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.
Alone I walk, among the twisting shadows
Tempted by the ancient magic, the power of five
My desire to mirror my own image
And I will offer you no soul
Offer you no soul
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Symmetry divine, there's no force greater
Dividing the fathers of time
Feel my hate, I'm banished to this wasteland
My serpents plot the overthrow of your temples and shrines
In the night, my army's rage
And fury burning my shadow into the land
Vengeance by my hand
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Symmetry divine, there's no force greater
Dividing the fathers of time
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Paradise denied, the balance of ages
Forever lost in time
Was I sure of my fateful wish to evoke the night from the day?
Thousands now join as one, be afraid
What have I done? Clouds are dimming
The sun with his wrath of disease and decay
This masque of vengeance leads my death parade
What have I done?
"My shadow burning, my shadow burns across the land".
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Symmetry divine, there's no force greater
Dividing the fathers of time
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Paradise denied, the balance of ages forever lost in time
"And there was a need for balance, the coming of ma'at"
Tempted by the ancient magic, the power of five
My desire to mirror my own image
And I will offer you no soul
Offer you no soul
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Symmetry divine, there's no force greater
Dividing the fathers of time
Feel my hate, I'm banished to this wasteland
My serpents plot the overthrow of your temples and shrines
In the night, my army's rage
And fury burning my shadow into the land
Vengeance by my hand
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Symmetry divine, there's no force greater
Dividing the fathers of time
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Paradise denied, the balance of ages
Forever lost in time
Was I sure of my fateful wish to evoke the night from the day?
Thousands now join as one, be afraid
What have I done? Clouds are dimming
The sun with his wrath of disease and decay
This masque of vengeance leads my death parade
What have I done?
"My shadow burning, my shadow burns across the land".
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Symmetry divine, there's no force greater
Dividing the fathers of time
Tonight darkness will shadow the light
Paradise denied, the balance of ages forever lost in time
"And there was a need for balance, the coming of ma'at"
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