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 been stuck in the struggle
And I been wonderin' if I'm ever gon' bubble
I'm gettin' caught up in the dust
Instead of usin' my muscle
And everytime I extend my heart to my mother
Caught up in the game now I'm back up in the hustle
Sometimes I sit and I wonder
If a nigga pull my number
If it wasn't for the Bone Thug fam'
In this world where nobody don't give a damn
But I'm still a man
Got a soul program
I'm a pump my fist
I'm stayin' ready for this
And you can put this on Wish
I never stayed in ya buis'
And when I needed a ride
You wouldn't give me a lift
And now I'm poppin' my Cris
You niggas all on my dick
I want to change the world
You want to change ya life
I wouldn't a put up a fight
If I knew it was trite
They say everything happin' for a reason
Can you tell me why these niggas bleedin'
Needin' general assistance
Out here needin' public housing
Out here tryin' make ends meet
Tryin' get on their feet
But see ?? so cloudy
And I know what you don't know
You better get on your mission and get down for your dough
See the real niggas ready out here taken control
See I'm screamin' out Mo'
With my pockets on swoll
Please Mr. Postman, quit bringin' these bills to my house
Quit bringin' distrust to my spouse
'Cause I'm ready for the kill on look out, look out
If you niggas try to run up on the Bone
I'm a show you like this I'm a pull out my chrome
I don't want to have to send a nigga home
Lord please take me home
Come and take me home
[Chorus]
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remmeber
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Home,Home,Home,Home,Home,
Home,Home,Home,Home,Home
Please take me home
When I'm lookin' at my money now
?? livin' foul
I was runnin' wild, sur-vi-ving
'Cause I'm nine-to-five
And even puttin' overtime if I had to grind
I was stayin' up, slangin' up, hangin' up on the block
Duckin' ?? the cops clocked on the night-shift
Didn't think I'd ever make it out, out, out of the ghetto
But we finally made it
Stay dedicated to the music we made yeah
Now it's on Bone Thug
Leave alone, came back the next year
Number 1 platinum song it blew up from the go
And what do you know (Oh no)
Eazy, rest his soul
Left us in the mess, I don't regret it
But we better get up and get it, go
Everything's goin' wrong
Especially Bone, it never been right
I knew it would of been on
We would of been tight
We would of been in the zone ridin' so high
Up in the game fire, does, lie
See we used to love makin' music
We was always in the studio, groovin'
We kept it movin', we was ready to do it (Right)
But you know I'm goin' through it
And ain't feelin' this rap thing right now
They got me trippin' ready to flip
They got me trippin' ready to come get my chips
They got me trippin' loadin' the clips
They trippin', Lord I feel like I'm losin' it right
now (Right now, now)
[Chorus]
I'll never give in
I'll never give up
I'll let 'em live in
They sinnin'
They pretend to be tough (Pretend to be tough)
Pretend to be blessed
They want money and women, it's never enough
?? hope nobody knows just too much
You better be good, you know up in the hood it's so,
we give 'em the dough
Fired out, laughin' up
When niggas died, niggas brought around nasty junk
And to the grave, I been one of the brave
Not one of the slaves
??
And I'll be one of the same, stay hatin' the fake
On the television runnin' 'round tellin' niggas be ready for hate
Guard Leathafce and the grin right up under my face
I steady debate the pain that I bring with hate
Sweet as the cake, I take another puff and shake
The smell of right it's all about guarding, guard the weak
Lost mommy, poppy left home
I miss Wish' Uncle Charlie
Sit list in the back tellin' his selection
His date is probably
Probably my mommy, song
Cryin' for the life of you gone
Just me and my destiny let's roll, let's roll
[Chorus]
When I lost my Uncle Charle a part of me went wrong
And it happened when the Bone was comin' up so strong
We just wanted him to see what we do
You motivated us at the shows we see too
And I really hope you live through what we spit on the song
You might have through somethin' hopin' nothin' like Bone
Like one said we'll never make it
Like two, thirty mil in they faces
??
Crossed over, back to the hood we souljahs
The music nigga make it back, scandlous
But faith kicked in and the world shows and we winnin' now
Gotta keep it comin' fool in my baby's mouth
And things have changed like relationships
Ain't did nothin', now you want to flip
Suin' people thangs you would've never made on your own
Now I want to stay, watch thug niggas leave the hood
Bye, think I'm home
Stick in the hood, mess with scrubs, it'll all be gone
You can really help a busta if it ain't ment to be
Wit a little oohwee, wit a little oohwee
I'm tired of tryin' to help these thugs
Lord just guide em' home, guide 'em home
[Chorus]
And I been wonderin' if I'm ever gon' bubble
I'm gettin' caught up in the dust
Instead of usin' my muscle
And everytime I extend my heart to my mother
Caught up in the game now I'm back up in the hustle
Sometimes I sit and I wonder
If a nigga pull my number
If it wasn't for the Bone Thug fam'
In this world where nobody don't give a damn
But I'm still a man
Got a soul program
I'm a pump my fist
I'm stayin' ready for this
And you can put this on Wish
I never stayed in ya buis'
And when I needed a ride
You wouldn't give me a lift
And now I'm poppin' my Cris
You niggas all on my dick
I want to change the world
You want to change ya life
I wouldn't a put up a fight
If I knew it was trite
They say everything happin' for a reason
Can you tell me why these niggas bleedin'
Needin' general assistance
Out here needin' public housing
Out here tryin' make ends meet
Tryin' get on their feet
But see ?? so cloudy
And I know what you don't know
You better get on your mission and get down for your dough
See the real niggas ready out here taken control
See I'm screamin' out Mo'
With my pockets on swoll
Please Mr. Postman, quit bringin' these bills to my house
Quit bringin' distrust to my spouse
'Cause I'm ready for the kill on look out, look out
If you niggas try to run up on the Bone
I'm a show you like this I'm a pull out my chrome
I don't want to have to send a nigga home
Lord please take me home
Come and take me home
[Chorus]
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remmeber
Take, take me home
'Cause I don't remember
Home,Home,Home,Home,Home,
Home,Home,Home,Home,Home
Please take me home
When I'm lookin' at my money now
?? livin' foul
I was runnin' wild, sur-vi-ving
'Cause I'm nine-to-five
And even puttin' overtime if I had to grind
I was stayin' up, slangin' up, hangin' up on the block
Duckin' ?? the cops clocked on the night-shift
Didn't think I'd ever make it out, out, out of the ghetto
But we finally made it
Stay dedicated to the music we made yeah
Now it's on Bone Thug
Leave alone, came back the next year
Number 1 platinum song it blew up from the go
And what do you know (Oh no)
Eazy, rest his soul
Left us in the mess, I don't regret it
But we better get up and get it, go
Everything's goin' wrong
Especially Bone, it never been right
I knew it would of been on
We would of been tight
We would of been in the zone ridin' so high
Up in the game fire, does, lie
See we used to love makin' music
We was always in the studio, groovin'
We kept it movin', we was ready to do it (Right)
But you know I'm goin' through it
And ain't feelin' this rap thing right now
They got me trippin' ready to flip
They got me trippin' ready to come get my chips
They got me trippin' loadin' the clips
They trippin', Lord I feel like I'm losin' it right
now (Right now, now)
[Chorus]
I'll never give in
I'll never give up
I'll let 'em live in
They sinnin'
They pretend to be tough (Pretend to be tough)
Pretend to be blessed
They want money and women, it's never enough
?? hope nobody knows just too much
You better be good, you know up in the hood it's so,
we give 'em the dough
Fired out, laughin' up
When niggas died, niggas brought around nasty junk
And to the grave, I been one of the brave
Not one of the slaves
??
And I'll be one of the same, stay hatin' the fake
On the television runnin' 'round tellin' niggas be ready for hate
Guard Leathafce and the grin right up under my face
I steady debate the pain that I bring with hate
Sweet as the cake, I take another puff and shake
The smell of right it's all about guarding, guard the weak
Lost mommy, poppy left home
I miss Wish' Uncle Charlie
Sit list in the back tellin' his selection
His date is probably
Probably my mommy, song
Cryin' for the life of you gone
Just me and my destiny let's roll, let's roll
[Chorus]
When I lost my Uncle Charle a part of me went wrong
And it happened when the Bone was comin' up so strong
We just wanted him to see what we do
You motivated us at the shows we see too
And I really hope you live through what we spit on the song
You might have through somethin' hopin' nothin' like Bone
Like one said we'll never make it
Like two, thirty mil in they faces
??
Crossed over, back to the hood we souljahs
The music nigga make it back, scandlous
But faith kicked in and the world shows and we winnin' now
Gotta keep it comin' fool in my baby's mouth
And things have changed like relationships
Ain't did nothin', now you want to flip
Suin' people thangs you would've never made on your own
Now I want to stay, watch thug niggas leave the hood
Bye, think I'm home
Stick in the hood, mess with scrubs, it'll all be gone
You can really help a busta if it ain't ment to be
Wit a little oohwee, wit a little oohwee
I'm tired of tryin' to help these thugs
Lord just guide em' home, guide 'em home
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Thug Mentality Lyrics as written by Michael Seifert Anthony Henderson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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