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.
It was the sound he heard within
The clarity of the bass that kept rumbling
It was the like those mids that just wouldn't go away
They kept calling his name - it was Andre
What's next is all he thought
Mind spinning just like a record he bought
So I'm going to take it back to where it all began
The year was 1979 Suga Hill my friend
It hit the billboard charts and his heart too
Like right then he knew what he had to do
Not the clearest picture - but he knew it would come
If he kept pushing - He'd see the outcome
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
Now his vision started and it became
The group niggas wit attitudes was it's name
It was beyond more ruthless than the rest
It even had the cops wearing bulletproof vests
Explicit lyrics it had that too
But the group broke up what was he to do
He decided he would take the solo route
It's 1992 the year the chronic came out
Then it followed by something we all know
A super group called Death Row
With Tupac and Snoop of the team
His vision became clear and more like a dream
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
After Death Row wasn't his thing
So he moved onto bigger and better things
When he looked back it was wrath
So he named it his Aftermath
It was refreshing - then he dropped his comeback
Dr Dre presents - Been there done that
It wasn't all that he thought it to be
So it was back to the lab with a new friend shady
Who would have thought he'd break the color line
Opening the doors for artists like me too
He's also ahead of his time - and the slim shady - he blew up big time
And with the momentum flowing like a stream
Now it was the time for the album of his dreams
He procrastinated then mixed it right in
Found the perfect receipt guaranteed a win
Many will say it's the best of all time
But he will say perfection takes time
And now it's on to his own homeland
Kendrick Lamar straight from Compton
And now this prophecy concludes with me
Look at these names - All Royalty
And no doubt how this came to be
From our cornerstone Dr. D.R.E.
The clarity of the bass that kept rumbling
It was the like those mids that just wouldn't go away
They kept calling his name - it was Andre
What's next is all he thought
Mind spinning just like a record he bought
So I'm going to take it back to where it all began
The year was 1979 Suga Hill my friend
It hit the billboard charts and his heart too
Like right then he knew what he had to do
Not the clearest picture - but he knew it would come
If he kept pushing - He'd see the outcome
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
Now his vision started and it became
The group niggas wit attitudes was it's name
It was beyond more ruthless than the rest
It even had the cops wearing bulletproof vests
Explicit lyrics it had that too
But the group broke up what was he to do
He decided he would take the solo route
It's 1992 the year the chronic came out
Then it followed by something we all know
A super group called Death Row
With Tupac and Snoop of the team
His vision became clear and more like a dream
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
Its the story - the legend - the man - the vision
Our cornerstone - Hip Hop's prophecy
After Death Row wasn't his thing
So he moved onto bigger and better things
When he looked back it was wrath
So he named it his Aftermath
It was refreshing - then he dropped his comeback
Dr Dre presents - Been there done that
It wasn't all that he thought it to be
So it was back to the lab with a new friend shady
Who would have thought he'd break the color line
Opening the doors for artists like me too
He's also ahead of his time - and the slim shady - he blew up big time
And with the momentum flowing like a stream
Now it was the time for the album of his dreams
He procrastinated then mixed it right in
Found the perfect receipt guaranteed a win
Many will say it's the best of all time
But he will say perfection takes time
And now it's on to his own homeland
Kendrick Lamar straight from Compton
And now this prophecy concludes with me
Look at these names - All Royalty
And no doubt how this came to be
From our cornerstone Dr. D.R.E.
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