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.
(Oh, Oh, Oh,)
Everything is broken,
Everything is broken,
Everything is breaking down, breaking down
Everything is bleeding,
Everything is bleeding,
Everything is breaking down, breaking down
I pledge allegiance to a country without borders,
Without Politicians,
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
We are broken, we are bitter, we're the problem,
We're the Politicians,
Watching for our sky to get torn apart
(Come on and break me)
Entropy and aching,
Where have we been aiming?
Everything is fading now,
Fading now
We are the faded,
Splintered and sedated
Everything is fading now,
Fading now
I pledge allegiance to a country without borders,
Without Politicians,
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
We are broken, we are bitter, we're the problem,
We're the Politicians,
Watching for our sky to get torn apart
(Come on and break me)
(Come on and break me)
Oh!
Oh!
I pledge allegiance to a country without borders,
Without Politicians,
Politicians,
Politicians,
I am broken, I am bitter!
I'm the problem, I'm the Politician,
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
(Come on and break me)
(Come on and break me)
Everything is broken,
Everything is broken,
Everything is breaking down, breaking down
Everything is bleeding,
Everything is bleeding,
Everything is breaking down, breaking down
I pledge allegiance to a country without borders,
Without Politicians,
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
We are broken, we are bitter, we're the problem,
We're the Politicians,
Watching for our sky to get torn apart
(Come on and break me)
Entropy and aching,
Where have we been aiming?
Everything is fading now,
Fading now
We are the faded,
Splintered and sedated
Everything is fading now,
Fading now
I pledge allegiance to a country without borders,
Without Politicians,
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
We are broken, we are bitter, we're the problem,
We're the Politicians,
Watching for our sky to get torn apart
(Come on and break me)
(Come on and break me)
Oh!
Oh!
I pledge allegiance to a country without borders,
Without Politicians,
Politicians,
Politicians,
I am broken, I am bitter!
I'm the problem, I'm the Politician,
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
(Come on and break me)
(Come on and break me)
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Awesome song! When I saw Switchfoot live, Jon Foreman said that people misunderstand this song and its not actually about politicians, its about the politician inside of us. It's kind of difficult to understand either way...But its a pretty pumping song and I really like it. The way I see it this song is about the fact that we all want to be in control, in power, like politicians. Yet theres noone that we can really trust, because everyone is looking out for themselves (sounds alot like the politicians we know eh). So I think Switchfoot are saying that they want to live for a country (could be taken as living for God) without these people in power or control. They want out from the entropy, the greed and the corruption. Anyways thats what the song means to me.
It's about heaven. Thats the country "without borders, without politicians" and he's pledging allegiance to it, and not to this broken, bleeding, faded world.
Jon Foreman: "We played this one downtown in Washington DC, surrounded on all sides by the government buildings. You see, I believe in democracy because I mistrust all humanity equally, (including myself). Power corrupts us all and we become political, (in the worst connotation of the word). We become simply pawns of our own insatiable hunger for control. Maybe control is a myth, like Santa Claus or the easter bunny: a nice fable that makes the children want to be good all year round. Well, seems to me there's a monster in all of us. I pledge allegiance to a nation without borders, without pride, without politicians like ourselves."
I saw them at the Nothing is Sound tour, and as AiR7oN said, Foreman said it was misunderstood. He said it comes across as being anitestablishment, but in fact it's about knowing that there is something better than what we have right now. I love the music as well as the message.
I love this song. Personally, I believe it has many meanings.
Hmmm. sounds depressing to me...
For me, no Switchfoot song is depressing, they are just honest about a depressing world
"A lot of people thought that this song is anti. This is not anti-US, this is not anti-Bush, it's not anti-humanity. For me this is a song that just recognizes that fact that as long as theres a war right in here [points to chest], theres going to be a war everywhere else. In that way I think that it's a really hopeful song. It's not anti anything at all, really. " -Jon
music psycho, most people would want a song that speaks the truth, right? well, if any song speaks the truth (like all of switchfoot's) it will most likely be a little depressing, seeing as how we live in a depressing world. you can have their songs, or listen to ones that talk about getting dumped for the 15th time.
"this song is not anti-war, it's not anti-anything. it's about coming together and making a difference" - jon foreman
Not only is this song what Jon is saying, but man'o'man is he crying out in this song (me too). He's tired of the wars going on inside and outside. He sees everything we've been working towards, like cars, homes, money, etc. But all this leads to "entropy and aching". The past few CD's have been about exactly these things, about how the more organized cultures are ignorant and aiming for the wrong things. Songs such as: We Were Meant to Live, Lonely Nation, Happy is a Yuppie Word (by the way, look at the book of Ecclesiastes. I'm pretty sure this is an influence in Switchfoot songs) Easier Than Love, etc. Jon and the rest of the band is definitely tired of the things he sees and wants something done, and not just talk about it. We need to be broken. "Come on and break me."