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.
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people have to fight
Some people give it up
They wanna hold you back, tell 'em pee off
Whenever they say you can't, take the T off
I remember when they told me I couldn't be famous
Now my dream and reality is simultaneous
And work your own way to the top
If they put you on a pedestal they can take you off
And there's a higher level than the top
You gotta make more, don't do with what you got
Yeah, so get it in go sunny
Not everybody gets a second chance at getting money
Or even getting lucky so you gotta feel
The hunger in your tummy
I'm always pushing myself to the limit
Making sure I stay ahead
You made me who I am, from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
This gon be the realest shit I ever wrote
Off the record, no camera's, forget a quote
Some of my family doing good, most doing dope
I from Virginia where they hang the n-ggas by rope
I used to see my momma getting beat down!
Is that the real definition of me now?
I fell off, back on my feet now
Headed to the sky, can't even see down
Award shows, I poured my heart out
And people still steady trynna point my flaws out
And I'd be lying if I said it ain't get to me
But I'm a champion, legend, history
I'm always pushing myself to the limit
Making sure I stay ahead
You made me who I am, from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
Imagine you was the one, that couldn't get a look in
Couldn't get a booking
Couldn't get a push in when you needed a shove
Or your buttons they be pushing
So now they tryna shush him
It's only you believing in you
They turn you into a bastard than moment you rude
Attitude a little out of tune
But thats how champions move
Yeah so go and get it in sunny
Not everybody gets a second chance at getting money
Or even getting lucky
So you gotta feel the hunger in your tummy
I'm always pushing myself to the limit
Making sure I stay ahead
You made me who I am, from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
No-one wants to help
I guess you're on your own
Build a foundation with the bricks they throw
In a black and white World, True colors show
Change if you want, everybody grows
Life's like an ill, but try and get a hold
Opinions ain't fact, take em and let em go
You made me who I am from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion (champion)
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
But I was born a champion
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion (champion)
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
Some people wait there turn
Some people have to fight
Some people give it up
They wanna hold you back, tell 'em pee off
Whenever they say you can't, take the T off
I remember when they told me I couldn't be famous
Now my dream and reality is simultaneous
And work your own way to the top
If they put you on a pedestal they can take you off
And there's a higher level than the top
You gotta make more, don't do with what you got
Yeah, so get it in go sunny
Not everybody gets a second chance at getting money
Or even getting lucky so you gotta feel
The hunger in your tummy
I'm always pushing myself to the limit
Making sure I stay ahead
You made me who I am, from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
This gon be the realest shit I ever wrote
Off the record, no camera's, forget a quote
Some of my family doing good, most doing dope
I from Virginia where they hang the n-ggas by rope
I used to see my momma getting beat down!
Is that the real definition of me now?
I fell off, back on my feet now
Headed to the sky, can't even see down
Award shows, I poured my heart out
And people still steady trynna point my flaws out
And I'd be lying if I said it ain't get to me
But I'm a champion, legend, history
I'm always pushing myself to the limit
Making sure I stay ahead
You made me who I am, from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
Imagine you was the one, that couldn't get a look in
Couldn't get a booking
Couldn't get a push in when you needed a shove
Or your buttons they be pushing
So now they tryna shush him
It's only you believing in you
They turn you into a bastard than moment you rude
Attitude a little out of tune
But thats how champions move
Yeah so go and get it in sunny
Not everybody gets a second chance at getting money
Or even getting lucky
So you gotta feel the hunger in your tummy
I'm always pushing myself to the limit
Making sure I stay ahead
You made me who I am, from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
No-one wants to help
I guess you're on your own
Build a foundation with the bricks they throw
In a black and white World, True colors show
Change if you want, everybody grows
Life's like an ill, but try and get a hold
Opinions ain't fact, take em and let em go
You made me who I am from the words you said
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion (champion)
Some people have to fight
Some people give their lives
Some people don't believe
But I was born a champion
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion (champion)
Some people have to learn
Some people wait there turn
Some people but not me
I was born a champion
But I was born a champion
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The first verse is encouraging people to be confident and achieve the best they can. 'the hunger in your tummy' is probably a metaphor for the desire to succeed. He reminds us that 'not everybody gets a second chance at getting money' though--it's a lot harder for some people than others.
Verse 2 is about the difficulty of doing this--'It's only you believing in you'. With 'they turn you into a bastard the moment you rude' he's saying how the slightest error can mess up your chances. Verse 3 is saying you'll have to pull through things yourself, since 'No-one wants to help'. You have to develop a thick skin, and remember 'Opinions ain't fact'.
So basically the lyrics try and inspire you to achieve your dreams but acknowledge that it's not easy.
However, in the chorus it's stated 'Some people but not me, I was born a champion', which seems to imply that the singer feels like he's had an easy rise to fame, and not had to get through much challenges on the way. This is another reminder (like the lines at the end of the 1st and 2nd verses) that there is inequality; some people will find it harder to achieve than others.