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.
Gaze at the leaving clairvoyant
Predicting invasions and pain
A child cansee through the stranger...
The Watcher's eye, the noble liar
It's time for the merchant and his help for sale...
Blades to cut wicked flesh
On a merchantman he counts his money
Then he sails away
The sea he'll cruise is blood and fire
Oh father I can't see a lane
They make you a pawn in the game
For we all are deaf, dumb and blind
After the storm when the magic has gone
Drown in the tears of a mandrake
Pawn in the game, invisible chains
Try to move, you'll feel as they graze
After the storm when the magic has gone
Drown in the tears of a mandrake
Fading away, the final decay
Try to move, break out from your chains
When you're off to the hall of the serpent
See the cynic who's counting his gold
While gun runners, priests and clairvoyants
Are dancing around the rising demon
You are taught to eat up all the crap they shit
Parading your nuts on a silver plate
Kill your brother by the blade they sell
For you don't unite
They reap your bondage sowing evil
There's no use to tell what I've seen
They know how to make you believe
Just what they want you to know
[repeat chorus/ solo: Jens/both/Jens/both]
Tears of a mandrake - yeah...
[solo: Jens/Both]
[repeat chorus]
Drown in the tears of the mandrake
Pawn in the game - Drown in the tears of a mandrake
Predicting invasions and pain
A child cansee through the stranger...
The Watcher's eye, the noble liar
It's time for the merchant and his help for sale...
Blades to cut wicked flesh
On a merchantman he counts his money
Then he sails away
The sea he'll cruise is blood and fire
Oh father I can't see a lane
They make you a pawn in the game
For we all are deaf, dumb and blind
After the storm when the magic has gone
Drown in the tears of a mandrake
Pawn in the game, invisible chains
Try to move, you'll feel as they graze
After the storm when the magic has gone
Drown in the tears of a mandrake
Fading away, the final decay
Try to move, break out from your chains
When you're off to the hall of the serpent
See the cynic who's counting his gold
While gun runners, priests and clairvoyants
Are dancing around the rising demon
You are taught to eat up all the crap they shit
Parading your nuts on a silver plate
Kill your brother by the blade they sell
For you don't unite
They reap your bondage sowing evil
There's no use to tell what I've seen
They know how to make you believe
Just what they want you to know
[repeat chorus/ solo: Jens/both/Jens/both]
Tears of a mandrake - yeah...
[solo: Jens/Both]
[repeat chorus]
Drown in the tears of the mandrake
Pawn in the game - Drown in the tears of a mandrake
Lyrics submitted by han2
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I think this has a political meaning, you know... all the people who try to sell you weapons or try to arm countries by injecting the people with fears and lies. The Mass Media in our modern times, it's almost the same as the Church in ancient ones...because "They know how to make you believe Just what they want you to know" so don't get drown in the tears of a mandrake people!.
Agree with MEra