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.
I'm a street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm
I'm a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb
I am a world's forgotten boy
The one who searches and destroys
Honey, gotta help me, please
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, detonate for me, ow
Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology
Solar radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight
Honey, gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, penetrate my mind
And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And, honey, I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin' only to destroy, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology
Solar radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight
Honey, gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, penetrate my mind
And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And, honey, I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
Forgotten boy, forgotten boy
Forgotten boy said, uh
Hey, forgotten boy, said
Hey, hey, hey, hey
I'm a runaway son of the nuclear A-bomb
I am a world's forgotten boy
The one who searches and destroys
Honey, gotta help me, please
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, detonate for me, ow
Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology
Solar radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight
Honey, gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, penetrate my mind
And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And, honey, I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin' only to destroy, hey
Hey, hey
Hey, hey
Look out, honey, 'cause I'm using technology
Ain't got time to make no apology
Solar radiation in the dead of night
Love in the middle of a fire fight
Honey, gotta strike me blind
Somebody gotta save my soul
Baby, penetrate my mind
And I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
And, honey, I'm the world's forgotten boy
The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy
Forgotten boy, forgotten boy
Forgotten boy said, uh
Hey, forgotten boy, said
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Lyrics submitted by AngelDust20, edited by losttomusicDAC
Search and Destroy Lyrics as written by James Williamson James Osterberg
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
This is indeed a great song. As one who was born in 1955, we saw the Viet Nam war constantly on TV in the late 60s and early 70s. The phrase “search and destroy” describes a routine type of Viet Nam mission for US troops, which we heard about over and over again. The phrase “fire fight” was also used extensively in media coverage of the war. The lyric “love in the middle of a fire fight” is probably my favorite of any song, ever. It says “fuck you” to misguided authority in a very positive way.
I can't believe no one has commented on this song. I'd say it's probably the greatest song of the punk era. It's destruction/alienation theme seems to forshadow "Fight Club" by 25 years. Truely, this is what rock is meant to be.
"I am the world's forgotten boy"--now that's a fucking good line.
Not only is it probably the greatest punk song ever but in my opinion one of the most powerful and moving songs recorded in any genre. As it stands now, Search & Destroy is my favorite song of all time.
there's amazing power contained in this song. the stooges were way before their time. this is better than most shit made before and after it.
as butterboy said, one of the best songs of punk
Not only one of the best songs of punk but one of the first ever punk songs. Iggy was doing punk before there ever was such a thing. He had a sound that would be used a decade later by bands like the Ramones.
This was the first Iggy/ Stooges song I heard. My boyfriend made me listen to it and I fell in love with it :) Really great song Favorite lines: "The one who searches and destroys Honey gotta help me please Somebody gotta save my soul"
This song's great. The guitar solo/intro bit rocks. I'm not too sure about what the lyrics mean. The thing about Veitnam makes sense, though.
fav line:
Look out honey, 'cause I'm using technology
easily their best song. There's also a You Am I live version of it too.
Personally i think its about the alienation of youth by warmongering governments and the pointlessness of it all.
iggy says in the raw power liner notes that "heart full of napalm" was intended as a direct reference to heroin. Song is definitly about embracing nihilism.