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.
Today we are together, we are unified and on runnin' cower
When we are together we got power
That is why we gathered today, celebratin' our own
We spit flows on foes
Listen to the message that you never know
Got a plan for the man and it's federal
The rhyme animal, back to play the part again
Clear the madness, and put the message in
D, the enemy is back to rip the mic
We come together, so don't believe the hype
Check my tone, there's a war here at home
We united and strong, and never move alone
We rep justice, equality and freedom now
Put fam first, man, woman and child
Never mild, keep it hostile 'til we raise
Where we say, what we mean and we mean what we say
It's been a long time comin' that we mob as one
Guerrilla funk, hard truth nigga, that's what's up
No peace on the street 'til the justice come
From the ballot to the bullet, if it's on, it's on
[Chorus]
I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
See, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
Believe, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My brother, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
That's real talk on the one
Yo, yo, yo, yo, I'm a target, I got proof
My buildin' got an 'x' on it
Bloomberg threw the hex on it
It's like a pistol with effects on it
On a nigga with arrest warrants
Hittin' pigs in their chests quadrant where they vest wasn't
Now he dead cousin
All you snitches hit the red buttons, we some uncle-tom killers
Mini-nina concealers, political cap-peelers for this freedom for rilla
Yo, if police stop the whip you got to eat them trees
I ain't got no 'g' to give it to them crackers and court fees
You know my steez, security first, prepare for the worst
Never caught slippin' if you stay on alert
Malcolm x said send them to the cemetery if they touch you
A revolutionary virtue, a dull blade'll hurt you
I'm up early workin' my machete
In war, it ain't no warning, you just got to be ready
I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My nigga, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My nigga, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
You see, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me, yeah, uha
Yeah, my nigga it's bigger than rap
You really think you gon' be left alone
On sayin' that you believe and ain't gon' have to get your scrap on?
Then yap on, and will see if that's the right route
While I get my clap on and turn niggas' lights out
I tried to be nice, now we gon' have to bleed them
I'm willin' to do a killin' for the price of freedom "that's right"
comin' from the left, nigga, hood is how we kept it "right"
So prison or death is just somethin' I done accepted
So we'll murder a snake, and we'll kill a skunk "that's right"
This ain't the word of a fake, it's guerrilla funk
So right now is the time and you turf the location
Y'all about to see the rebirth of a nation
Even if some got de-rebelized
The revolution still will not be televised
you.s. government tellin' hell of lies
And it's evident, when you look in this president's devil eyes
I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
Yeah, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
No homie, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My brother, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
That's real talk on the one
That is why, I challenged you now
To stand together, raise your fists together
And engage in our national black messiness
Do it courage and determination
I am, "I am", somebody "somebody"
I am, "I am", somebody "somebody"
I live in poor "I live in poor"
But I am, "but I am" somebody "somebody"
I need your welfare "I need your welfare"
But I am, "I am" somebody "somebody"
I'm maybe your seal "I'm maybe your seal"
But I am, "but I am" somebody "somebody"
I am "I am" black "black" beautiful "beautiful" raw "raw"
I must be effective "I must be effective"
I must be protected " I must be protected"
What time is it? "unification"
When we stand together, what time is it?
When we say no more ?? what time is it?
What time is it?
What time is it?
When we are together we got power
That is why we gathered today, celebratin' our own
We spit flows on foes
Listen to the message that you never know
Got a plan for the man and it's federal
The rhyme animal, back to play the part again
Clear the madness, and put the message in
D, the enemy is back to rip the mic
We come together, so don't believe the hype
Check my tone, there's a war here at home
We united and strong, and never move alone
We rep justice, equality and freedom now
Put fam first, man, woman and child
Never mild, keep it hostile 'til we raise
Where we say, what we mean and we mean what we say
It's been a long time comin' that we mob as one
Guerrilla funk, hard truth nigga, that's what's up
No peace on the street 'til the justice come
From the ballot to the bullet, if it's on, it's on
[Chorus]
I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
See, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
Believe, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My brother, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
That's real talk on the one
Yo, yo, yo, yo, I'm a target, I got proof
My buildin' got an 'x' on it
Bloomberg threw the hex on it
It's like a pistol with effects on it
On a nigga with arrest warrants
Hittin' pigs in their chests quadrant where they vest wasn't
Now he dead cousin
All you snitches hit the red buttons, we some uncle-tom killers
Mini-nina concealers, political cap-peelers for this freedom for rilla
Yo, if police stop the whip you got to eat them trees
I ain't got no 'g' to give it to them crackers and court fees
You know my steez, security first, prepare for the worst
Never caught slippin' if you stay on alert
Malcolm x said send them to the cemetery if they touch you
A revolutionary virtue, a dull blade'll hurt you
I'm up early workin' my machete
In war, it ain't no warning, you just got to be ready
I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My nigga, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My nigga, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
You see, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me, yeah, uha
Yeah, my nigga it's bigger than rap
You really think you gon' be left alone
On sayin' that you believe and ain't gon' have to get your scrap on?
Then yap on, and will see if that's the right route
While I get my clap on and turn niggas' lights out
I tried to be nice, now we gon' have to bleed them
I'm willin' to do a killin' for the price of freedom "that's right"
comin' from the left, nigga, hood is how we kept it "right"
So prison or death is just somethin' I done accepted
So we'll murder a snake, and we'll kill a skunk "that's right"
This ain't the word of a fake, it's guerrilla funk
So right now is the time and you turf the location
Y'all about to see the rebirth of a nation
Even if some got de-rebelized
The revolution still will not be televised
you.s. government tellin' hell of lies
And it's evident, when you look in this president's devil eyes
I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
Yeah, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
No homie, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
My brother, I ain't lettin' nothin' hold me back or block me
They gon' have to pop me to stop me
That's real talk on the one
That is why, I challenged you now
To stand together, raise your fists together
And engage in our national black messiness
Do it courage and determination
I am, "I am", somebody "somebody"
I am, "I am", somebody "somebody"
I live in poor "I live in poor"
But I am, "but I am" somebody "somebody"
I need your welfare "I need your welfare"
But I am, "I am" somebody "somebody"
I'm maybe your seal "I'm maybe your seal"
But I am, "but I am" somebody "somebody"
I am "I am" black "black" beautiful "beautiful" raw "raw"
I must be effective "I must be effective"
I must be protected " I must be protected"
What time is it? "unification"
When we stand together, what time is it?
When we say no more ?? what time is it?
What time is it?
What time is it?
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by pORG13i
Can't Hold Us Back Lyrics as written by Bettina Clark
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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