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.
Uh, yeah, uh-huh
We got Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth
And we're here to tell you to
And that's a fact, baby
Now you're gonna kick some lyrics
Like this, c'mon
Walk the fine chalk line and put the needle to the grind (yeah)
Representin' one kind, seeing eye for the blind (uh)
Witness what I carry on bears a further purpose (yeah)
From how we do slam a few then you want to purchase (yeah)
A dialogue of funk, you love to pop it in your trunk
I win, more disciplined than a Shaolin monk (woo)
Pete Rock and C.L., well set to spark it (uh-huh)
The powerful target to destroy the black market (yeah)
But when you say black, listen, I don't know, you lose me (what?)
I guess another beggar can't afford to be choosey
I come to the maximum, artist on a major label
Any duplication of this one is fatal
On one two five, I gotta hit ya live (yeah)
Beat your ass with my tape, any race or shape (uh-huh)
'Cause if they got mine, they got yours too (what?)
But together here's what we gotta do (tell, 'em)
(Straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
You know this is the word (say what?)
(Straighten it out)
That's right y'all (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
You got to (straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out) yeah
(Straighten it out) it's like that
(Say what?)
The funk legacy I pass on, clearancey for high rates
Every time we sample all the past-time greats (yeah)
Stick it in the SP-1200 beat, I make a loop
Lovely, way to troop in a Lexus coupe (uh-huh)
Just a little bit, set to make a whole lot happen
The musical inside my rappin' (yeah)
Written by the C.L., produced by the P.R.
And add in any credit that you heard thus far (uh-huh)
I start from scratch 'cause the bassline's critical (yeah)
Better than the original who first made it (uh-huh)
Now you want to sue me, but fans never boo me (yeah)
Believe I know the times, we been broke, too, G (that's right)
Here's another sample clear, see ya, get the hell outta here
Like a bootleg, you're over for the year (woo)
You'll only get the credit where the credit is due
So, listen, what I shout out is true (yeah, true)
(Straighten it out)
You gots to tell 'em to (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out)
You got to tell 'em to (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out) that's right
(Straighten it out)
C'mon (say what?)
(Straighten it out) that's right
(Straighten it out) straighten it out
(Say what?)
Like the strands of lamb's wool, I'm thinkin' that's said
Here to go to the head and count the locks on a dread (yeah)
I and I'd 'mit to verify, goin' to multiply
A theory many thought a conspiracy
Here to let you know that it applies to all of us
You're no exceptions to the rule and that's a plus (ow)
'Cause who Jah bless let no one curse
Straighten out what I be about, reckon above the clout (yeah)
And let the management work for me
Because I don't need the unnecessary hostility (yeah), uh-huh)
A proper marketing plan so we can gobble up the dough
Straighten it out so everybody know (that's right)
The kids are official with the purpose of a smooth surface
Kickin' the service one time to make 'em nervous (yeah)
We're finally here and very long overdue
Pete Rock, this one's for the crew (gotta)
(Straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
You gotta (straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out) you got to
(Straighten it out)
C'mon (say what?)
(Straighten it out)
All black people must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
The YG's, they must (straighten it out)
The Hilltop, they must (straighten it out)
The whole money-earnin' must (straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
Come on (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Say it again
We got Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth
And we're here to tell you to
And that's a fact, baby
Now you're gonna kick some lyrics
Like this, c'mon
Walk the fine chalk line and put the needle to the grind (yeah)
Representin' one kind, seeing eye for the blind (uh)
Witness what I carry on bears a further purpose (yeah)
From how we do slam a few then you want to purchase (yeah)
A dialogue of funk, you love to pop it in your trunk
I win, more disciplined than a Shaolin monk (woo)
Pete Rock and C.L., well set to spark it (uh-huh)
The powerful target to destroy the black market (yeah)
But when you say black, listen, I don't know, you lose me (what?)
I guess another beggar can't afford to be choosey
I come to the maximum, artist on a major label
Any duplication of this one is fatal
On one two five, I gotta hit ya live (yeah)
Beat your ass with my tape, any race or shape (uh-huh)
'Cause if they got mine, they got yours too (what?)
But together here's what we gotta do (tell, 'em)
(Straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
You know this is the word (say what?)
(Straighten it out)
That's right y'all (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
You got to (straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out) yeah
(Straighten it out) it's like that
(Say what?)
The funk legacy I pass on, clearancey for high rates
Every time we sample all the past-time greats (yeah)
Stick it in the SP-1200 beat, I make a loop
Lovely, way to troop in a Lexus coupe (uh-huh)
Just a little bit, set to make a whole lot happen
The musical inside my rappin' (yeah)
Written by the C.L., produced by the P.R.
And add in any credit that you heard thus far (uh-huh)
I start from scratch 'cause the bassline's critical (yeah)
Better than the original who first made it (uh-huh)
Now you want to sue me, but fans never boo me (yeah)
Believe I know the times, we been broke, too, G (that's right)
Here's another sample clear, see ya, get the hell outta here
Like a bootleg, you're over for the year (woo)
You'll only get the credit where the credit is due
So, listen, what I shout out is true (yeah, true)
(Straighten it out)
You gots to tell 'em to (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out)
You got to tell 'em to (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out) that's right
(Straighten it out)
C'mon (say what?)
(Straighten it out) that's right
(Straighten it out) straighten it out
(Say what?)
Like the strands of lamb's wool, I'm thinkin' that's said
Here to go to the head and count the locks on a dread (yeah)
I and I'd 'mit to verify, goin' to multiply
A theory many thought a conspiracy
Here to let you know that it applies to all of us
You're no exceptions to the rule and that's a plus (ow)
'Cause who Jah bless let no one curse
Straighten out what I be about, reckon above the clout (yeah)
And let the management work for me
Because I don't need the unnecessary hostility (yeah), uh-huh)
A proper marketing plan so we can gobble up the dough
Straighten it out so everybody know (that's right)
The kids are official with the purpose of a smooth surface
Kickin' the service one time to make 'em nervous (yeah)
We're finally here and very long overdue
Pete Rock, this one's for the crew (gotta)
(Straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
You gotta (straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out) you got to
(Straighten it out)
C'mon (say what?)
(Straighten it out)
All black people must (straighten it out)
(Say what?)
(Straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
The YG's, they must (straighten it out)
The Hilltop, they must (straighten it out)
The whole money-earnin' must (straighten it out)
Everybody must (straighten it out)
Come on (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Ah, yeah (straighten it out)
Say it again
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Straighten It Out Lyrics as written by Pete Phillips Corey Penn
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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