Sideline Story – English Lyrics

• By: J. Cole
• Album: Cole World: The Sideline Story

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heart of a lyrical storyteller with J. Cole's 'Sideline Story.' This song is a perfect entry point to learning English through hip-hop, as it offers a clear and compelling narrative about perseverance and ambition. You can learn colloquial expressions and powerful metaphors related to sports and life's struggles, all while being drawn in by its soulful beat and Cole's authentic delivery. 'Sideline Story' is special because it's a raw and honest reflection of an artist's journey, a theme that resonates universally.

[English]

I put my heart and soul in this game, I'm feeling drained

Unappreciated, unalleviated

Tired of coming up short fuck abbreviated

Want my whole name spelt out, my old pain spilt out

No pain no gain, I blow brains Cobain

Throat flames Liu Kang, the coach ain't help out so

I call my own shots, I'm David Blaine

I'm breaking out of my own box

You stay the same

But homie if you change may you change for the better

Back when Martin King had a thing for Coretta

Wonder if she seen all the dreams he was dreaming

Did she have a clue of all the schemes he was scheming

Still loved him just enough to put up with the cheating

Months go by and only see him for a weekend so-

I say a prayer hope my girl ain't leavin

We all got angels, we all got demons

As you fall through the club

Bad bitches down to do all the above

Money come fast so being hungry don't last

Til you look in the mirror and you saw who you was

Cole world it couldn't be more clearer

The time is now it couldn't be more here-er

My reign gon' last like three, four eras

Say hello to the real, I can be your hero

Ay' imma put us all on the map

Gone and I ain't looking back

I know they gon feel it like they tank on E

I promise baby you can bet the bank on me

Cuz ain't nobody tell me what I ain't gon be no more

Thinking imma fall don't be so sure

I wish somebody made guidelines

On how to get up off the sideline

Up in first class laugh even though it ain't funny

See a white man wonder how the fuck I got money

While he sit in coach, hate to see me walk past him

Young, black, pants sag, headphones blastin

Know what he askin

How did he manage

With all the cards against him he used them to his advantage

Slang we be speakin prolly sounding like Spanish

Then I fuck they heads up when a nigga show manners

Some New York niggas thought it was funny calling us Bama

Laughin at the grammar cuz they didn't understand us

Musta thought we slow but little do they know

I came up here to take advantage of that shit yall take for granted

Opportunity that I would kill for

Lookin at rappers like what the fuck you got a deal for

When I was ass out wit my funds low

It's nice to know I have the whole world at my front door

Ay' imma put us all on the map

Gone and I ain't looking back

I know they gon feel it like they tank on E

I promise baby you can bet the bank on me

Cuz ain't nobody tell me what I ain't gon be no more

Thinking imma fall don't be so sure

I wish somebody made guidelines

On how to get up off the sideline

I made it to the rock even though they try box me out

I got the key to the game they try lock me out

But what they don't understand is this is all planned

It's a bigger picture and you can't photoshop me out

Some nigga ask me why Jay never shout me out

Like I'm sposed to give a fuck

Don't you know that I be out in France

Where the fans throw they hands like Pacquiao

Not cuz my looks, cuz my hooks can knock Rocky out

And my lines is designed from the heart

Young Simba been a lion from the start

Dumb niggas y'all been lying from the start

My life like a movie, truly

And these niggas is dying for the part but-

You never play me like Lebron vs. Jordan

20 years wonder who they gon say was more important

Both changed the game

Came through and made a lane

Who's to say that whose greater

All we know they ain't the same

Ay' imma put us all on the map

Gone and I ain't looking back

I know they gon feel it like they tank on E

I promise baby you can bet the bank on me

Cuz ain't nobody tell me what I ain't gon be no more

Thinking imma fall don't be so sure

I wish somebody made guidelines

On how to get up off the sideline

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
drained /dreɪnd/ B1	adjective - extremely tired or without energy
appreciated /əˈpriːʃieɪtɪd/ A2	verb - to recognize the value of
abbreviated /əˈbriːviˌeɪtɪd/ B2	verb - shortened form of a word or phrase
spelt /spɛlt/ A2	verb - past tense of spell (to write or name letters)
flames /fleɪmz/ A1	noun - fire, especially when burning strongly
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to become different noun - the act of becoming different
scheming /ˈskiːmɪŋ/ B2	verb - to plan something secretly, often something bad
hungry /ˈhʌŋɡri/ A1	adjective - feeling the need to eat
clearer /ˈklɪərər/ A2	adjective - easy to understand or see
reign /reɪn/ B1	noun - the period of time a monarch rules
guidelines /ˈɡaɪdˌlaɪnz/ B1	noun - a set of instructions or principles
manage /ˈmænɪdʒ/ A2	verb - to control or organize something
advantage /ədˈvæntɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a beneficial factor
opportunity /ˌɒpərˈtjuːnɪti/ A2	noun - a chance to do something
planned /plænd/ A2	verb - to make preparations for something
photoshop /ˈfoʊtoʊʃɒp/ B2	verb - to edit an image using Adobe Photoshop
lane /leɪn/ A1	noun - a narrow road or path
greater /ˈɡreɪtər/ A1	adjective - larger in amount or degree

Key Grammar Structures

• Tired of coming up short fuck abbreviated

  ➔ Gerund after 'tired of' and Phrasal Verb 'come up short'

  ➔ The structure "tired of + gerund" expresses annoyance or weariness with an ongoing action. "Come up short" is a phrasal verb meaning to fail to meet expectations or to be insufficient.

• if you change may you change for the better

  ➔ Conditional Clause with a Modal Verb for a Wish/Hope

  ➔ This uses an "if" clause to set a condition, followed by "may" to express a wish or hope for a positive outcome. It's similar to "I hope you change for the better."

• just enough to put up with the cheating

  ➔ 'Enough to' construction and Phrasal Verb 'put up with'

  ➔ "Enough to + infinitive" indicates that a quantity or degree is sufficient for a particular action. "Put up with" is a phrasal verb meaning to tolerate or endure something unpleasant.

• you saw who you was

  ➔ Colloquial Subject-Verb Agreement / Use of 'was' for 'were'

  ➔ In standard English, "you were" is correct. However, in informal or dialectal speech (like AAVE), "you was" is sometimes used, especially in dependent clauses or questions. This reflects a deviation from standard agreement rules.

• Cuz ain't nobody tell me what I ain't gon be no more

  ➔ Multiple Negatives (Negative Concord) and Colloquialisms

  ➔ This line employs multiple negative words ("ain't", "nobody", "ain't", "no more") to emphasize the negative meaning, which is common in informal English and certain dialects but considered non-standard in formal grammar. "Ain't" is a colloquial contraction for "am not, is not, are not, has not, have not." "Gon be" is a short form of "going to be" (future tense).

• I wish somebody made guidelines / On how to get up off the sideline

  ➔ 'I wish + Past Simple' for Unreal Present Wish and 'How to + Infinitive'

  ➔ "I wish + past simple" is used to express a wish about a present situation that is not true or is unlikely to change. "How to + infinitive" is a common way to ask for or describe instructions or methods.

• Slang we be speakin prolly sounding like Spanish

  ➔ Habitual 'be' (African American Vernacular English - AAVE)

  ➔ In standard English, "we speak" or "we are speaking" would be used. However, "we be speaking" uses the "habitual be," a grammatical feature of AAVE that indicates an action that occurs regularly or habitually, not just at the present moment.

• Musta thought we slow but little do they know

  ➔ Colloquial 'Musta' (Must have) and Inversion for Emphasis ('Little do they know')

  ➔ "Musta" is a colloquial contraction of "must have," used to express a deduction about a past event. "Little do they know" is an example of inversion where the adverbial phrase "little" is placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis, followed by the auxiliary verb and then the subject.

• even though they try box me out

  ➔ Concessive Clause ('even though') and Colloquial 'try + Bare Infinitive'

  ➔ "Even though" introduces a concessive clause, showing a contrast or something unexpected. "Try box me out" is an informal construction where "to" is omitted after "try," which is common in certain dialects or casual speech, contrasting with the standard "try to box me out."

• Who's to say that whose greater

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression 'Who's to say' and Common Misuse of 'Whose' for 'Who's'

  ➔ "Who's to say" is an idiom meaning "who can know or decide?" It's used to express uncertainty or that something is unknowable. The use of "whose" (possessive pronoun) instead of "who's" (contraction of "who is") is a common grammatical error, especially in informal writing or speech.