Rollin
311 Lyrics


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Rollin' windows down kickback trollen
I'm holdin' and foldin' see no cold in the streets
Dirty looks - huh - we think it's funny
Workin' class rares scrounge up all the money
But we're coolin' in the middle June
I'm gettin' girls gettin' lit and I'm making up tunes
Believe that boy I'll bet I'll bet I'm trollen
Just lookin' for some trouble and we be rollin'

Now I'm a tell a tale to you straight
Gonna tell you a story
It's not a fairy tale and it gets a little glory
It happened one night when Tequila was full
We were walkin' to my car unaware unknowin'
I stepped up crossed the the street in no hurry
And what happens next - it gets a little blurry
This chump nearly hits me in a green pintow so I threw my bottle BANG!
It broke his window
He screeched to a halt jumped out of his car
I stepped straight to him gonna make him see stars yes
The situation was going to explode
Thought I should give him a warning said ya better hit the road


I knew it would be easy if i dagged him first
So I cracked him in the face all of the sudden with a burst
I hit im with a right then a left didn't land
But he turned his head and I broke my hand

Whatcha gonna do?
Do whatcha gonna

I got a cast on my hand and the girls think I'm a jerk
I can't play my bass and I can't go to work
This is a true story it all did happen
Better yet I regret that I'm rollin' up strappin'
Been two years now since this all took place
I learn from being stupid I learn from my mistakes
And now I'm livin' peace edifyin' and trollen
Can't say it wasn't fun in those days of rollin'





Rollin'
Rollin'

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of "Rollin," 311 are describing a carefree night out with friends. They're hanging out in the summer, cruising around with the windows down, looking for trouble. They seem to be aware of the economically challenging situation of some of the people around them, but they're not letting it get them down. Instead, they're making music and enjoying the company of the girls they're with. The second verse takes a bit of a darker turn, as they describe a violent altercation they got into after a night of drinking. The singer describes how he's now dealing with the aftermath of the fight, with a broken hand and damaged relationships.


The lyrics seem to be a mix of nostalgia and regret, with 311 looking back on their youth with fondness but also recognizing that some of the behavior they engaged in was harmful. The chorus of the song ("Rollin'") is a simple refrain that captures the carefree spirit of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

Rollin' windows down kickback trollen
We're driving with the windows down, relaxed and enjoying ourselves while looking for trouble


I'm holdin' and foldin' see no cold in the streets
I have my drugs and money hidden away and I'm not worried about the dangers of the streets


Dirty looks - huh - we think it's funny
People don't approve of our behavior, but we find it amusing


Workin' class rares scrounge up all the money
Working-class people struggle to make ends meet while we waste our money on drugs and partying


But we're coolin' in the middle June
We're relaxing and enjoying ourselves during the summer


I'm gettin' girls gettin' lit and I'm making up tunes
I'm hooking up with girls, getting drunk, and writing songs


Believe that boy I'll bet I'll bet I'm trollen
Trust me, I'm looking for trouble and enjoying myself while doing it


Just lookin' for some trouble and we be rollin'
We're actively seeking out problems and enjoying the thrill of it while we drive around


I knew it would be easy if I dagged him first
I knew it would be easier to attack him first


So I cracked him in the face all of the sudden with a burst
I punched him quickly and unexpectedly


I hit im with a right then a left didn't land
I attempted to hit him with a right and a left, but they missed


But he turned his head and I broke my hand
He moved his head and my punch connected with a solid object, breaking my hand


Whatcha gonna do? Do whatcha gonna
What are you going to do? Do whatever you want, consequences be damned


I got a cast on my hand and the girls think I'm a jerk I can't play my bass and I can't go to work
I have a cast on my hand from my fight, and as a consequence, I can't play my bass or work. The girls think I'm a bad person because of my actions


Better yet I regret that I'm rollin' up strappin'
In retrospect, I regret my behavior of seeking out trouble and carrying weapons


Been two years now since this all took place
It's been two years since the fight happened


I learn from being stupid I learn from my mistakes
I've learned from my foolish actions and errors in judgment


And now I'm livin' peace edifyin' and trollen
I've turned my life around, living in peace, sharing and building people up, and sometimes even seeking trouble just for fun


Can't say it wasn't fun in those days of rollin'
I can't deny that I had fun when I was seeking out trouble and engaging in dangerous behavior


Rollin' Rollin'
We have no worries, just enjoying the ride while we drive around, looking for fun




Contributed by Lincoln F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

drgonzo619

bad fucking ass song

BackOff414

This song is sick! How did this not get on to the album "Music?" This has been one of my favs for about 7 months! Always will!

thomaschavers

I am so glad I got to hear this song live at Pow Wow

Lauri Saarinen

Kick ass song! The part that starts at 0:24 sounds slightly like Redefine by Incubus.

SnekuL_Xfire11

Can't say it wasn't fun, in those days of ROLLIN

KrZxBleach

its from unity. got the whole album. every album in fact.

thomaschavers

@thomaschavers I think it had not been played since 2005. I was also so happy to see slinky brought out of retirement at 3/11 2010. I also love how they played transistor in it's entirety and it was the debut of "tune in" being played live. Plus it so awesome hearing songs like gap, summer of love, freeze time, mind spin, and livin n rockin at pow wow. Are you a member of the 311 familia on facebook?

riptorn311

holy shit!!! the unity album!!! is this actually from unity or ya get it from omaha sessions?

GVL2010

Happy 311 Day!

Zach Good

It looks sort of like a partially uprooted tree...but honestly I have no clue either.

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