In Self Defense
Journey Lyrics


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The situation's got me rattled
I twist and turn late at night
This whole world's up in shambles
Who's the one to make it right

Missing persons lost in action (action)
Forgotten victims of the night (victims of the night)
They're making crime the main attraction (attraction)
They're making everyone uptight
They're all looking for a fight

In this confusion from day to day
Sometimes fear just makes no sense
In this crossfire I see one way
In self defense

You'll take your chances, Mr. Policeman (policeman)
You're like a cat with thirteen lives (cat with thirteen lives)
Your law and order is our lifeline (lifeline)
Through the danger, you'll survive
I do what I need to stay alive

In this confusion from day to day
Sometimes fear just makes no sense
In this crossfire I see one way
In self defense

In self (self) defense
In self (self) defense

In this confusion from day to day
Sometimes fear just makes no sense




In this crossfire I see one way
In self defense

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Journey's "In Self-Defense" address the fear and uncertainty that many people feel in the face of crime and social unrest. The verses describe a world that is in chaos, with missing persons and forgotten victims of crime, and where fighting seems to be the norm. The singer expresses feelings of anxiety and insomnia because of the state of the world.


The chorus, however, offers a sense of hope and empowerment. The singer decides to take control of their own safety and security, rather than relying on others to "make it right". They acknowledge the risks involved in this approach, but ultimately see it as the only way forward. The reference to policemen suggests that law and order are still important, but the responsibility for personal safety lies with the individual.


The theme of self-reliance and self-defense is resonant in this song, especially given the context of the late 70s and early 80s in America, when crime rates were high and communities were feeling a sense of unease. The song acknowledges this fear and offers a solution, however fraught with risk it may be.


Line by Line Meaning

The situation's got me rattled
I am feeling unsettled by the current state of things


I twist and turn late at night
I cannot sleep due to anxiety


This whole world's up in shambles
The world is in disarray


Who's the one to make it right
Who is responsible for fixing everything


Missing persons lost in action (action)
People who disappeared and have not been found


Forgotten victims of the night (victims of the night)
People who have been harmed or victimized in darkness


They're making crime the main attraction (attraction)
People are drawn to criminal activity and it's becoming normalized


They're making everyone uptight
People are becoming anxious and nervous


They're all looking for a fight
People are ready to argue or confront others


In this confusion from day to day
In the midst of this everyday disarray


Sometimes fear just makes no sense
Sometimes fear does not have a rational basis


In this crossfire I see one way
In this conflict, there is only one path to take


In self defense
To protect oneself from harm


You'll take your chances, Mr. Policeman (policeman)
Even law enforcement officers face uncertainty and danger


You're like a cat with thirteen lives (cat with thirteen lives)
You have many chances to survive


Your law and order is our lifeline (lifeline)
We rely on the police to maintain safety and stability


Through the danger, you'll survive
Despite the risk, law enforcement officers will make it through


I do what I need to stay alive
I will take whatever actions necessary to protect myself


In self (self) defense
To protect oneself from harm


In this confusion from day to day
In the midst of this everyday disarray


Sometimes fear just makes no sense
Sometimes fear does not have a rational basis


In this crossfire I see one way
In this conflict, there is only one path to take


In self defense
To protect oneself from harm




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN CAIN, NEAL JOSEPH SCHON, STEPHEN RAY PERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Tyler Laurette

LYRICS:
This situation's got me rattled
I twist and turn late at night
This whole world's up in shambles
Who's the one to make it right


A missing person's lost in action
Forgotten victims of the night
They're making crime the main attraction
They're making everyone uptight
They're all looking for a fight


CHORUS
In this confusion from day to day
Sometimes fear just makes no sense
In this crossfire I see one way
In self-defense


You take your chances mister policeman
You're like a cat with thirteen lives
Your law and order is our lifeline
Through the danger you'll survive
I do what I need to stay alive


Repeat chorus


In self defense
In self defense


Repeat chorus

Yo On

Schon & Hammer song.... pretty old actually. Didn't know they had this added to Generations album.. Does this version also have Perry as background vocal? The original did..

Jihavoh

Neal was supposed to do Gone Crazy but Ross Valory was having trouble choosing a song to sing lead on so Neal gave him Gone Crazy and just pulled this track out and dusted it off lol

Alex P

Sounds like either Augeri or Deen Castronovo.

Bard Breaker

No, they re-recorded it for this album and at this point Journey had moved to Steve Augeri instead of Perry.

mu mu

serious Kick butt 😁

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