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.
We were sons of insurrection
Doomed to face the dark alone
Till vicarious perfection
Dearly won was made our own
So where's your landslide
Where's your victory
Tell me now, where's your sting
Unassailable you waited
The great enemy of man
Till your awful jaws were sated
And we were ransomed from your hand
So where's your landslide
Where's your victory
Tell me now, where's your sting
Where's your landslide
Where's your victory
Tell me now, where's your sting
Now that you have been disarmed
We will cross over unharmed
Doomed to face the dark alone
Till vicarious perfection
Dearly won was made our own
So where's your landslide
Where's your victory
Tell me now, where's your sting
Unassailable you waited
The great enemy of man
Till your awful jaws were sated
And we were ransomed from your hand
So where's your landslide
Where's your victory
Tell me now, where's your sting
Where's your landslide
Where's your victory
Tell me now, where's your sting
Now that you have been disarmed
We will cross over unharmed
Lyrics submitted by John Hammerdance
Disarmed Lyrics as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge Dustin Michael Kensrue
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" -1 Corinthians 15:55
Onliberty and mtamerson already have this down pretty well, but I wanted to draw attention to some of the lyrics. "Doomed to face the dark alone, 'til vicarious perfection dearly won was made our own" - That has to be the most poetic and beautiful reference to the sacrifice of Christ I have ever read or heard. Vicarious perfection is obviously referring to the perfection of Christ as God made human; that perfection was "dearly won and made our own" through his sacrifice for humanity, which washes away sin in Christian theology. Through the sacrifice of his perfection, we are made more perfect. Incredibly poignant and well-written.
However, I must confess I don't totally understand the "sons of insurrection" line. Maybe referring back to original sin, inherent wickedness and turning away from God? Insurrection is a term for violent rebellion and strife... It doesn't quite seem to fit with that interpretation but it's teh best I can think of. Anyone else have an idea?
I think the use of "insurrection" draws from one of the points of Calvinism-- total depravity. Because of the Fall, man is completely incapable of choosing to love God by his own nature. The Fall totally affected every part of man's being-- his motives, feelings, desires etc. and as a result, man chooses to serve himself. And being a son doesn't have to be a literal son-- just one who has been influenced by something particular.<br /> In that regard, I think mankind could be considered "sons of insurrection," because although we're created imagio dei and as part of God's orderly creation, the Fall fragmented his orderly creation. It's now part of our nature to serve ourselves and take our God-given gifts in use them in a non God-directed manner... aka sin... our rebellion against God's law.
Pretty good for the most part, although I think instead of "On a sailboat you waited" it is "Unassailable, you waited"
That makes more sense. I transcribed these pretty quickly on only one listen, so it's not unlikely I made some mistakes. I've fixed it now.
Yep. About Christ's victory over death.
Not specifically Christ's. They are Paul's words and for believers facing death.
Yes they are Paul's words, but not for believers facing death. Believers don't face death. Death is the seperation from God as punishment for sin, and as believers, CHRIST'S victory over death is applied to our account so we will not die. Yes our physical bodies will fall away, but that is not unto death.<br /> <br /> Only non-believers face true death. <br /> <br /> Only Christ defeated death. To say that the victory is not specifically Christ's borders on blasphemy. We share in the spoils from that victory, but the victory itself was His and His alone.
They may wish to change wedding vows for they say "Until death do we part" (if I can recall correctly). There is physical death and spiritual death. Christians do face the former.
I think this has a lot to do with the deaths and hardships all the members have had in their families recently.
Sin and death has been disarmed by the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Death holds no weight on Him or on those who duly follow him.
Very poetic and beautiful lyrics. Saw them last night in Detroit - awesome, awesome show.
this song is beautiful indeed...the harmonization at the end with the guitars and layered vocals is awesome. It just makes me picture approaching the gates of heaven and Christ after death. I'm so used to all the Thrice song threads on this site being a debate over whether the song is of secular or spiritual origins, but I guess it is stated so poignantly and blatantly that is not so on this song. Maybe the song just hasn't been out long enough. Clearly about how through Christ even death holds no fear for us. This is one of their best songs yet. This album on the whole to me sounds like a blend of Vheissu and Beggars...my favorite Thrice song since Firebreather.
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