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.
Uh
As I sit in my B-boy stance
With flip-flops and socks, and sweatpants
We finna enhance your brain, check it out
Once upon a time not long ago
When the player from the Pointe didn't have no flow
A nigga hit me for my tennis shoes, walking to the sto'
Caught a nigga slipping, but now I lay it to the flo'
Just like carbon, 'cause I got the heat in my rhythm
Mama nay not, never bragging just to stay knot
Even when I was a younger lad I learned my lesson
Never talked to strangers in the trap and answered questions
The Pope and his folks got us under a scope
But for unknown reasons 'cause we don't sell dope
That you distribute, we don't contribute, to your clandestine
Activity, my soliloquy, may be hard for some to swallow
But so is cod liver oil
You went behind my back like Bluto when he cut up Olive Oyl
Two things I hate lies and thieves they make my blood boil
Boa constricted, on my soul that they call
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
It took your mama nine months to make it
But it only took a nigga thirty minutes to take it
Cut that kronk clean up I did, but I did so not safely
Don't want no AIDS, no claps, or no rabies
Yo, we take no shit, like, stopped up commodes
Gotta collect call, they done locked up my folks
Low blow, hit me in the left ventricle
We won't be able to ride out 'til two thousand fo'
But not for long 'cause we got a better sack to serve
Tryna take you other people for your rims at the curb
Fore you swerve and bust ya forehead, go head, go head
More head for me, while you ride to the beat
Drop, like tears, like For fears, you know
Shout, shout let it all out, just for my peers
And pupils who feel like it's time to unwind
Like December 31st, on nineteen-ninety-nine
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Okay, like this, yeah yeah
One time for my boy doing king shit
Two times, too legit and it don't quit
Three times for my folks in the drop top
Four times OutKast and it don't stop
One time for my girls doing Queen things
Dead fresh to the teeth eating chicken wings
Three times for my girls in the beauty shop
Four times OutKast and it don't stop
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
As I sit in my B-boy stance
With flip-flops and socks, and sweatpants
We finna enhance your brain, check it out
Once upon a time not long ago
When the player from the Pointe didn't have no flow
A nigga hit me for my tennis shoes, walking to the sto'
Caught a nigga slipping, but now I lay it to the flo'
Just like carbon, 'cause I got the heat in my rhythm
Mama nay not, never bragging just to stay knot
Even when I was a younger lad I learned my lesson
Never talked to strangers in the trap and answered questions
The Pope and his folks got us under a scope
But for unknown reasons 'cause we don't sell dope
That you distribute, we don't contribute, to your clandestine
Activity, my soliloquy, may be hard for some to swallow
But so is cod liver oil
You went behind my back like Bluto when he cut up Olive Oyl
Two things I hate lies and thieves they make my blood boil
Boa constricted, on my soul that they call
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
It took your mama nine months to make it
But it only took a nigga thirty minutes to take it
Cut that kronk clean up I did, but I did so not safely
Don't want no AIDS, no claps, or no rabies
Yo, we take no shit, like, stopped up commodes
Gotta collect call, they done locked up my folks
Low blow, hit me in the left ventricle
We won't be able to ride out 'til two thousand fo'
But not for long 'cause we got a better sack to serve
Tryna take you other people for your rims at the curb
Fore you swerve and bust ya forehead, go head, go head
More head for me, while you ride to the beat
Drop, like tears, like For fears, you know
Shout, shout let it all out, just for my peers
And pupils who feel like it's time to unwind
Like December 31st, on nineteen-ninety-nine
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Okay, like this, yeah yeah
One time for my boy doing king shit
Two times, too legit and it don't quit
Three times for my folks in the drop top
Four times OutKast and it don't stop
One time for my girls doing Queen things
Dead fresh to the teeth eating chicken wings
Three times for my girls in the beauty shop
Four times OutKast and it don't stop
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
Now show me how you feel (feel)
Touched by the wheels of steel (steel)
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the best outkast song . classic.
Anytime someone tells me that all Rap and Hip Hop and Urban music is shallow, narcissistic and totally disposable, I direct them to this song.
One of the greatest, most underrated songs ever.
agreed to both comments, i love to slip this into playlists. These days i can't help but remind people "that is turntables and records, understand that"...Mr DJ-yeah pretty much This Album is art though. I saw it first hand. I was listening to rap and shit and then got turned onto this...that's cheating...
Once i had a girlfriend from Lao (i lived in Thailand), she couldn't speak much english...like none...she woulda heard Top 40 shit at the most. No hip hop or rap... I would head off to work and leave her behind to cruise... I'd come home from work to this girl with the headphones on, bobbing her head, she was probably dancing before i came in... to Atliens....every single day for a month or so. I don't think she ever took the CD out.... Wheelz of Steel was her favorite song. I think it says a lot that their music transcends cultures and languages so easily. I saw the same thing in Indonesia where i live most of the year...i didn't know they had a new song out, then one afternoon i heard Hey Ya...It was banging and the whole alley felt that way. everybody nodding their heads... this girl dancing-still sitting, but the upper body was going- that's like her putting it out there at the same level as a girl in a western country twerking would be...