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.
Oh, oh, oh DJ Khaled!
Konvict Music
We the best (yeah) we takin' over, listen!
Aye, aye started in Atlanta, then I spread out wit' it
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi
On to North Carolina, Philadelphia and Virginia
From down in Miami where it warm in the winter
On up to Minnesota where it storm in the winter
Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Memphis, Tenn. holla at me
Me in H-Town, Southside, Cloverland daddy
I'm the man out in Dallas, better ask Khaled
Kept me out in Cali with my eyes open barely
Blowin' and spinnin', goin' down Bennett
Drop six-fo', three-wheel then switch it
Red light stop, make it drop for the bitches
Glock fo'-fifty, blow your head off wit' it
Anything you hear that I said, I meant it
King got the crown then sped off it wit' it
Say you need bricks, I said I get it
If you want to, we can supply you
Got enough work, to feed the whole town
They won't shoot you, unless you try to
Come around and try to stomp on our ground
'Cause we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time (Triple C, Black flag, we rich)
(Listen!) Boss, it's what I does
I get money 'erry day, 'erry day I does that Benz,
is how I ride, black flag on the left, two hoes and ride, you better, move!
A-K all day get shot up like Shyne, that's on my neck
I'm big like Diddy damn it, I'm wit' it
Khaled we did it, Biggie of my city
Please no fitted, fuck it, I'm too pretty
The brother get brain, stupid, I'm silly
Money that come, runnin' like water
Mommy so hot, damn it, she gorgeous
Miami on fire, you better be cautious
Might get shot on the porch of your fortress
Now they see that you know I'm from Port City
I run this, Rick Ross it's boss shit
'Cause we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time (Cribs Mania)
Said we takin' over, one city at a time (BX, TS nigga)
(Listen!) Brat, when you see Crack,
Better duck like the mac gotta ease past, nigga what shit
I don't give fuck, I run these streets y'all talk that shit, I want that beef
I'm a tell you like a g told me they'll come back quick if a nigga O.D.
"Cash rule everything around me" I'm Y-S-L, Versace
You could see me in that Porsche G-T
Comin' down Sunset, sittin' on D's
Feelin' like 'Pac, All Eyez On Me
Fresh bandanna when I'm blowin' mad trees
Nigga please, I spit crack every verse a key
Some say Khaled, some say Khaleed
Twelve years down and I'm finally free, crack!
If you want to, we can supply you
Got enough work, to feed the whole town
They won't shoot you, unless you try to
Come around and try to stomp on our ground
'Cause we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
(Listen!) Birdman daddy, I'm number one
Nigga came at me wrong so we got him done
Fuckin' with the fam', I'm a give him some
Spent that corner, he didn't run
Sunday had a whole church singin' a song
"Why'd they have to send my baby home?"
Fuckin' with some niggas, that paper long
Been a "G" in the game now my son on the throne
I am the beast, feed me rappers or feed me beats
I am untamed, I need a leash
I am insane, I need a shrink
I love brain, I need a leech
Why complain on easy streets?
I don't even talk, I let the Visa speak
And I like, my sprite Easter pink
And my wrist match the par but the mula's cooler
I have more jewels than your jeweler
Touch and I will bust your Medulla
That's a bullet hole, it is not a tumor
Red light, red light stop your rumors
I stay on track like a box of Pumas
Now just rock rock rock with Junior
I am the little big Kahuna, ya dig ('Cause we takin' over, one city at a time)
Konvict Music
We the best (yeah) we takin' over, listen!
Aye, aye started in Atlanta, then I spread out wit' it
South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi
On to North Carolina, Philadelphia and Virginia
From down in Miami where it warm in the winter
On up to Minnesota where it storm in the winter
Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Memphis, Tenn. holla at me
Me in H-Town, Southside, Cloverland daddy
I'm the man out in Dallas, better ask Khaled
Kept me out in Cali with my eyes open barely
Blowin' and spinnin', goin' down Bennett
Drop six-fo', three-wheel then switch it
Red light stop, make it drop for the bitches
Glock fo'-fifty, blow your head off wit' it
Anything you hear that I said, I meant it
King got the crown then sped off it wit' it
Say you need bricks, I said I get it
If you want to, we can supply you
Got enough work, to feed the whole town
They won't shoot you, unless you try to
Come around and try to stomp on our ground
'Cause we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time (Triple C, Black flag, we rich)
(Listen!) Boss, it's what I does
I get money 'erry day, 'erry day I does that Benz,
is how I ride, black flag on the left, two hoes and ride, you better, move!
A-K all day get shot up like Shyne, that's on my neck
I'm big like Diddy damn it, I'm wit' it
Khaled we did it, Biggie of my city
Please no fitted, fuck it, I'm too pretty
The brother get brain, stupid, I'm silly
Money that come, runnin' like water
Mommy so hot, damn it, she gorgeous
Miami on fire, you better be cautious
Might get shot on the porch of your fortress
Now they see that you know I'm from Port City
I run this, Rick Ross it's boss shit
'Cause we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time (Cribs Mania)
Said we takin' over, one city at a time (BX, TS nigga)
(Listen!) Brat, when you see Crack,
Better duck like the mac gotta ease past, nigga what shit
I don't give fuck, I run these streets y'all talk that shit, I want that beef
I'm a tell you like a g told me they'll come back quick if a nigga O.D.
"Cash rule everything around me" I'm Y-S-L, Versace
You could see me in that Porsche G-T
Comin' down Sunset, sittin' on D's
Feelin' like 'Pac, All Eyez On Me
Fresh bandanna when I'm blowin' mad trees
Nigga please, I spit crack every verse a key
Some say Khaled, some say Khaleed
Twelve years down and I'm finally free, crack!
If you want to, we can supply you
Got enough work, to feed the whole town
They won't shoot you, unless you try to
Come around and try to stomp on our ground
'Cause we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
Said we takin' over, one city at a time
(Listen!) Birdman daddy, I'm number one
Nigga came at me wrong so we got him done
Fuckin' with the fam', I'm a give him some
Spent that corner, he didn't run
Sunday had a whole church singin' a song
"Why'd they have to send my baby home?"
Fuckin' with some niggas, that paper long
Been a "G" in the game now my son on the throne
I am the beast, feed me rappers or feed me beats
I am untamed, I need a leash
I am insane, I need a shrink
I love brain, I need a leech
Why complain on easy streets?
I don't even talk, I let the Visa speak
And I like, my sprite Easter pink
And my wrist match the par but the mula's cooler
I have more jewels than your jeweler
Touch and I will bust your Medulla
That's a bullet hole, it is not a tumor
Red light, red light stop your rumors
I stay on track like a box of Pumas
Now just rock rock rock with Junior
I am the little big Kahuna, ya dig ('Cause we takin' over, one city at a time)
We Takin' Over (feat. Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Birdman & Lil Wayne) song meanings
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Anyone else notice that Akon's voice doesn't sound nearly as electronic as usual on this song? Don't get me wrong, I like Akon's music, but here he sounds more... human. Not computerized.