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.
There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I've got to beware
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn again
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong again
Young people speaking their minds once again
So much resistance from behind
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people standing in the street
Singing songs and carrying the signs, oh no
They mostly say, "Hooray for our side"
We've got to stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step outta line, the men come and shoot you down
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Hey, hey, hey we've got to stop and take a look around
No, no, yeah stop, hey, what's that sound hey, hey, hey
We've got to stop and take a look around
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Look what's going down yeah, yeah, yeah
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I've got to beware
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn again
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong again
Young people speaking their minds once again
So much resistance from behind
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people standing in the street
Singing songs and carrying the signs, oh no
They mostly say, "Hooray for our side"
We've got to stop
Hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step outta line, the men come and shoot you down
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Hey, hey, hey we've got to stop and take a look around
No, no, yeah stop, hey, what's that sound hey, hey, hey
We've got to stop and take a look around
Think it's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound
Look what's going down yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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