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.
Natural corruption
Another day passed by in ruined paradise
Another night will pass until we're sheltered
We're aiming for a life that won't be compromised
And when we say goodbye it's devastating
Now that we have finally realized
Realized, petrified
That profit's made from innocent demise
Profit's made from tragic demise
Another day goes by where money won't suffice
A massive gift was meant as contribution
Our conscience comes to aid that ends up in wrong hands
And once the truth's revealed, intent is fading
Now that we have come to realize
Realized, sanctified
Our hearts subdued by all those thousand cries
Hearts subdued by all those fierce cries
In moments of deadly gloom
Young lives ended way too soon
The facts that are all untrue
Spread lies that wew not thought through
Fight off the catastrophes
Find true inned sanctity
In modern society
Welfare is stained, time to come clean again
Feast on sheer agone
Lean on generosity
Pay in full, it all will vanish without care
Grant us higher proceeds
We'll ease your mind, guaranteed
We should all be reaching out to the despaired
Natural corruption
Charity
Can you believe it
How nature's left its trace
Could we foresee it
What skies erased
We all are trying
We all are dying in nature's arms
In moment of deadly gloom
Youg lives ended way too soon
The facts that are all untrue
Spread lies that were not thought through
Fight off the catastrophes
Find true inner sanctity
In modern society
Nothing to hide, lives to obtain
Welfare is stained, time to come clean again
Another day passed by in ruined paradise
Another night will pass until we're sheltered
We're aiming for a life that won't be compromised
And when we say goodbye it's devastating
Now that we have finally realized
Realized, petrified
That profit's made from innocent demise
Profit's made from tragic demise
Another day goes by where money won't suffice
A massive gift was meant as contribution
Our conscience comes to aid that ends up in wrong hands
And once the truth's revealed, intent is fading
Now that we have come to realize
Realized, sanctified
Our hearts subdued by all those thousand cries
Hearts subdued by all those fierce cries
In moments of deadly gloom
Young lives ended way too soon
The facts that are all untrue
Spread lies that wew not thought through
Fight off the catastrophes
Find true inned sanctity
In modern society
Welfare is stained, time to come clean again
Feast on sheer agone
Lean on generosity
Pay in full, it all will vanish without care
Grant us higher proceeds
We'll ease your mind, guaranteed
We should all be reaching out to the despaired
Natural corruption
Charity
Can you believe it
How nature's left its trace
Could we foresee it
What skies erased
We all are trying
We all are dying in nature's arms
In moment of deadly gloom
Youg lives ended way too soon
The facts that are all untrue
Spread lies that were not thought through
Fight off the catastrophes
Find true inner sanctity
In modern society
Nothing to hide, lives to obtain
Welfare is stained, time to come clean again
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No Surprises
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Simone:
"Natural Corruption is about the unfortunate fact that there are many charity organizations are corrupt, people are spending money, donating money for their own peace of mind thinking that they are helping other people in need and you don't always know where the money ends up. I got that idea when we had the unfortunate event in the Philippines and everywhere there were charity organizations popping up, I'm not saying that all of them are corrupt, but some of them definitely are, and people are just donating money just so that they can say that they did something."