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.
Are you ready to testify ?
Are you ready to testify?
Black flags
Are you ready to testify?
You got 2 seconds
Are you ready to testify!!! come on!
There's a unified axis of government
And corporate power
Lawless and unrestrained
That's what we should talk about
Corporations exploit the power of the state
To further enhance their power
And the real criminals get away
Are you ready to testify ?
Are you ready to testify?
Black flags
Are you ready to testify?
You got 2 seconds
Are you ready to testify!!! come on!
Try to threat the system
You'll have the full weight of law
Come crashing down upon you
So you don't resist
Surveillance, goons
Force us to be silent
They kill the careers of journalists
So noone can resist
My flow, it sputters like they shut off my water
I got the sheriff after me for what i said bout obama
My flag is red like a period
Comma
I'm a piranha
Just like every one of y'all
Let's take that shark to the slaughter
And here we gotta beat bouncin' more than last months rent check
The boss walkin' walll street with a pimp step
People of whoville!
We need to slit the grinch's neck
We low paid prostitutes with no fishnets
Ash-sha`b yurid isqat an-nizam
Tell homeland security we are the bomb
Inform the house staff the mob's on the lawn
And it aint no soiree
Il ne c'est pas bon
They call this black flags
But i'm not an anarchist
I'm on some sickle/hammer shit
Collective bruce banner shit
Over a piano pitch
Cock and let the hammer hit
We're here collecting damages
And handing knuckle sandwiches
There's a class war going on
And it's the rich who are waging it!
They try to destroy anyone who is a threat to their power
Playing for keeps - they want it all!
Do you want it all?
Are you ready to testify ?
Are you ready to testify?
Black flags
Are you ready to testify?
You got 2 seconds
Are you ready to testify!!! come on!
Are you ready to testify?
Black flags
Are you ready to testify?
You got 2 seconds
Are you ready to testify!!! come on!
There's a unified axis of government
And corporate power
Lawless and unrestrained
That's what we should talk about
Corporations exploit the power of the state
To further enhance their power
And the real criminals get away
Are you ready to testify ?
Are you ready to testify?
Black flags
Are you ready to testify?
You got 2 seconds
Are you ready to testify!!! come on!
Try to threat the system
You'll have the full weight of law
Come crashing down upon you
So you don't resist
Surveillance, goons
Force us to be silent
They kill the careers of journalists
So noone can resist
My flow, it sputters like they shut off my water
I got the sheriff after me for what i said bout obama
My flag is red like a period
Comma
I'm a piranha
Just like every one of y'all
Let's take that shark to the slaughter
And here we gotta beat bouncin' more than last months rent check
The boss walkin' walll street with a pimp step
People of whoville!
We need to slit the grinch's neck
We low paid prostitutes with no fishnets
Ash-sha`b yurid isqat an-nizam
Tell homeland security we are the bomb
Inform the house staff the mob's on the lawn
And it aint no soiree
Il ne c'est pas bon
They call this black flags
But i'm not an anarchist
I'm on some sickle/hammer shit
Collective bruce banner shit
Over a piano pitch
Cock and let the hammer hit
We're here collecting damages
And handing knuckle sandwiches
There's a class war going on
And it's the rich who are waging it!
They try to destroy anyone who is a threat to their power
Playing for keeps - they want it all!
Do you want it all?
Are you ready to testify ?
Are you ready to testify?
Black flags
Are you ready to testify?
You got 2 seconds
Are you ready to testify!!! come on!
Lyrics submitted by douglasmendes
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