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 girl, this boat is sinking,
There's no sea left for me,
And how the sky gets heavy
When you are underneath it
Oh, I want to sail away from here
And God
He came down down down down down down down down
And said (down down down down down down down down)
Nothing (down down down down down down down down)
He rolled up asked him what he was sippin' on
Said "Lean, you wanna hit it dawg?"
That's the same stuff Weezy sippin' huh?
And tons of other rappers that be spittin' hard
Yep yep he had five up on
When he passed him that styrofoam
The Easter pink, heard it in a rhyme before
Finally got to see what all the hype was on
And then he took a sip sittin' in the Lincoln
Thinking he was pimpin' as he listened to the system
Little did he know that it was just as addictive as bass
Not the kind of hit from the kick drum
Hot box let the bass bump
Take it to face, gulp
Months later the use went up
And every blunt was accompanied by the pink stuff
But goddamn, he loved that feeling
Purple rain coated in the throat
Just so healin'
Medicine alleviate the sickness
Liquid to fix and it comes with a cost
Wake up, cold sweat, scratchin', itchin'
Try to escape the skin that barely fit him
Gone, get another bottle just get a couple swallows headed towards the bottom
Couldn't get off it
Didn't even think he had a problem
Though he couldn't sleep without getting nauseous
Room spinnin'
Thinking he might of sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup
His eyelids closed shut
Sat back in the chair
Clutching that cup
Girlfriend came and a couple of hours later said his name
Shook him, but he never got up
Never got up, never got up
We live on the cusp of death thinkin' that it won't be us
It won't be us, it won't be us, it won't be us
Nah, it won't be us
Oh girl, this boat is sinking,
There's no sea left for me,
And how the sky gets heavy
When you are underneath it
Oh I want to sail away from here
And God
Came down down down down down down down down
And said (down down down down down down down down)
Nothing (down down down down down down down down)
And he just wanted to act like them
He just wanted to rap like him
Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects we have on these kids
Blunt passed
Ash in a tin, pack being pushed, harassed by the feds
The fact of it is most people that rap like this talkin' about some shit they haven't lived
Surprise, you know the drill
Trapped in a box declined record sales
Follow the formula
Violence, drugs and sex sells
So we try to sound like someone else
This is not Californication
There's no way to glorify this pavement
Syrup, percocet, and an eighth day will leave you broke, depressed and emotionally vacant
Despite how Lil Wayne lives
It's not conducive to being creative
And I know 'cause he's my favorite
And I know 'cause I was off that same mix
Rationalize the shit that I try after I listen to "Dedication"
But he's an alien
I'd sip that shit, pass out or play PlayStation
Months later I'm in the same place
No music made, feeling like a failure
And trust me it's not dope to be twenty-five and move back to your parents basement
I've seen my peoples' dreams die
I see what they can be denied
And "weed's not a drug" that's denial
Groundhog day life repeat each time
I've seen Oxycontin take three lives
I grew up with them, we used to chief dimes
I've seen cocaine bring out the demons inside
Cheatin' and lyin'
Friendship cease, no peace in the mind
Stealin' and takin' anything to fix the pieces inside
Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere
Only motivation for what the dealer's supplyin'
That rush, that drug, that dope
Those pills, that crumb, that roach
Thinkin' I would never do that
Not that drug
Growin' up nobody ever does
Until you're stuck lookin' in the mirror
Like I can't believe what I've become
Swore I was gonna be someone
And growin' up everyone always does
We sell our dreams and our potential to escape through that buzz
Just keep me up, keep me up
Hollywood here we come
Oh girl, this boat is sinking,
There's no sea left for me,
And how the sky gets heavy when you are underneath it
Oh, I want to sail away from here
And God
He came down down down down down down down down
And said (down down down down down down down down)
Nothing
There's no sea left for me,
And how the sky gets heavy
When you are underneath it
Oh, I want to sail away from here
And God
He came down down down down down down down down
And said (down down down down down down down down)
Nothing (down down down down down down down down)
He rolled up asked him what he was sippin' on
Said "Lean, you wanna hit it dawg?"
That's the same stuff Weezy sippin' huh?
And tons of other rappers that be spittin' hard
Yep yep he had five up on
When he passed him that styrofoam
The Easter pink, heard it in a rhyme before
Finally got to see what all the hype was on
And then he took a sip sittin' in the Lincoln
Thinking he was pimpin' as he listened to the system
Little did he know that it was just as addictive as bass
Not the kind of hit from the kick drum
Hot box let the bass bump
Take it to face, gulp
Months later the use went up
And every blunt was accompanied by the pink stuff
But goddamn, he loved that feeling
Purple rain coated in the throat
Just so healin'
Medicine alleviate the sickness
Liquid to fix and it comes with a cost
Wake up, cold sweat, scratchin', itchin'
Try to escape the skin that barely fit him
Gone, get another bottle just get a couple swallows headed towards the bottom
Couldn't get off it
Didn't even think he had a problem
Though he couldn't sleep without getting nauseous
Room spinnin'
Thinking he might of sipped just a little bit too much of that cough syrup
His eyelids closed shut
Sat back in the chair
Clutching that cup
Girlfriend came and a couple of hours later said his name
Shook him, but he never got up
Never got up, never got up
We live on the cusp of death thinkin' that it won't be us
It won't be us, it won't be us, it won't be us
Nah, it won't be us
Oh girl, this boat is sinking,
There's no sea left for me,
And how the sky gets heavy
When you are underneath it
Oh I want to sail away from here
And God
Came down down down down down down down down
And said (down down down down down down down down)
Nothing (down down down down down down down down)
And he just wanted to act like them
He just wanted to rap like him
Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effects we have on these kids
Blunt passed
Ash in a tin, pack being pushed, harassed by the feds
The fact of it is most people that rap like this talkin' about some shit they haven't lived
Surprise, you know the drill
Trapped in a box declined record sales
Follow the formula
Violence, drugs and sex sells
So we try to sound like someone else
This is not Californication
There's no way to glorify this pavement
Syrup, percocet, and an eighth day will leave you broke, depressed and emotionally vacant
Despite how Lil Wayne lives
It's not conducive to being creative
And I know 'cause he's my favorite
And I know 'cause I was off that same mix
Rationalize the shit that I try after I listen to "Dedication"
But he's an alien
I'd sip that shit, pass out or play PlayStation
Months later I'm in the same place
No music made, feeling like a failure
And trust me it's not dope to be twenty-five and move back to your parents basement
I've seen my peoples' dreams die
I see what they can be denied
And "weed's not a drug" that's denial
Groundhog day life repeat each time
I've seen Oxycontin take three lives
I grew up with them, we used to chief dimes
I've seen cocaine bring out the demons inside
Cheatin' and lyin'
Friendship cease, no peace in the mind
Stealin' and takin' anything to fix the pieces inside
Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere
Only motivation for what the dealer's supplyin'
That rush, that drug, that dope
Those pills, that crumb, that roach
Thinkin' I would never do that
Not that drug
Growin' up nobody ever does
Until you're stuck lookin' in the mirror
Like I can't believe what I've become
Swore I was gonna be someone
And growin' up everyone always does
We sell our dreams and our potential to escape through that buzz
Just keep me up, keep me up
Hollywood here we come
Oh girl, this boat is sinking,
There's no sea left for me,
And how the sky gets heavy when you are underneath it
Oh, I want to sail away from here
And God
He came down down down down down down down down
And said (down down down down down down down down)
Nothing
Lyrics submitted by italianleathersofa, edited by abcdefghijkelly
Otherside [Remix] Lyrics as written by Ryan S Lewis Benjamin Haggerty
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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its good to know that there are still people such as macklemore, atmosphere, grieves, common market, and artists like them that rap about more then just pussy, money, and weed. This song is awesome and is how rap should be.
Tis song is about the cough syrup epidemic, and more importantly the outbreak of it. This song simply preaches the effects that high profiled rappers have on their followers and the way that aspiring musicians can be so influenced by the messages of their idols. Macklemore preaches the fact that those who sing about drugs and alcohol are not necessarily singing from experience and despite the popularity of cough syrup within this demographic " It's not condusive to being creative". Macklemore sings fro an unglamorized perspective and attempts to nulify the effects of previous rappers by emphasising the point that cough syrup is deadly, and despite how it is portrayed, should not be condoned (And trust me it's not dope to be 25 and move back to your parent's basement) Macklemore also emphasises the point that we will always be tempted by negative influences, despite how much we resent them when young. Terrific song.
Amazing, powerful song. The meaning has already been stated pretty clearly. It's sad hearing live versions of this song and noticing "I've seen Oxycontin take three lives" has changed to four.
Years ago when I heard this song I was floored...I am glad to see him getting big now because he has a very important message to spread.
how the hell is there no comments about what this song is about..
I think I know what this song means because I have been through it. the see my peoples dreams diepart reminded me of mexico, my home country. I see the kids say they want to become something more than a farmer. and it make me sad to see them play around and know what is going to happen to these kids. I have been around death since I was 3 years old. my mom died when I was 3, my closest grandmaa/mom at 5, and then my grandpa at 10. theres more people that I haven't seen dead. and its sad to see some of my friends do drugs in front of me. I just relate this song to my life. it just makes me sad to hear this song.
amazing song that not just about sex and drugs like most other rap songs