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.
(freestyle at the beginning)
Don't playa-hate me
Play-playa hate, uhh, somebody else
Yo, Yo Yo I'm a gangster
Where my dogs at?
Bark with me if you're my dog
Yo, Yo Yo, I'm going
(Naww I don't wanna bark)
I'm going to give a shoutout to all the playa-haters
(we don't like playa-haters)
If you're a playa-hater don't playa-hate on me
I'm a gangster, Im a straight up
Grr, I'm steaming mad. Grr.
I'm a gangster, I'm a straight up "G"
The gangster life is the life for me
Shooting people by day, selling drugs by night
Being a gangster is Hell-up tight
I walk around town with a stark erection
then gave your mom a yeast infection
I saw the policeman and I punched him in the eye
"To serve and protect" : What a lie
I also don't like white people, you shouldn't too
And don't get me started about the Jews
I'm a gangster
Grr I'm mad
I'm a gangster
My Rhymes are bad
I'm a gangster
Iced out like a freezer
I'm a gangster
I don't listen to weezer
I dropped out of school at the age of three (why?)
'Cuz all the teachers tried to playa-hate on me (oh.)
My rhymes are cool, just like doing cocaine
My rhymes are hot, like a Burning Flame
Sisco is my homie hes a gangster too
Me and Sisco are the leaders of the gangster crew
I like to be in jail and he likes to sing and dance
Some say we're the perfect match
[interrupted by another voice]
Step off, Step back, Step Away!
Step back, Don't step forward step back
Don't step forwards step backwards
Don't step to me, Do not step to me-eee
[first voice raps again]
I'm giving a shout-out to my homies in cell block 8
Being in jail sucks cuz you always have to masterbate
Except when a Jewish person goes to jail all my homies cheer
They will make mince-meat out of his rear
Ben Petty helped me make the gangster beat to this song
I shot him in the face cuz he looked at me wrong
I'm a gangster
I drop bombs like Hiroshima
I'm a gangster
Bitch suck on my wiener
I'm a gangster
I drive a cool car
I'm a gangster
I smoke weed in a cigar
Yo! My gangster flow
Yo! Yo Yo Yo
I'm rolling on dubs iced out like hockey
got kicked out of Japan for drinking all the sake
Fuck a bitch, gimmie head ho
What's up to my dogs, yo yo yo
They play this song on the radio all day long
so everyone can hear my gangster song
Nobody thought I'd blow up like a Firestone tire...
Oh there's no beat left.
Die. Die you Santa Claus, die.
No, I don't wanna do a cappela.
[second voice again]
I like to slap bitches. I like to slap hoes.
Don't playa-hate me
Play-playa hate, uhh, somebody else
Yo, Yo Yo I'm a gangster
Where my dogs at?
Bark with me if you're my dog
Yo, Yo Yo, I'm going
(Naww I don't wanna bark)
I'm going to give a shoutout to all the playa-haters
(we don't like playa-haters)
If you're a playa-hater don't playa-hate on me
I'm a gangster, Im a straight up
Grr, I'm steaming mad. Grr.
I'm a gangster, I'm a straight up "G"
The gangster life is the life for me
Shooting people by day, selling drugs by night
Being a gangster is Hell-up tight
I walk around town with a stark erection
then gave your mom a yeast infection
I saw the policeman and I punched him in the eye
"To serve and protect" : What a lie
I also don't like white people, you shouldn't too
And don't get me started about the Jews
I'm a gangster
Grr I'm mad
I'm a gangster
My Rhymes are bad
I'm a gangster
Iced out like a freezer
I'm a gangster
I don't listen to weezer
I dropped out of school at the age of three (why?)
'Cuz all the teachers tried to playa-hate on me (oh.)
My rhymes are cool, just like doing cocaine
My rhymes are hot, like a Burning Flame
Sisco is my homie hes a gangster too
Me and Sisco are the leaders of the gangster crew
I like to be in jail and he likes to sing and dance
Some say we're the perfect match
[interrupted by another voice]
Step off, Step back, Step Away!
Step back, Don't step forward step back
Don't step forwards step backwards
Don't step to me, Do not step to me-eee
[first voice raps again]
I'm giving a shout-out to my homies in cell block 8
Being in jail sucks cuz you always have to masterbate
Except when a Jewish person goes to jail all my homies cheer
They will make mince-meat out of his rear
Ben Petty helped me make the gangster beat to this song
I shot him in the face cuz he looked at me wrong
I'm a gangster
I drop bombs like Hiroshima
I'm a gangster
Bitch suck on my wiener
I'm a gangster
I drive a cool car
I'm a gangster
I smoke weed in a cigar
Yo! My gangster flow
Yo! Yo Yo Yo
I'm rolling on dubs iced out like hockey
got kicked out of Japan for drinking all the sake
Fuck a bitch, gimmie head ho
What's up to my dogs, yo yo yo
They play this song on the radio all day long
so everyone can hear my gangster song
Nobody thought I'd blow up like a Firestone tire...
Oh there's no beat left.
Die. Die you Santa Claus, die.
No, I don't wanna do a cappela.
[second voice again]
I like to slap bitches. I like to slap hoes.
Lyrics submitted by Panic! DiscoFever
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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HELLOOOOO why has no one commented on this song besides me. BEST SONG EVER!