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.
Paul Wall, I'm the People's Champ
It ain't easy bein' the People's Champ
It's the new me, new me, new me, new me,
True, a lot of struggles I done been through and still goin' through
Let me show you what it's like to be me (Paul Wall, Paul Wall baby)
I'm not your average guy, I'm more than meets the eye
I know I'm friendly and fly, but let me tell you why
I was abandoned at an early age
My daddy was a dope fiend, I ain't seen him since the second grade
I sing the same song, deadbeat dad, single mom
I was always in the crawl, yet and still I was alone
I kept my faith in God, even in my younger days
I gave my life to Christ, got down on my knees and prayed
And God answered our prayers and momma remarried
All the burdens she carried, I must admit that it was scary
Somehow I got a real man as my father figure
Thangs started gettin better for my momma and my sister
Pain took me from a boy to a man
I knew I'd make it to the end if I could stick to the plan
People judge me off my music but they never even met me
But I'd introduce myself if you'd let me - Paul Wall baby
[Chorus]
See I've been doin this here for a while
Eventually y'all boys gon' respect me dog
I'm Paul Wall - until it's over I'ma ball 'til I fall
I'm the greatest in a minute ch'all
Let me tell you if you knew me (knew me) yeah the true me (true me)
Not the glamour and glitz that y'all do see (do see)
I'm just a regular G, I gotta do me (do me)
I'm 'bout to introduce y'all boys to the new me, c'mon
It's more to me than all this glamor and glitz
I spent my whole life broke, I'm just tryin' to get rich
I kept it real all my life, I never stepped on toes
But somehow my friends keep turnin' into my foes
My ex keep callin' me, but I don't wanna talk to her
So then she call the laws on me like I'm the one stalkin' her
My new girl say I don't love her enough
But all the hatin' friends jealous cause I love her too much
I'm drinkin' bottles of Patron tryin' to drink away my troubles
But bein' an alcoholic only make things double
People judge me off my music but they never even met me
But I'd introduce myself if you'd let me, Paul Wall baby
[Chorus]
You think you know me man? But you don't know me mayne
Just because you shake my hand don't mean that you my homey mayne
It's people prayin' on my downfall
And I can't understand why, cause I show love to alla y'all
People are grateful for the favors you show 'em
But when they need you for another one they still act like you owe 'em
Everybody be takin' credit for somethin' they ain't do
But you need to quit reachin' and stand on your own two
I always stayed humble, I never once changed
I never got a ego or a big head cause of fame
People judge me off my music but they never even met me
But I'd introduce myself if you'd let me, Paul Wall baby
[Chorus]
I'm Paul Wall, I'm the People's Champ
But it ain't easy bein' me
I done put in my fair share of work, blood, sweat, and tears, for real
Passin' out flowers at the club
Doin' freestyles that don't go on mixtapes
I ain't understand it then but, now I understand it
It's a bigger picture than just what you think
You gotta think outside the box and try to make it
It's chess moves, not checkers baby
It ain't easy bein' the People's Champ
It's the new me, new me, new me, new me,
True, a lot of struggles I done been through and still goin' through
Let me show you what it's like to be me (Paul Wall, Paul Wall baby)
I'm not your average guy, I'm more than meets the eye
I know I'm friendly and fly, but let me tell you why
I was abandoned at an early age
My daddy was a dope fiend, I ain't seen him since the second grade
I sing the same song, deadbeat dad, single mom
I was always in the crawl, yet and still I was alone
I kept my faith in God, even in my younger days
I gave my life to Christ, got down on my knees and prayed
And God answered our prayers and momma remarried
All the burdens she carried, I must admit that it was scary
Somehow I got a real man as my father figure
Thangs started gettin better for my momma and my sister
Pain took me from a boy to a man
I knew I'd make it to the end if I could stick to the plan
People judge me off my music but they never even met me
But I'd introduce myself if you'd let me - Paul Wall baby
[Chorus]
See I've been doin this here for a while
Eventually y'all boys gon' respect me dog
I'm Paul Wall - until it's over I'ma ball 'til I fall
I'm the greatest in a minute ch'all
Let me tell you if you knew me (knew me) yeah the true me (true me)
Not the glamour and glitz that y'all do see (do see)
I'm just a regular G, I gotta do me (do me)
I'm 'bout to introduce y'all boys to the new me, c'mon
It's more to me than all this glamor and glitz
I spent my whole life broke, I'm just tryin' to get rich
I kept it real all my life, I never stepped on toes
But somehow my friends keep turnin' into my foes
My ex keep callin' me, but I don't wanna talk to her
So then she call the laws on me like I'm the one stalkin' her
My new girl say I don't love her enough
But all the hatin' friends jealous cause I love her too much
I'm drinkin' bottles of Patron tryin' to drink away my troubles
But bein' an alcoholic only make things double
People judge me off my music but they never even met me
But I'd introduce myself if you'd let me, Paul Wall baby
[Chorus]
You think you know me man? But you don't know me mayne
Just because you shake my hand don't mean that you my homey mayne
It's people prayin' on my downfall
And I can't understand why, cause I show love to alla y'all
People are grateful for the favors you show 'em
But when they need you for another one they still act like you owe 'em
Everybody be takin' credit for somethin' they ain't do
But you need to quit reachin' and stand on your own two
I always stayed humble, I never once changed
I never got a ego or a big head cause of fame
People judge me off my music but they never even met me
But I'd introduce myself if you'd let me, Paul Wall baby
[Chorus]
I'm Paul Wall, I'm the People's Champ
But it ain't easy bein' me
I done put in my fair share of work, blood, sweat, and tears, for real
Passin' out flowers at the club
Doin' freestyles that don't go on mixtapes
I ain't understand it then but, now I understand it
It's a bigger picture than just what you think
You gotta think outside the box and try to make it
It's chess moves, not checkers baby
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Just Paul Wall Lyrics as written by Calvin Earl Avent Crystal Anderson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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