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.
Barber
Get this mirror cleaned
I'm troubled by the face I see before me
As we shave our nations face
Keep a steady hand
Listen to these words that soon will ring across the land
Wield the Spade
Ready the blade
Sacrifices must be made
There are many fools who dare propose imposing limits on my power
Those ungrateful who've been swayed by intellectuals in their ivory towers
They will pay for crimes that God and I will not allow
Some before the firing squad and some behind the plough
Wield the spade
Barber
Get this mirror cleaned
I'm troubled by the face I see before me
Be careful not to miss a whisker
Soon I face my people who adore me
As you shave our nations face
Keep a steady hand
Listen to these words that soon will ring across the land
Wield the spade
Ready the blade
Sacrifices must be made
Barber
You've done very well
Much cleaner now
The mirror's telling no lies
I know I'm not imagining the telltale glint of death I see in your eyes
I can't trust you
So I must do something with my knife
It's a shame to lose a damn good barber
But that's life
Wield the spade
Ready the blade
Sacrifices must be made
Get this mirror cleaned
I'm troubled by the face I see before me
As we shave our nations face
Keep a steady hand
Listen to these words that soon will ring across the land
Wield the Spade
Ready the blade
Sacrifices must be made
There are many fools who dare propose imposing limits on my power
Those ungrateful who've been swayed by intellectuals in their ivory towers
They will pay for crimes that God and I will not allow
Some before the firing squad and some behind the plough
Wield the spade
Barber
Get this mirror cleaned
I'm troubled by the face I see before me
Be careful not to miss a whisker
Soon I face my people who adore me
As you shave our nations face
Keep a steady hand
Listen to these words that soon will ring across the land
Wield the spade
Ready the blade
Sacrifices must be made
Barber
You've done very well
Much cleaner now
The mirror's telling no lies
I know I'm not imagining the telltale glint of death I see in your eyes
I can't trust you
So I must do something with my knife
It's a shame to lose a damn good barber
But that's life
Wield the spade
Ready the blade
Sacrifices must be made
Lyrics submitted by OiSterHedPhan
Wield the Spade Lyrics as written by Les Claypool Stewart Armstrong Copeland
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is about NWO. The president is part of it and isn't going to let people put limits on him. The sacrifices that must be made is the American way of life. Ready the blade to kill, wield the spade to bury people. The barber is symbolic too, he represents the people of the country. The barber had a blade to the presidents throat but didn't do anything about the man who is obviously drunk with power and paranoid and eventually is killed by that man. This song is chilling, especially the presidential voice.