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.
Rest in peace to my nigga Stretch, my nigga 'Pac
So much pain
Uh, yeah, huh, yeah
All my, niggas.. so much pain
Uh, huh, yeah
Yeah, so, much
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
They'll never take me alive, I'm gettin' high with my fo'-five
Cocked on these niggas time to die
Even as a lil' nigga, you could picture me hot gun in the rain
I shed the tear, cause this nigga here inherits the pain
And now I'm labeled as a thug nigga, you know the game
Smokin' weed, fuckin' hoes, slangin' things, that's the life I live
Even if I tried to go back I'd get lost (come back)
And everything I seem to love I done lost
Fuck the world if they can't understand me
What else could I do? I had to feed my fuckin family
Yo' lies is my truth, so I'm a drug to your youth
And you don't want 'em nowhere near me, now that they can hear me
I spits razors, never been a stranger to homicide
My city's full of tote-slangers and chalk lines
Why do we die at an early age?
Nigga so young, but still a victim of a twelve-gauge
Feel the rage this world has bestowed upon me
And I don't give a fuck 'cause they don't give a fuck 'bout me
So I keep, drinkin' Hennessy, bustin at my enemies
Will I live to see twenty-three? There's so much pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Years and years of strugglin' all my life
Runnin' wild as a kid, grew up blazin' 'em right
I'm in a, little cell I call my soul lately
It's been a, givin' me hell and my heart is screamin', "Don't enter"
I've been cursed, for what it's worth I feel dead
Spittin' to you, I know I'm in way over my head
But Lord hear me, I believe in your "7 Day Theory"
Three souls done sent this whole world teary (can you hear me?)
Too hot for you to stand near me
It's so much pain, and niggas wanna kill me
I'm tired of the stress and the strain
But my, grimiest grimeys got love for me
They're blazin', sendin' shotguns up above for me
My face in, Hennessy with no chaser
Coke rises on every way in, keep us hustlin' nigga
Me and my man got a plan to get this paper nigga
So if you owe nigga, look for the gauge to blow nigga
I figured I'd be considered a killer
Doin' crime excited my mind and leadin' the blind
I, can't express my compassion, my satisfaction
For gettin' fucked up and blastin', we all been there
Taught from young to shoot, show no fear and lie
And wipe the tears from yo' mother's eyes - so much pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive")
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive")
Oh, tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive)
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive)
Oh, no
("Cocked on these suckers, time to die")
They got me mobbin' like I'm, loc'd and ready to get my slug on
I load my clip and slip my motherfuckin' gloves on
I ain't scared to blast on these suckers if they test me
Trust, I got my glock cocked, playa if they press me
Bust on motherfuckers with a, passion
Better duck 'cause I ain't lookin' when I'm, blastin'
I'm a nut and drinkin' Hennessy
And gettin' high on the lookout for my enemies
Don't wanna die, tell me why?
Cause the stress gettin' major
A buck-fifty 'cross the face with my razor
What can I do but be a thug until I'm dead and gone
I keep my brain on the game and stay headstrong
These sorry bastards wanna kill me in my sleep
I'm real they can not see
And everyday is just a struggle, steady thuggin' on the streets
And I be, ballin' loc, don't let 'em make you worry
Keep swingin' at these suckers 'til you buried
I was born to raise, hell, a nigga from the gutter, word to mother
I'm tough, I'm kicki'n dust up, ready to bust
I'm on the scene steady muggin' mean, until they kill me
I'll be livin' this life, I know you feel me
There's so much pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Oh, pain
So much pain
Uh, yeah, huh, yeah
All my, niggas.. so much pain
Uh, huh, yeah
Yeah, so, much
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
They'll never take me alive, I'm gettin' high with my fo'-five
Cocked on these niggas time to die
Even as a lil' nigga, you could picture me hot gun in the rain
I shed the tear, cause this nigga here inherits the pain
And now I'm labeled as a thug nigga, you know the game
Smokin' weed, fuckin' hoes, slangin' things, that's the life I live
Even if I tried to go back I'd get lost (come back)
And everything I seem to love I done lost
Fuck the world if they can't understand me
What else could I do? I had to feed my fuckin family
Yo' lies is my truth, so I'm a drug to your youth
And you don't want 'em nowhere near me, now that they can hear me
I spits razors, never been a stranger to homicide
My city's full of tote-slangers and chalk lines
Why do we die at an early age?
Nigga so young, but still a victim of a twelve-gauge
Feel the rage this world has bestowed upon me
And I don't give a fuck 'cause they don't give a fuck 'bout me
So I keep, drinkin' Hennessy, bustin at my enemies
Will I live to see twenty-three? There's so much pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Years and years of strugglin' all my life
Runnin' wild as a kid, grew up blazin' 'em right
I'm in a, little cell I call my soul lately
It's been a, givin' me hell and my heart is screamin', "Don't enter"
I've been cursed, for what it's worth I feel dead
Spittin' to you, I know I'm in way over my head
But Lord hear me, I believe in your "7 Day Theory"
Three souls done sent this whole world teary (can you hear me?)
Too hot for you to stand near me
It's so much pain, and niggas wanna kill me
I'm tired of the stress and the strain
But my, grimiest grimeys got love for me
They're blazin', sendin' shotguns up above for me
My face in, Hennessy with no chaser
Coke rises on every way in, keep us hustlin' nigga
Me and my man got a plan to get this paper nigga
So if you owe nigga, look for the gauge to blow nigga
I figured I'd be considered a killer
Doin' crime excited my mind and leadin' the blind
I, can't express my compassion, my satisfaction
For gettin' fucked up and blastin', we all been there
Taught from young to shoot, show no fear and lie
And wipe the tears from yo' mother's eyes - so much pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive")
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive")
Oh, tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive)
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
("They'll never take me alive)
Oh, no
("Cocked on these suckers, time to die")
They got me mobbin' like I'm, loc'd and ready to get my slug on
I load my clip and slip my motherfuckin' gloves on
I ain't scared to blast on these suckers if they test me
Trust, I got my glock cocked, playa if they press me
Bust on motherfuckers with a, passion
Better duck 'cause I ain't lookin' when I'm, blastin'
I'm a nut and drinkin' Hennessy
And gettin' high on the lookout for my enemies
Don't wanna die, tell me why?
Cause the stress gettin' major
A buck-fifty 'cross the face with my razor
What can I do but be a thug until I'm dead and gone
I keep my brain on the game and stay headstrong
These sorry bastards wanna kill me in my sleep
I'm real they can not see
And everyday is just a struggle, steady thuggin' on the streets
And I be, ballin' loc, don't let 'em make you worry
Keep swingin' at these suckers 'til you buried
I was born to raise, hell, a nigga from the gutter, word to mother
I'm tough, I'm kicki'n dust up, ready to bust
I'm on the scene steady muggin' mean, until they kill me
I'll be livin' this life, I know you feel me
There's so much pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain (so much pain)
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I'm tired of the strain and the pain
Oh, pain
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the best ja rule song ever
tupacs verse makes this though dont really rate ja ruke at all
i love how epic tupac's verse is in this version compared to the original. just something about it comes out at you tough. man, rip