the flames couldn't go much higher
We find gods and religions to
To paint us with salvation
But no one
No nobody
Can give you the power
To rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
Oh, that's life
Left dripping down the walls
Of a dream that cannot breathe
In this harsh reality
Mass confusion spoon fed to the blind
Serves now to define our cold society
From which we'll rise over love
Over hate
From this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
You just got to hold on!
You just got to hold on!
Oh oh oh oh
(To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair
The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed
The bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress
The hate of men will pass, and dictators die
And the power they took from the people will return to the people
And so long as men die, liberty will never perish
Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men
Machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!
You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men!
You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful
To make this life a wonderful adventure
Let us use that power!
Let us all unite!)
And we'll rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear
And into freedom
Into freedom!
From which we'll rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
Freedom!
Oh, from which we'll rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
Freedom!
Freedom!
Rain on me!
Rain on me!
But the flames couldn't go much higher
We find gods and religions to
To paint us with salvation
But no one
No nobody
Can give you the power
To rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
Oh, that's life
Left dripping down the walls
Of a dream that cannot breathe
In this harsh reality
Mass confusion spoon fed to the blind
Serves now to define our cold society
From which we'll rise over love
Over hate
From this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
You just got to hold on!
You just got to hold on!
Oh oh oh oh
(To those who can hear me, I say, do not despair
The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed
The bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress
The hate of men will pass, and dictators die
And the power they took from the people will return to the people
And so long as men die, liberty will never perish
Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men
Machine men with machine minds and machine hearts!
You are not machines, you are not cattle, you are men!
You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful
To make this life a wonderful adventure
Let us use that power!
Let us all unite!)
And we'll rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear
And into freedom
Into freedom!
From which we'll rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
Freedom!
Oh, from which we'll rise over love
And over hate
Through this iron sky
That's fast becoming our minds
Over fear and into freedom
Freedom!
Freedom!
Rain on me!
Rain on me!
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Although it's pretty clear what he is saying, nothing can give you the ability, the tool to rise above it all, that society doesn't help on bit... I simply can't agree with his proposed solution. "You just got to hold on" and the statements that follow on uniting to become what the world needs is a nice thought but he neglects to recognize that there is a problem and that we are PART of that problem, at least if we don't find the root of it.
Personally, I think what Nutini is saying through this song is pleasant but too idealistic to be critical of salvation. We NEED salvation. Maybe not religion, but we need to be saved from ourselves in order to help the world (ourselves and others alike).
@softhought I wonder, is it him offering the solution or society? <br /> <br /> I can't help but thinking he's mocking the solution that is given to us by society and the government alike - "You just got to hold on. That is what we are being told: that change will come, just hold on, but it never does. I feel like he's potentially echoing their words rather than offering that as a solution?