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.
We been through mass destruction once but once was not enough
We said "we want a second chance" and all they say is "tough"
A world where science went too far, there's no way to survive
Why can't we get this thing straightened out 'cause I wanna stay alive
They burned and bombed the east and north and there's no place left to go
The Sun Belt's overcrowded so let's annex Mexico
The peso's only worth a dime but they've got all that land
There's no need for a civil war, we know they'll understand, right?
Is that how you like it?
Hah, factories left unattended, crumbling to the ground
We tried to keep them running but there's no more oil around
We used it all to fight a war that neither side could win
Hah, well, Vietnam was Little League compared to where we've been
Now we live in caves and huts and we don't have pay TV
And everyone is signing up for the newest industry
Standard oil goes solar power, all try to make a buck
I'll sit around, smoke cigarettes and I'll babble, "what the fuck?"
That's how I like it
Sign up, newest industry
The newest industry
We'll sign up for the newest industry
Yeah, we'll sign up
For the newest industry
Yeah, we'll sign up
Oh, oh, oh
We said "we want a second chance" and all they say is "tough"
A world where science went too far, there's no way to survive
Why can't we get this thing straightened out 'cause I wanna stay alive
They burned and bombed the east and north and there's no place left to go
The Sun Belt's overcrowded so let's annex Mexico
The peso's only worth a dime but they've got all that land
There's no need for a civil war, we know they'll understand, right?
Is that how you like it?
Hah, factories left unattended, crumbling to the ground
We tried to keep them running but there's no more oil around
We used it all to fight a war that neither side could win
Hah, well, Vietnam was Little League compared to where we've been
Now we live in caves and huts and we don't have pay TV
And everyone is signing up for the newest industry
Standard oil goes solar power, all try to make a buck
I'll sit around, smoke cigarettes and I'll babble, "what the fuck?"
That's how I like it
Sign up, newest industry
The newest industry
We'll sign up for the newest industry
Yeah, we'll sign up
For the newest industry
Yeah, we'll sign up
Oh, oh, oh
Lyrics submitted by OwnPersonalDemon, edited by jpaulo
Newest Industry Lyrics as written by Bob Mould
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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post-WWIII
"so I'll sit around and smoke cigarettes, and i'll babble " what the fuck?"
Yep, still relevant.
I love the part where Greg Norton plays the "Monday will never be the same" melody on his bass against Mould\'s minor chords. Very thematic! Whose idea was it to do that, anyway?