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.
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I flip down the Ave., you know I'm looking tight
These jealous niggas looking at me and my car so shife
Wanna take my life, and wanna jack, but I see all through that
Never let these bitch niggas take what's mine, nigga never do that
Who say he going through a thang, when y'all ain't never lied
I gotta baby, but his mama act like he ain't mine
Wicked women, using children to live on
Wanna hurt and try to hate, 'cause she know the thrill is gone
Say man, I stopped smoking wit' haters back in ninety-four
But niggas thinking that a Sweet gong get him through my door
But niggas talk alotta shit, in a safe place
I know 'cause he can't look me eye-to-eye when he in my face
Now nigga listen to my beats, and see just what I mean
Nigga I ride dirty everyday, but still I shine so clean
Glitter and gleam, ain't all what it look like
So I keep swanging, out here clanging tryna live my life
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
I see these niggas and days, go and come
And for me, just to wake, I know I'm blessed
I grab my 'ses and split my Swisher wit' my thumb
Some of my Sweets be tight, now some of my Sweets be fucked up
But all of my Sweets gon' blow, so killa' smoke get sucked up
I lucked today and didn't fall prey to none of that pistol play
But who is to say, tomorrow they won't be blasting this-a-way
I'm puffin' spliff's of hay, still upset about the drama here
At this time of year, I'm wiping away my dead homies mama tears (Shit)
But naturally, them fucking laws was always after me
So I have to be, in that manor on that five-oh-three
I'm living dastardly, must be all about survival 'g
These niggas passing me, streets just keep on getting live wit' me
They said there has to be another way, but I ain't feeling that
They tried to steal a Lac, and my wig, they wanna peel it back
But still the fact remains, it's all about the 'cain
"Swang and Bang", peace to ESG and all the victims of the game, mang
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Flipping through the Ave, tryna see some good
But everythang is still the same, in my neighborhood
Niggas frown when you up, and smile when you down
And when you change for the better, shife fools stop coming around
I see the jealousy and hating and the wicked ways
We all lost children, praisin' paper, smoking our life away
Got to the point where I could not decipher day from night
She say she love me, but all we do now is fuck and fight
My conscience fuck wit' me so much that I can't eat or sleep
The other side of selling dope and out there running the streets
And even though I'm gaining street fame, coming from this rap game
Lustful thinking and compulsive drinking is a normal thang
Some get erased and misplaced, trying to win the race
Some try to hold on to they place, by smoking wit' lace
But see drugs and plastic thugs ain't gon' change the hood
I'm smoking skunk and popping the trunk to make me feel good
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood, so is your life
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I flip down the Ave., you know I'm looking tight
These jealous niggas looking at me and my car so shife
Wanna take my life, and wanna jack, but I see all through that
Never let these bitch niggas take what's mine, nigga never do that
Who say he going through a thang, when y'all ain't never lied
I gotta baby, but his mama act like he ain't mine
Wicked women, using children to live on
Wanna hurt and try to hate, 'cause she know the thrill is gone
Say man, I stopped smoking wit' haters back in ninety-four
But niggas thinking that a Sweet gong get him through my door
But niggas talk alotta shit, in a safe place
I know 'cause he can't look me eye-to-eye when he in my face
Now nigga listen to my beats, and see just what I mean
Nigga I ride dirty everyday, but still I shine so clean
Glitter and gleam, ain't all what it look like
So I keep swanging, out here clanging tryna live my life
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
I see these niggas and days, go and come
And for me, just to wake, I know I'm blessed
I grab my 'ses and split my Swisher wit' my thumb
Some of my Sweets be tight, now some of my Sweets be fucked up
But all of my Sweets gon' blow, so killa' smoke get sucked up
I lucked today and didn't fall prey to none of that pistol play
But who is to say, tomorrow they won't be blasting this-a-way
I'm puffin' spliff's of hay, still upset about the drama here
At this time of year, I'm wiping away my dead homies mama tears (Shit)
But naturally, them fucking laws was always after me
So I have to be, in that manor on that five-oh-three
I'm living dastardly, must be all about survival 'g
These niggas passing me, streets just keep on getting live wit' me
They said there has to be another way, but I ain't feeling that
They tried to steal a Lac, and my wig, they wanna peel it back
But still the fact remains, it's all about the 'cain
"Swang and Bang", peace to ESG and all the victims of the game, mang
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Flipping through the Ave, tryna see some good
But everythang is still the same, in my neighborhood
Niggas frown when you up, and smile when you down
And when you change for the better, shife fools stop coming around
I see the jealousy and hating and the wicked ways
We all lost children, praisin' paper, smoking our life away
Got to the point where I could not decipher day from night
She say she love me, but all we do now is fuck and fight
My conscience fuck wit' me so much that I can't eat or sleep
The other side of selling dope and out there running the streets
And even though I'm gaining street fame, coming from this rap game
Lustful thinking and compulsive drinking is a normal thang
Some get erased and misplaced, trying to win the race
Some try to hold on to they place, by smoking wit' lace
But see drugs and plastic thugs ain't gon' change the hood
I'm smoking skunk and popping the trunk to make me feel good
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood
I fli, I flips down the Ave
Know I'm looking good
I'm banging "Screw", nigga
Diamonds up against that wood, so is your life
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Diamonds & Wood Lyrics as written by George Clinton Jr. Chad Butler
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Word Collections Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.