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 the people I know want to be left alone
Some people!
I don't know?
They want to leave you alone
You gotta be just, be just like them
Biggest gang I know they call the government
Gang is a weapon
That you trade your mind in for
You gotta be just, be just like them
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
Trouble comes down
Like a foot steppin heavy
Shake your fist
At the bitch
Or wave your money
You gotta be right
You gotta be right
Don't be no
Supper for a big fish
With the big lip
And the over -
Bite, bite
You gotta bite
Bite, bite, bite, da bita
Bite, bite, ba da da bita
Bite, bite, bite, bite
Bite, bite, bite, bite
All the people I know want to be left alone
Some people!
I don't know?
They want to leave you alone!
You gotta be just, be just like them
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
Some people!
I don't know?
They want to leave you alone
You gotta be just, be just like them
Biggest gang I know they call the government
Gang is a weapon
That you trade your mind in for
You gotta be just, be just like them
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
Trouble comes down
Like a foot steppin heavy
Shake your fist
At the bitch
Or wave your money
You gotta be right
You gotta be right
Don't be no
Supper for a big fish
With the big lip
And the over -
Bite, bite
You gotta bite
Bite, bite, bite, da bita
Bite, bite, ba da da bita
Bite, bite, bite, bite
Bite, bite, bite, bite
All the people I know want to be left alone
Some people!
I don't know?
They want to leave you alone!
You gotta be just, be just like them
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
The gang
And the government
No different
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
That makes me
1%
Lyrics submitted by gabby marie
1% Lyrics as written by Eric Adam Avery David Michael Navarro
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think Perry is talking about how to be part of a political or social group, you have to trade off your individuality and let others hold you down, and he is saying that, that is too big of a price to pay as far as he is concerned.
Janes addiction is awesome
biggest gang i know they call the government gang is a weapon that you trade your mind in for you gotta be just - be just like them the gang and the government no different
That is such a good lyric!
Sounds like disdain for the government and their two-faced ways.
I think he's also saying that since the government is the biggest gang of all and since there are all sorts of "gangs"(social groups, political parties, even actual gangs) the world over, and since he doesn't seem(in the song, at least) to belong to or care about any of them, then he(and others like him) make us less than 1% of the world(because the world is mostly or seems to be most about groups).
I don't know if it's relevant to the song, but 1% is also term used by the Hell's Angels. They consider themselves to be the 1% that have rejected society's values and are doing their own thing. I think this is Perry's way of embracing that concept of individuality
That's true of all "outlaw" motorcycle gangs,NOT just the Angels. Also everyone in the gang not is a 1%er. Those a that have that patch are down for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. The term came from the american motorcyclist association in the 50's<br /> <br /> Sorry for the hijack, you have a valid point on your take on the song. After thinking about the political lyrics. You may be cole to Perry's idea