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.
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
Can I keep my freedom
At least give me that
For any other come I had to use a fuckin strap
To get what I want in the ghetto
And please, gutter for the drive-by
Sucka motherfuckers fly by
But why try, to test this three five seven
I know you wouldn't have catch me and my homies chillin in front of the shack
See, but I'z be the motherfuckin mack
Tryna check a stack
I gots a gap to watch my back
And since I'm crazy
That just mean no niggaz won't be fade me
Commin from a wicked city
Long Beach, where everything gets shitty (you know it)
And ain't that a pity
If you down on your luck
Nobody's gon give a fuck
That's why I'mma always bring my ghetto life, my ghetto thing, my ghetto swing
If it's lit take a hit and it's on
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
Life in the ghetto
Far from little China
It's a place where the police is always down to find ya
'Cause everybody in the momma snitches
Brothers and niggaz, and sisters that's called bitches
Damn! the same people that holler out "peace, brotha"
Will try to catch with the draws so they can fuck ya
Black folks in the ghetto straight fuckin up
And the whites on the outside bustin up
Time to bust a cap in the chevrelo
Whether you'z a nigga, a nigga, a negro
If you're not a sollution you'z a problem
Nine double one ain't be the only way to solve 'em
'cause it's oughter to cheese them crackers
First you pimps gotta work with the jackers
And both of y'all must work with the gangs and dope-dealers
'cause they'z the main motherfuckers killers
Until then the ounces from the white devil
And what's left for the blacks
Life in the ghetto (in the ghetto)
If it's lit take a hit and it's on
Now all through high school I relied on drug-smugglin
'Cause I was broke, a nigga was straight strugglin
Not knowin where my next dollars comin from
But I got a gun there's the double up I'mma jack one
How I'mma let the fool be up when I'm on the bottom
Anytime you broke a lot of friends you ain't got 'em
To be a young man you got to be ready
'Cause in my house there was no fuckin daddy
In the home, I roam with the homies from the block
Experiencing, puberty, clockin do' and passin glocks
I remember at the party the ho's didn't like me
'Cause when the party was over I rolled out on my Nike's
When times get rough and tough
I'm gon grab that bud and take a superpuff
Indo high, I replied on the bud for the pain
And stayin leveled to the ground and true to the game
You can't jump on my escalator if you ain't need it
I'd rather pull a lick and stay weeded
? into the alley
Smooth but fast now I'm headed to the shack
To count yo cash
If it's lit take a hit and it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on!
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
Can I keep my freedom
At least give me that
For any other come I had to use a fuckin strap
To get what I want in the ghetto
And please, gutter for the drive-by
Sucka motherfuckers fly by
But why try, to test this three five seven
I know you wouldn't have catch me and my homies chillin in front of the shack
See, but I'z be the motherfuckin mack
Tryna check a stack
I gots a gap to watch my back
And since I'm crazy
That just mean no niggaz won't be fade me
Commin from a wicked city
Long Beach, where everything gets shitty (you know it)
And ain't that a pity
If you down on your luck
Nobody's gon give a fuck
That's why I'mma always bring my ghetto life, my ghetto thing, my ghetto swing
If it's lit take a hit and it's on
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
Life in the ghetto
Far from little China
It's a place where the police is always down to find ya
'Cause everybody in the momma snitches
Brothers and niggaz, and sisters that's called bitches
Damn! the same people that holler out "peace, brotha"
Will try to catch with the draws so they can fuck ya
Black folks in the ghetto straight fuckin up
And the whites on the outside bustin up
Time to bust a cap in the chevrelo
Whether you'z a nigga, a nigga, a negro
If you're not a sollution you'z a problem
Nine double one ain't be the only way to solve 'em
'cause it's oughter to cheese them crackers
First you pimps gotta work with the jackers
And both of y'all must work with the gangs and dope-dealers
'cause they'z the main motherfuckers killers
Until then the ounces from the white devil
And what's left for the blacks
Life in the ghetto (in the ghetto)
If it's lit take a hit and it's on
Now all through high school I relied on drug-smugglin
'Cause I was broke, a nigga was straight strugglin
Not knowin where my next dollars comin from
But I got a gun there's the double up I'mma jack one
How I'mma let the fool be up when I'm on the bottom
Anytime you broke a lot of friends you ain't got 'em
To be a young man you got to be ready
'Cause in my house there was no fuckin daddy
In the home, I roam with the homies from the block
Experiencing, puberty, clockin do' and passin glocks
I remember at the party the ho's didn't like me
'Cause when the party was over I rolled out on my Nike's
When times get rough and tough
I'm gon grab that bud and take a superpuff
Indo high, I replied on the bud for the pain
And stayin leveled to the ground and true to the game
You can't jump on my escalator if you ain't need it
I'd rather pull a lick and stay weeded
? into the alley
Smooth but fast now I'm headed to the shack
To count yo cash
If it's lit take a hit and it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on
And it's on!
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
How do I survive each day
Livin' ghetto life
Twist me up a fat ass J
And livin' indo high
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Ghetto Life Lyrics as written by Andrew Brown Maurice Hunt
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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