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.
Go light the flame and burn these symbols of atrocity
You're better dead than off to serve their fucking cause
Allegiance baptism, how they molest the young
Never will you be free to live until you learn to
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire
Set fire
Injustice, enslavement
The masters of society
Corrosion, oblivion
Fuck you and your reality
Religious decisions destroy the lack of liberty
Conforming corrosion, they're killing victory
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire
Set fire
With an eye on the floor
Spin around 'til you're inside out of you
...And you're still looking for more
No way to stop the bleeding from your wound
The bleeding from your wound
You can never ever stop bleeding from your wound
You can never stop bleeding from your wound
You can never ever stop bleeding from your wound
You can never stop bleeding from your wound
Wound
You're better dead than off to serve their fucking cause
Allegiance baptism, how they molest the young
Never will you be free to live until you learn to
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire
Set fire
Injustice, enslavement
The masters of society
Corrosion, oblivion
Fuck you and your reality
Religious decisions destroy the lack of liberty
Conforming corrosion, they're killing victory
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire to your flag
Set fire
Set fire
With an eye on the floor
Spin around 'til you're inside out of you
...And you're still looking for more
No way to stop the bleeding from your wound
The bleeding from your wound
You can never ever stop bleeding from your wound
You can never stop bleeding from your wound
You can never ever stop bleeding from your wound
You can never stop bleeding from your wound
Wound
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
It appears to be a rally against blindly following a religion, but I am unsure of the context of "set fire to your flag", as that would suggest a more political aspect than religious.
Thinking that perhaps it could be about the influence / interference of religion on politics ... hence the religious and political messages in the song.