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.
Millennium flow
Serena Altschul's here live outside the criminal courthouse
(This is bullshit y'all)
In New York city for the first day in the trial of
(I'm gone)
The State vs. Shawn Carter, a.K.a. Jay-Z
(Uhh, uh huh uh, uhh, uh huh uh, uhh)
Whatever the verdict in this trial may be
The effects will undoubtedly be felt worldwide
Aiyyo, stand forward, 'fore you take notice
Or witness to me killin' the track
Testify 'til me spillin' the smack
Now they got me for traffickin', racketeerin', audio crack
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
A broke man, approachin' the bench with intent
To bury me under the cell, fingered me as the toast man
Evidence stemmin' from ninety six
They say the world ain't recovered from his fix
While they was usin' cut I was on some other shit
Gave it to you raw and they just discovered it
Nowadays, the jury got they brow raised
Listenin' to testimony about my foul ways
Exhibit A "Reasonable Doubt"
They say this was the first thing that turned the peoples out
You can feel the tension building here
As an unprecedented number of people have turned out
For what may be the "Trial of the Century"
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
How come, you label your brand of dope
"Volume 1" and spread it through the slums?
Fed it to the young with total disregard
Your honor, the State seeks the maximum charge
And how could you, turn right around
And release a lethal dosage called "Volume 2"?
And is true you operate the criminal enterprise
Known as Roc-a-Fella in charge of his meteoric rise?
And do you deny you're responsible for the demise
Of record execs and do you object your distribution's Polygram?
And through your connects Def Jam
You pushed over five million SoundScan
And not to mention, your co-horts and henchmen
Dame, Biggs, Lyor, Kev' and Russell Simmons
And we ain't gon' talk about Murder, Inc
That just establishes a darker deeper criminal link
The State is seeking the maximum penalty
And with the overwhelming amount of evidence
The D.A.'s presented, things aren't looking good
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
Despite the grim outlook at this point
The rapper has been known to emerge triumphant
In the face of adversity
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
(Jay-z is taking the stand)
Ghetto spokes man
Right hand on the Bible, left hand in the air
Before I spoke one word, made sure my throat was clear
A-hem, I'm a prisoner of circumstance
Frail nigga, I couldn't much work with my hands
But my mind was strong, I grew where you hold your blacks up
Trap us, expect us not to pick gats up
Where you drop your cracks off by the Mack trucks
Destroy our dreams of lawyers and actors
Keep us spiralin', goin' backwards
At age nine, saw my first hate crime
Blindfolded, expected to walk a straight line
Mind molded, taught to love you and hate mine
Climbed over it at a early age, Jay shined
Fuck the system at Lady Justice I blaze nine
Your Honor, I no longer kill my people, I raise mine
The soul of Mumia in this modern day time
While the jury is inside deliberating
Outside the crowd is frozen with anticipation
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
Well the verdict isjust been announced not guilty!
It is complete pandemonium out here!
(They call me Dope Man, Dope Man)
People are cheering and hugging there he is
(I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man)
Jay-z is exiting the courtroom right now
(Ghetto spokes man)
There is a swarm of cameras surrounding him
And people are just rushing up to him
Let's try and make our way over there, Jay-Z! Jay-z!
Serena Altschul's here live outside the criminal courthouse
(This is bullshit y'all)
In New York city for the first day in the trial of
(I'm gone)
The State vs. Shawn Carter, a.K.a. Jay-Z
(Uhh, uh huh uh, uhh, uh huh uh, uhh)
Whatever the verdict in this trial may be
The effects will undoubtedly be felt worldwide
Aiyyo, stand forward, 'fore you take notice
Or witness to me killin' the track
Testify 'til me spillin' the smack
Now they got me for traffickin', racketeerin', audio crack
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
A broke man, approachin' the bench with intent
To bury me under the cell, fingered me as the toast man
Evidence stemmin' from ninety six
They say the world ain't recovered from his fix
While they was usin' cut I was on some other shit
Gave it to you raw and they just discovered it
Nowadays, the jury got they brow raised
Listenin' to testimony about my foul ways
Exhibit A "Reasonable Doubt"
They say this was the first thing that turned the peoples out
You can feel the tension building here
As an unprecedented number of people have turned out
For what may be the "Trial of the Century"
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
How come, you label your brand of dope
"Volume 1" and spread it through the slums?
Fed it to the young with total disregard
Your honor, the State seeks the maximum charge
And how could you, turn right around
And release a lethal dosage called "Volume 2"?
And is true you operate the criminal enterprise
Known as Roc-a-Fella in charge of his meteoric rise?
And do you deny you're responsible for the demise
Of record execs and do you object your distribution's Polygram?
And through your connects Def Jam
You pushed over five million SoundScan
And not to mention, your co-horts and henchmen
Dame, Biggs, Lyor, Kev' and Russell Simmons
And we ain't gon' talk about Murder, Inc
That just establishes a darker deeper criminal link
The State is seeking the maximum penalty
And with the overwhelming amount of evidence
The D.A.'s presented, things aren't looking good
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
Despite the grim outlook at this point
The rapper has been known to emerge triumphant
In the face of adversity
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
(Jay-z is taking the stand)
Ghetto spokes man
Right hand on the Bible, left hand in the air
Before I spoke one word, made sure my throat was clear
A-hem, I'm a prisoner of circumstance
Frail nigga, I couldn't much work with my hands
But my mind was strong, I grew where you hold your blacks up
Trap us, expect us not to pick gats up
Where you drop your cracks off by the Mack trucks
Destroy our dreams of lawyers and actors
Keep us spiralin', goin' backwards
At age nine, saw my first hate crime
Blindfolded, expected to walk a straight line
Mind molded, taught to love you and hate mine
Climbed over it at a early age, Jay shined
Fuck the system at Lady Justice I blaze nine
Your Honor, I no longer kill my people, I raise mine
The soul of Mumia in this modern day time
While the jury is inside deliberating
Outside the crowd is frozen with anticipation
They call me Dope Man, Dope Man
I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man
Ghetto spokes man
Well the verdict isjust been announced not guilty!
It is complete pandemonium out here!
(They call me Dope Man, Dope Man)
People are cheering and hugging there he is
(I try to tell 'em I'm where hope, floats man)
Jay-z is exiting the courtroom right now
(Ghetto spokes man)
There is a swarm of cameras surrounding him
And people are just rushing up to him
Let's try and make our way over there, Jay-Z! Jay-z!
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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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Incredible song.For all the hustlers out there holla.
this song paints the picture of Jay success.
This song is off the hook!!!! In my top "10 greatest Jay-z songs" list.
Pretty straight forward. Compares his music to drugs (check Rap Game Crack Game-In My Liftime Vol. 1) a good idea to stand trail for spreading his music. He compares his co-workers and label A&R's to crime connects. One great metaphor filled with quotables and a good message underlying.