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.
All you slingers and fiends hide behind your rocks
Put down your guard I'm not here to box
This is no showdown so throw down your guns
You see it doesn't matter where you come from
You could be from park ave or from a park bench
You could be a politician or a bitchy princess
But if you're lookin' for a fist and you're lookin' to unite
Put your knuckleheads together make a fist and fight
Not to your death and not to your grave
I'm talking about t hat freedom fight like a brave
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
If you're sick-a-sick'n'tired of being sick and tired
If you're sick of all the bullshit and you're sick of all the lies
It's better late than never to set-a-set it straight
You know the lie is dead so give your self a break
Get it through your head get if off your chest
Get it out your arm because it's time to start fresh
You want to stop dying the life you could be livin'
I'm here to tell a story but I'm also here to listen
No I'm not your preacher and I'm not your physician
I'm just trying to reach you I'm a rebel with a mission
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
I'm here today to pump up the uplift mofo party plan
A plan based on a band, a band based on a plan
There should be no in the land of lands
It's a Hollywood jam
You say you're running and you're running and you're running afraid
You say you ran across the planet but you couldn't get away
The fire in your brain was driving you insane
You were looking for a day in a life that never came
So don't tell me that I've got to take a number
'Cause I've been to that doctor and believe me that's a bummer
Here's a one of a kind convention of the mind
And don't forget to mention that it doesn't cost a dime
Come as you like and leave any time
And one more thing you know it doesn't have to rhyme
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Put down your guard I'm not here to box
This is no showdown so throw down your guns
You see it doesn't matter where you come from
You could be from park ave or from a park bench
You could be a politician or a bitchy princess
But if you're lookin' for a fist and you're lookin' to unite
Put your knuckleheads together make a fist and fight
Not to your death and not to your grave
I'm talking about t hat freedom fight like a brave
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
If you're sick-a-sick'n'tired of being sick and tired
If you're sick of all the bullshit and you're sick of all the lies
It's better late than never to set-a-set it straight
You know the lie is dead so give your self a break
Get it through your head get if off your chest
Get it out your arm because it's time to start fresh
You want to stop dying the life you could be livin'
I'm here to tell a story but I'm also here to listen
No I'm not your preacher and I'm not your physician
I'm just trying to reach you I'm a rebel with a mission
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
I'm here today to pump up the uplift mofo party plan
A plan based on a band, a band based on a plan
There should be no in the land of lands
It's a Hollywood jam
You say you're running and you're running and you're running afraid
You say you ran across the planet but you couldn't get away
The fire in your brain was driving you insane
You were looking for a day in a life that never came
So don't tell me that I've got to take a number
'Cause I've been to that doctor and believe me that's a bummer
Here's a one of a kind convention of the mind
And don't forget to mention that it doesn't cost a dime
Come as you like and leave any time
And one more thing you know it doesn't have to rhyme
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Fight like a brave
Don't be a slave
No one can tell you
You've got to be afraid
Lyrics submitted by PrismPuck, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Fight Like a Brave Lyrics as written by Jack Irons Michael Peter Balzary
Lyrics © MIMIL LTD, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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well almost every song, prior to mothers milk was about drugs, or the lyrics were influenced by them. however fight like a brave is either about freedom, freedom from civilization, he says "you can be from park ave, or from a park bench. park ave is a rich street, a park bench meaning your a bum, a polotician or a bitch princess, so you can be important in the government, but the government doesnt mean anything, ts about natural humanity, not human civilization, the primitive human instict to fight
@stringcheeseeater the "freedom" he is talking about could be from the hold drugs had on him, but yes to many of us out there the broader term of freedom is interpreted from the song.