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.
It's another night in hell
Another child won't live to tell
Can you imagine what it's like to starve to death
And as we sit free and well
Another soldier has to yell
Tell my wife and children I love them in his last breath
c'mon now amen, amen, amen
Habitual offenders, scumbag lawyers with agendas
I'll tell you sometimes people I don't know what's worse
Natural disasters or these wolves in sheep clothes pastors
Now damn it I'm scared to send my children to church
And how can we seek salvation when our nations race relations
Got me feeling guilty of being white
But faith in human nature, our creator and our savior, I'm no saint
But I believe in what is right
c'mon now amen, amen
I said amen, amen
Stop pointing fingers and take some blame,
Pull your future away from the flame
Open up your mind and start to live
Stop short changing your neighbors
Living off hand outs and favors, and maybe
Give a little bit more than you got to give
Simplify, testify, identify, rectify
And if I get high stop being so uptight
It's only human nature and I am not a stranger
So baby won't you stay with me tonight
It's a matter of salvation from them patience up above,
So don't give up so damn easy on the one you love, one you love
Somewhere you got a brother, sister, friend, grandmother, niece or nephew
Just dying to be with you
You know there's someone out there who unconditionally, religiously, loves you
So just hold on 'cause you know it's true
And if you can take the pain
And you can withstand anything, and one day
Stand hand in hand with the truth
I said amen, I said amen
I said amen, I said amen,
Amen-
Another child won't live to tell
Can you imagine what it's like to starve to death
And as we sit free and well
Another soldier has to yell
Tell my wife and children I love them in his last breath
c'mon now amen, amen, amen
Habitual offenders, scumbag lawyers with agendas
I'll tell you sometimes people I don't know what's worse
Natural disasters or these wolves in sheep clothes pastors
Now damn it I'm scared to send my children to church
And how can we seek salvation when our nations race relations
Got me feeling guilty of being white
But faith in human nature, our creator and our savior, I'm no saint
But I believe in what is right
c'mon now amen, amen
I said amen, amen
Stop pointing fingers and take some blame,
Pull your future away from the flame
Open up your mind and start to live
Stop short changing your neighbors
Living off hand outs and favors, and maybe
Give a little bit more than you got to give
Simplify, testify, identify, rectify
And if I get high stop being so uptight
It's only human nature and I am not a stranger
So baby won't you stay with me tonight
It's a matter of salvation from them patience up above,
So don't give up so damn easy on the one you love, one you love
Somewhere you got a brother, sister, friend, grandmother, niece or nephew
Just dying to be with you
You know there's someone out there who unconditionally, religiously, loves you
So just hold on 'cause you know it's true
And if you can take the pain
And you can withstand anything, and one day
Stand hand in hand with the truth
I said amen, I said amen
I said amen, I said amen,
Amen-
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First of all this is an awesome song.
"And how can we seek salvation when our nation's race relations Got me feeling guilty of being white"
This statement is made out of frustration. At first glance the listener may interpret this as referring to "America oppressing blacks." However, a closer look at the wording and context reveals differently.
Kid Rock, as well as many other "white" men and women, as myself and wife, have become frustrated with the media and political attempts to force blame and guilt onto this generation of whites for our nations history of slavery which occurred hundreds of years before we were born, as well as racial oppression which was also prevalent before we were born.
Nothing can be done to fix the past. We can only move forward. "Why should a man feel guilty for something he didn't do?" I believe that is the very attitude of this statement.
Note: No one owes an African American, White, Asian, Mexican, ect. ANY SPECIAL ATTENTION due to race.
The Jews were oppressed for hundreds of years. It ain't right- but it was part of progression and domestication of human beings.
God bless every race.
This song seems different from what he usually does. It's real and thoughful. It's good.
You know there's someone out there who unconditionally, religiously loves you
Think he is talking about Jesus? I also think that or about a girl or a significant other who just loves you.. Wants you to pull through whatever situation you're going through.
I originally thought this was Black Crowes when I heard it.
There's a better chance people might believe Hitler to sing these lyrics than Kid Rock. "I'm no saint but I believe in what is right"
Another preachy song...bleh.
i joined this site just so i could comment on this song. this is the most rediculous, preachy, cliche piece of crap. seriously, this is not "real". not one original idea is in this piece. although, it is kid rock so i dont know why im so surprised. i cannot stand these type of talking "songs", whose only purpose is to shove some idealistic hippylove bullshit down everyones throat. he makes me ashamed to share some of the same views. ugh. cliche.
I just thought I'd tell you what the "There is a part here where I have no idea at all what he says" is.
When a calls away To break the sound I'm faden down, I need someone Oh to be someone They just sinken down, and holden back I hold the dawn and run They don't save a child Oh, to save a child
As a Christian i take serious offense to the fact he says GodD***It and then in the next verse is praising God it is completely contradictory. With that being said the rest of the lyrics are realistic he is basically telling the world the truth finally someone is doing it.
This is possibly the worst lyric to which my ears have ever been subjected. At first I thought it was Steven Tyler, that would've been a REAL letdown. Even as it is, when did Kid Rock go from being an American bad ass to being a hectoring, hypocritical paranoiac with a facade of religiosity? This is garbage from the first syllable to the last.
Well his intention of the song was good. But his lyrics aren't all that's great. I don't know in the end its lame.
He was challanged by his producer or someone to make a song that was deeper than he usually makes. Apperantly he thought of the most meaningful word in the english lang. was Amen and that's what he came up with. I don't like it.