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.
I don't regret nothing that I have ever done
At this point I don't owe nobody an explanation
Man, they love you when you up
Kick you when you down
Look around, VH1 man, where are they down
Life is amusing, nobody like to see you cruising
But everybody like to see you losing
So I stop despise, on top of lies
And if it prophesized I'll be ostracized
One day, I lost my rodium on the day I hit the podium
Now I'm back on top and salty like sodium
A gift to this world man, wrap me with a ribbon
Why do you look for a dead among the living
Some thought I was crazy, some thought I was dissing
Some said I was lazy, some said I was different
I was so loaded, that everybody floated
But once I got the notice then I got focused
And then I saw they motive, so everybody rode it
So I did the way wrote it and live it the way I quote it (come On)
Gotta survive in this life that's being given to me
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
When I'm down at the back, just keep it real
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Gotta Survive in this life that's being given to me
So I try and I try to be all I can be
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Hold up, trying to tell me what I'm not
Pull up in the 'Bach, not I'm all of the sudden hot
Now they want to stop just to look at what I got
Thought they want my home man, left me out to rot
So I had to make it on my own, take it on my own
I wanted out the hood I had to 'scape it on my own
Believe me now, it's easy now
'Cause everybody see me now and I'm on TV now
But it started out with low budget
Then I took it around the world the folks love it
In the beginning man, my life it was so rugged
But now I shine like a gold nugget, cause I made the most of it
I know how you feeling man, I was weary
Some days I used to sit there, my eyes all teary
Thinking to myself, do anybody hear me
Now I know, you making it out is not a theory (come on)
Gotta survive in this life that's being given to me
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
When I'm down at the back, just keep it real
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Gotta Survive in this life that's being given to me
So I try and I try to be all I can be
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
Gotta survive, gotta survive
I've been laughed at, talked about, ridiculed
But I got a Bentley and I'm still not a bitter dude
And you know it's not coincidence, that me and you is not so intimate
I can't fake, I don't shake, I don't break
I don't lose, I don't use, I don't groove
I never lacked and I'm never going back
I'm nothing you ever sawd of
I'm telling you that I'm immortal
Gotta survive in this life that's being given to me
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
When I'm down at the back, just keep it real
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Gotta Survive in this life that's being given to me
So I try and I try to be all I can be
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Got to, got to survive
Keep your head held high
Got to, got to survive
Keep your head to the sky
Got to, got to survive
We can make it if we try
Got to, got to survive
Gotta survive, gotta survive
You know there is nothing in this world that could separate me
From what I believe, from what I've achieved
All of this is because of him
And I'm telling you now, as much as you all don't want to hear this
I could do nothing to myself
It's all through him
It's all through him
So all around the world
You don't even know success until you know him
And him is Jesus, Jesus
At this point I don't owe nobody an explanation
Man, they love you when you up
Kick you when you down
Look around, VH1 man, where are they down
Life is amusing, nobody like to see you cruising
But everybody like to see you losing
So I stop despise, on top of lies
And if it prophesized I'll be ostracized
One day, I lost my rodium on the day I hit the podium
Now I'm back on top and salty like sodium
A gift to this world man, wrap me with a ribbon
Why do you look for a dead among the living
Some thought I was crazy, some thought I was dissing
Some said I was lazy, some said I was different
I was so loaded, that everybody floated
But once I got the notice then I got focused
And then I saw they motive, so everybody rode it
So I did the way wrote it and live it the way I quote it (come On)
Gotta survive in this life that's being given to me
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
When I'm down at the back, just keep it real
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Gotta Survive in this life that's being given to me
So I try and I try to be all I can be
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Hold up, trying to tell me what I'm not
Pull up in the 'Bach, not I'm all of the sudden hot
Now they want to stop just to look at what I got
Thought they want my home man, left me out to rot
So I had to make it on my own, take it on my own
I wanted out the hood I had to 'scape it on my own
Believe me now, it's easy now
'Cause everybody see me now and I'm on TV now
But it started out with low budget
Then I took it around the world the folks love it
In the beginning man, my life it was so rugged
But now I shine like a gold nugget, cause I made the most of it
I know how you feeling man, I was weary
Some days I used to sit there, my eyes all teary
Thinking to myself, do anybody hear me
Now I know, you making it out is not a theory (come on)
Gotta survive in this life that's being given to me
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
When I'm down at the back, just keep it real
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Gotta Survive in this life that's being given to me
So I try and I try to be all I can be
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
Gotta survive, gotta survive
I've been laughed at, talked about, ridiculed
But I got a Bentley and I'm still not a bitter dude
And you know it's not coincidence, that me and you is not so intimate
I can't fake, I don't shake, I don't break
I don't lose, I don't use, I don't groove
I never lacked and I'm never going back
I'm nothing you ever sawd of
I'm telling you that I'm immortal
Gotta survive in this life that's being given to me
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
When I'm down at the back, just keep it real
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Gotta Survive in this life that's being given to me
So I try and I try to be all I can be
When it seems that the world keeps scratchin' on me
Gotta survive, gotta survive
Got to, got to survive
Keep your head held high
Got to, got to survive
Keep your head to the sky
Got to, got to survive
We can make it if we try
Got to, got to survive
Gotta survive, gotta survive
You know there is nothing in this world that could separate me
From what I believe, from what I've achieved
All of this is because of him
And I'm telling you now, as much as you all don't want to hear this
I could do nothing to myself
It's all through him
It's all through him
So all around the world
You don't even know success until you know him
And him is Jesus, Jesus
Lyrics submitted by cracka_jack
Gotta Survive Lyrics as written by Cole Betha
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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