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.
Now I'm aimin' for heaven
But probably wind up down in hell
Where upon this alter I will hang my guilt ridden head
But it's time I'll take before I begin
Three sheets to the wind, three sheets to the wind
Yeah, it's time, I'll take before I begin
Three sheets to the wind, three sheets to the wind
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Terrified of the open road
Yeah, where it leads ya never know
But rest assured he'll be on you back
Yeah, the holy ghost through his tounges in black
As the band dog howls and the young girl cries
The blessed virgin in her proud dad's eye
The albatross hangin' round your neck
Is the cross you bare for your sins he bleeds
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said, no ball or chain, no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the Sacred Heart
Genuflect all you refugees who fled the land
Now on guilt you kneel
And say a prayer for those left behind
From beyond the pale to the northern sky
So you saved your shillins and your last six pence
'Cause in god's name they built a barbed wire fence
Be glad you sailed for a better day
But don't forget there'll be hell to pay
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Reserrection no protection all things life must be
Ah no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Now I bless me father for I have sinned
But it's the same old story again and again and again
Ah well, such is the bread of an everyday life
From mornin' to noon to this shadowless-night
Ah well, such is the bread of an everyday life
From mornin' to noon to this shadowless-night
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
But probably wind up down in hell
Where upon this alter I will hang my guilt ridden head
But it's time I'll take before I begin
Three sheets to the wind, three sheets to the wind
Yeah, it's time, I'll take before I begin
Three sheets to the wind, three sheets to the wind
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Terrified of the open road
Yeah, where it leads ya never know
But rest assured he'll be on you back
Yeah, the holy ghost through his tounges in black
As the band dog howls and the young girl cries
The blessed virgin in her proud dad's eye
The albatross hangin' round your neck
Is the cross you bare for your sins he bleeds
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said, no ball or chain, no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the Sacred Heart
Genuflect all you refugees who fled the land
Now on guilt you kneel
And say a prayer for those left behind
From beyond the pale to the northern sky
So you saved your shillins and your last six pence
'Cause in god's name they built a barbed wire fence
Be glad you sailed for a better day
But don't forget there'll be hell to pay
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Reserrection no protection all things life must be
Ah no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Now I bless me father for I have sinned
But it's the same old story again and again and again
Ah well, such is the bread of an everyday life
From mornin' to noon to this shadowless-night
Ah well, such is the bread of an everyday life
From mornin' to noon to this shadowless-night
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Rebels are we, though heavy our hearts shall always be
Ah, no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
I said no ball or chain no prison shall keep
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
We're the rebels of the sacred heart
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Rebels Of The Sacred Heart [Previously Unreleased Track] Lyrics as written by David R King Bridget A Regan
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Ah, No ball nor chain, no prison shall keep, We're the rebels of the sacred heart!!!! I said, No Ball Or Chain No Prison shall keep, we're the rebels of the sacred heart!
this is about dave king's catholic background and rebelling against it. especially the third verse, which is about protestant/catholic rivalries in ireland(i believe "the pale" is an area of ireland, not sure though)
at warped in chicago he was makin fun of catholic priests, he said "bless me father for i have sinned...but remember father, YOU have sinned too!"
The expression "beyond the pale" referred to being outside the boundaries of Dublin. Since Dublin is the capital of Ireland, it means from the Irish free state to Northern Ireland (the Northern sky). <br /> <br /> The emigrees came from both Ireland and the north, where - because of the religious verbage and party lines, they built a barbed wire fence and made war as we all know. "In God's name" because the labels are religious but it is really mutton dressed as lamb; politics and class prejudice, not how you pray. <br /> <br /> So those (like my grandparents) who emigrated, saving their sixpence to ship out, may be glad they did, but feel guilty about leaving eventually. <br />
Alright, I came here to find a meaning, but after I just found a fight over religon, i decied to try to figure it out myself.... So to me, this is just talking about growing up catholic, and failing like many catholics do. How he keeps sinning and such (which is why he is a rebel of the sacred heart), but he still knows that his faith teaches him that god is still going to be there, and he feels guilting about it (with a great referance to the sea mariener by swift). I think he also makes a referance about how hes going to have to pay for it all in purgetery (sp?) in "Be glad you sailed for a better day/ But don
t forget therell be hell to pay". So basivly he is saying how he is always going to end up sinning, and he feels kinda guilty about it, and knows he's going to end up paying for it, but still ends up doing it anyways. I may be wrong, i came here to see how my version of it held up, but i just got a religon lession.... btw, i am catholic, and couldn't care less who is going to heaven, as far as i care, thats gods job not mine...This has nothing to do with the song though I'd like to say that you're obviously ignorant of your faith (Assuming you're still active on this website).
This was the first Flogging Molly song that i'd ever heard and i was hooked immediatley. This band is amazing, and i love the irish sound. =)
this is by far my fav flogging molly song...they are so awesome...especially live!! :D
i honestly dont understand how anyone could not feel good listening to a flogging molly song
this song is definitaly about dave kings catholic backround
Yea I can see that everybody here likes this song it's one of my favorites before but does anybody know what some of those parts are about?
Flogging Molly RULES!!! and this goes perfect w/me b/c b 4 i moved, when i was younger i used to be part of the Sacred Heart church...
these guys are friggin great!!!! I saw em' at warped tour and they blew my mind!!! this song is just fantastic also!!!