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.
Hey yo this is the way we lay it down, on the L train
Yo help me out now, yo yo
Hey yo, Black I need help
I mean immediately and right away
Every single day I swear I'm gonna find a better way
My enemies are testing me
Dissing me and grilling me
Yesterday they cornered me and beat me down repeatedly
Imagine me now its like I'm Mr. Negativity
It's hard when you're packing
Devils start attacking
I got no time for running
No time for hiding
Now I got my crew and we about to get violent
So clear the streets
Shake the cops
Lets go get these punks
Are you all down?
Yo nobody better front
Sometimes I am a player
Sometimes I am a pawn
No energy to run
But I gotta carry on
I resurrect myself
Lazarus he was a man who died
Through the power of faith became alive
Open up your eyes and spy Lazarus
Better yet open up your heart imagine this
Riding on the train
Riding on the L train
I don't got no problems no more no more no
Riding on the train
Cruising on the L train
I will reach my destination for sure I know
Yo Black help me out
I mean immediately and right away
Meager is my property [?] and I don't got a hideaway
My enemies will badger me
Track me down and capture me
Yesterday they cornered me and beat me down relentlessly
Imagine me they used to call me Mr. Positivity
Hard when your slacking
Devils are attacking
I get no satisfaction
I get no gratification
In it for my self
I put my mind to my microphone
To your ear drum
Listen close 'cause here it come
Sometimes I am a player
Sometimes I am a pawn
No energy to run still I gots to carry on
I resurrect my self
Lazarus he was a man who died
Through the power of faith became alive
Open up your eyes and spy Lazarus
Better yet open up your heart y'all imagine this
Riding on the train
Riding on the L train
I don't got no problems no more no more no
Riding on the train
Cruising on the L train
I will reach my destination for sure I know
Now check it out
To the bright and early morn'
We keep it on
Nobody can ever know the patterns that we hold
Sometimes we are the players
Sometimes we are the pawn
We always carry on
We gotta carry on
To the bright and early morn'
We keep it on
Nobody can ever know the patterns that we hold
Sometimes we are the players
Sometimes we are the pawn
We always carry on
We gotta carry on
Riding on the train (on the train)
Riding on the L train (on the L train)
I don't got no problems no more no more no
Riding on the train (on the train)
Cruising on the L train
I will reach my destination for sure I know
[Repeat]
Yo help me out now, yo yo
Hey yo, Black I need help
I mean immediately and right away
Every single day I swear I'm gonna find a better way
My enemies are testing me
Dissing me and grilling me
Yesterday they cornered me and beat me down repeatedly
Imagine me now its like I'm Mr. Negativity
It's hard when you're packing
Devils start attacking
I got no time for running
No time for hiding
Now I got my crew and we about to get violent
So clear the streets
Shake the cops
Lets go get these punks
Are you all down?
Yo nobody better front
Sometimes I am a player
Sometimes I am a pawn
No energy to run
But I gotta carry on
I resurrect myself
Lazarus he was a man who died
Through the power of faith became alive
Open up your eyes and spy Lazarus
Better yet open up your heart imagine this
Riding on the train
Riding on the L train
I don't got no problems no more no more no
Riding on the train
Cruising on the L train
I will reach my destination for sure I know
Yo Black help me out
I mean immediately and right away
Meager is my property [?] and I don't got a hideaway
My enemies will badger me
Track me down and capture me
Yesterday they cornered me and beat me down relentlessly
Imagine me they used to call me Mr. Positivity
Hard when your slacking
Devils are attacking
I get no satisfaction
I get no gratification
In it for my self
I put my mind to my microphone
To your ear drum
Listen close 'cause here it come
Sometimes I am a player
Sometimes I am a pawn
No energy to run still I gots to carry on
I resurrect my self
Lazarus he was a man who died
Through the power of faith became alive
Open up your eyes and spy Lazarus
Better yet open up your heart y'all imagine this
Riding on the train
Riding on the L train
I don't got no problems no more no more no
Riding on the train
Cruising on the L train
I will reach my destination for sure I know
Now check it out
To the bright and early morn'
We keep it on
Nobody can ever know the patterns that we hold
Sometimes we are the players
Sometimes we are the pawn
We always carry on
We gotta carry on
To the bright and early morn'
We keep it on
Nobody can ever know the patterns that we hold
Sometimes we are the players
Sometimes we are the pawn
We always carry on
We gotta carry on
Riding on the train (on the train)
Riding on the L train (on the L train)
I don't got no problems no more no more no
Riding on the train (on the train)
Cruising on the L train
I will reach my destination for sure I know
[Repeat]
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