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.
Damn how I'ma say this shit?
Hey, hey dad, yeah, it's your boy
Remember me? I wanna talk to you scrap
I remember being kicked out the house
'Cause I looked just like you
Said I'd be nothing but a crook
Just like you
The niggas in the hood was shook
Where the just like you
'Cause all they said was little whitey look
I'm just like you
But dog I can't see it at all, shit
We never kicked it at all
We never pitched or kicked at a ball
Dog, you never taught me shit
How to fight, ride a bike, fix the flat
None of that sorts of shit
Nigga you was an abusive pop
Fuck you left me out to dry, stuck
Gotta teach news to box
Gotta teach news to bop
And that ain't the half of it man
I gotta teach news to block
It's about time we have a father to son (nigga sit down)
Sit down let me tell you 'bout your fatherless sons
How they grew to be men and father they sons
Father they daughters
Nigga, you left a fatherless daughter
I never follow your orders
Nigga you make me sick
Pussy you could, ooh
How you gonna leave these memories in the back of my mind
I can see it clear as day you smackin' my mom
I 'member that day you showed me that gat, that 9
Put it in my palm when I was young
And said that would be mine, you turned me out
The reason why I hit the block
Reason why I tried to hit them cops
Reason why I started hittin' shots
Reason why I started gettin' licked
And drinkin' syrup and skippin' court
Ginger bread man never think of gettin' caught
Look at your hands man damn you fought
Nigga you left my mom
Left us with no good-bye's
You left us out to dry
You left us with no letters, notes (nothing), no replies
No digits numbers was unlisted
You left me with some of my loneliest nights
Nigga some of my hungriest nights
Shit, one of the reasons for years (shit embarrasin')
Damn we used to think money was white
Yeah you gave us life like, fruit from a plant
We ain't eat right from them foods from them stamps
And to think you was my pop
Man I gotta stop, shit
Daddy, where have you been?
And when you come home, you got us here all alone
Mommy, where daddy went?
You always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him
Mommy, what happened then?
What was you cheatin' on him? Why he's always beatin' on you?
Daddy, where have you been?
Nigga, you gon' hear me out
I wanted to walk just like you (remember?)
Wanted to talk just like you (word)
Often momma said I look too much and I thought just like you
Wanted to drink Miller nips and smoke Newports just like you
But you left me, now I'm goin' to court just like you
I would say, "My daddy loves me and he'll never go away"
Bullshit, do you even remember December's my birthday?
Do you even remember the tender boy
You turned into a cold young man
With one goal and one plan
Get mommy out of some jam, she was always in one
Always short with the income
Always late with the rent
You said that you was comin' through
I would stay in the hallway (waitin')
Always playin' the bench (waitin')
And that day came and went
Fuck you very much, you showed me the worst kind of pain
But I'm stronger and trust me I will never hurt again
Will never ask mommy, "Why daddy don't love me?
Why is we so poor?, Why is life so ugly?
Mommy why is your eyes puffy?"
Please don't cry everything'll be alright
I know it's dark now, but we gon' see the light
It's us against the world
We don't need him, right? (Right)
Mommy drivin' 6's now (yeah), I got riches now (yeah)
I bought I nice home for both of my sisters now
We doin' real good
We don't miss you now
See how life twists around, fucker?
Daddy, where have you been?
And when you come home, you got us here all alone
Mommy, where daddy went?
You always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him
Mommy, what happened then?
What was you cheatin' on him? Why he's always beatin' on you?
Daddy, where have you been?
Nigga, you gon' hear me out
Hey, hey dad, yeah, it's your boy
Remember me? I wanna talk to you scrap
I remember being kicked out the house
'Cause I looked just like you
Said I'd be nothing but a crook
Just like you
The niggas in the hood was shook
Where the just like you
'Cause all they said was little whitey look
I'm just like you
But dog I can't see it at all, shit
We never kicked it at all
We never pitched or kicked at a ball
Dog, you never taught me shit
How to fight, ride a bike, fix the flat
None of that sorts of shit
Nigga you was an abusive pop
Fuck you left me out to dry, stuck
Gotta teach news to box
Gotta teach news to bop
And that ain't the half of it man
I gotta teach news to block
It's about time we have a father to son (nigga sit down)
Sit down let me tell you 'bout your fatherless sons
How they grew to be men and father they sons
Father they daughters
Nigga, you left a fatherless daughter
I never follow your orders
Nigga you make me sick
Pussy you could, ooh
How you gonna leave these memories in the back of my mind
I can see it clear as day you smackin' my mom
I 'member that day you showed me that gat, that 9
Put it in my palm when I was young
And said that would be mine, you turned me out
The reason why I hit the block
Reason why I tried to hit them cops
Reason why I started hittin' shots
Reason why I started gettin' licked
And drinkin' syrup and skippin' court
Ginger bread man never think of gettin' caught
Look at your hands man damn you fought
Nigga you left my mom
Left us with no good-bye's
You left us out to dry
You left us with no letters, notes (nothing), no replies
No digits numbers was unlisted
You left me with some of my loneliest nights
Nigga some of my hungriest nights
Shit, one of the reasons for years (shit embarrasin')
Damn we used to think money was white
Yeah you gave us life like, fruit from a plant
We ain't eat right from them foods from them stamps
And to think you was my pop
Man I gotta stop, shit
Daddy, where have you been?
And when you come home, you got us here all alone
Mommy, where daddy went?
You always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him
Mommy, what happened then?
What was you cheatin' on him? Why he's always beatin' on you?
Daddy, where have you been?
Nigga, you gon' hear me out
I wanted to walk just like you (remember?)
Wanted to talk just like you (word)
Often momma said I look too much and I thought just like you
Wanted to drink Miller nips and smoke Newports just like you
But you left me, now I'm goin' to court just like you
I would say, "My daddy loves me and he'll never go away"
Bullshit, do you even remember December's my birthday?
Do you even remember the tender boy
You turned into a cold young man
With one goal and one plan
Get mommy out of some jam, she was always in one
Always short with the income
Always late with the rent
You said that you was comin' through
I would stay in the hallway (waitin')
Always playin' the bench (waitin')
And that day came and went
Fuck you very much, you showed me the worst kind of pain
But I'm stronger and trust me I will never hurt again
Will never ask mommy, "Why daddy don't love me?
Why is we so poor?, Why is life so ugly?
Mommy why is your eyes puffy?"
Please don't cry everything'll be alright
I know it's dark now, but we gon' see the light
It's us against the world
We don't need him, right? (Right)
Mommy drivin' 6's now (yeah), I got riches now (yeah)
I bought I nice home for both of my sisters now
We doin' real good
We don't miss you now
See how life twists around, fucker?
Daddy, where have you been?
And when you come home, you got us here all alone
Mommy, where daddy went?
You always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him
Mommy, what happened then?
What was you cheatin' on him? Why he's always beatin' on you?
Daddy, where have you been?
Nigga, you gon' hear me out
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This song IS an amazing track...
Easily understood...and really true lines...
My favorite..."Damn, we used to think money was white."
I'm not from a ghetto or anything but I was adopted and I know what it's like to just sit outside a locked house for hours....