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.
Well you can't
No you can't
Said ya can't
You can't always win
If you try
You get by
Well it's true
I can see they do
Well a man's just a man
And a man can just
take so much
Well this man's
Got a trigger
And I think
It just takes
One touch
Fire with fire with fire
Fire and smoke
If I can
Burn this town
To the ground
I believe
I believe
Make 'em sure
Raise up
Raise up
Raise up
There's no time to sleep
Cause you can't
Beat the house
And this time
You're playing for keeps
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
There's no time to lose
Cause they only
Time they win
You say they do
With fire with fire with fire
Fire and smoke
If I can
Burn this town
To the ground
I believe
I believe
Well there will be fire
And there will be smoke
There will be ashes on the ground and
Everyone will choke and
It'll be the biggest thing since nineteen ought four
I'll burn you down my Baltimore
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
No you can't
Said ya can't
You can't always win
If you try
You get by
Well it's true
I can see they do
Well a man's just a man
And a man can just
take so much
Well this man's
Got a trigger
And I think
It just takes
One touch
Fire with fire with fire
Fire and smoke
If I can
Burn this town
To the ground
I believe
I believe
Make 'em sure
Raise up
Raise up
Raise up
There's no time to sleep
Cause you can't
Beat the house
And this time
You're playing for keeps
Wake up
Wake up
Wake up
There's no time to lose
Cause they only
Time they win
You say they do
With fire with fire with fire
Fire and smoke
If I can
Burn this town
To the ground
I believe
I believe
Well there will be fire
And there will be smoke
There will be ashes on the ground and
Everyone will choke and
It'll be the biggest thing since nineteen ought four
I'll burn you down my Baltimore
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Lyrics submitted by a_melancholy_soul
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