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.
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
I'll never forget the Ward Brothers player
Old school pimps like Roosevelt Taylor
The list goes on for like three generations
Oakland pimp shit, all in your face man
Some other cities take pride in trickin'
You can hear it when their rappers start spittin'
Instead of you and yo' woman gettin' money together
You do all the hustlin' and she gets all the cheddar
You tell her go shop but she ain't got a job
Then you brag in your raps, to me it sounds odd
'Cause I was raised by pimps in the O
They taught me real good how to send a hoe
And now you niggas tryin' to bend the rules
You must have came up around some friendly dudes
You need to stop doin' all that extra simpin'
And change the words in your song and respect the pimpin'
You've got money but you got no game
Think all the ladies wanna love you?
Probably gotta make it rain
Take her shoppin', respect the pimpin'
You a front for the game, you was posin'
Got your gators and your super Q
Can you feel me?
Respect the pimpin'
All I wanna be is well known now
Drive a 'Lac, big mack and do my own style
Keep a freak on the street that fit the profile
At the pad, money stack, watchin' dough pile
Reminiscin' of a player that I once knew
He had it all, went broke but he still kept it true
Bounced back like a real mack, got a new sack
New hoes, new clothes and found a new track
Now that's a player that I always wanna be like
Did dirt, went to church and lived the street life
Ask Short, ask Snoop, we gon' tell you the truth
A real pimp keep a prostitute and she get lots of loot
Do what she got's to do
Come back with moolah like she 'posed to do
And stay close to you, so if you ever fell
Here's the one most important thing about this tale
Ask Michelle, Tammy and Nell when they went to jail
They know who came through with that bail, it was me
'Cause I respect the P, do the same
Don't be no lame, respect the game
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
I'll never forget the Ward Brothers player
Old school pimps like Roosevelt Taylor
The list goes on for like three generations
Oakland pimp shit, all in your face man
Some other cities take pride in trickin'
You can hear it when their rappers start spittin'
Instead of you and yo' woman gettin' money together
You do all the hustlin' and she gets all the cheddar
You tell her go shop but she ain't got a job
Then you brag in your raps, to me it sounds odd
'Cause I was raised by pimps in the O
They taught me real good how to send a hoe
And now you niggas tryin' to bend the rules
You must have came up around some friendly dudes
You need to stop doin' all that extra simpin'
And change the words in your song and respect the pimpin'
You've got money but you got no game
Think all the ladies wanna love you?
Probably gotta make it rain
Take her shoppin', respect the pimpin'
You a front for the game, you was posin'
Got your gators and your super Q
Can you feel me?
Respect the pimpin'
All I wanna be is well known now
Drive a 'Lac, big mack and do my own style
Keep a freak on the street that fit the profile
At the pad, money stack, watchin' dough pile
Reminiscin' of a player that I once knew
He had it all, went broke but he still kept it true
Bounced back like a real mack, got a new sack
New hoes, new clothes and found a new track
Now that's a player that I always wanna be like
Did dirt, went to church and lived the street life
Ask Short, ask Snoop, we gon' tell you the truth
A real pimp keep a prostitute and she get lots of loot
Do what she got's to do
Come back with moolah like she 'posed to do
And stay close to you, so if you ever fell
Here's the one most important thing about this tale
Ask Michelle, Tammy and Nell when they went to jail
They know who came through with that bail, it was me
'Cause I respect the P, do the same
Don't be no lame, respect the game
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Ooh, respect the pimpin'
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental 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.