J. Cole ‘Run A Train’ lyrics & meaning from new album 'The Fall-Off'

6 February 2026, 15:41

J. Cole dropped his newest album ‘The Fall-Off’, which is set to be his last, with the track ‘Run A Train’ already becoming a fan favourite, featuring Future. Here are all the details.

J. Cole has returned with what he claims to be his last-ever album 'The Fall-Off', with the track ‘Run A Train’ featuring an iconic feature from Future – but what are the lyrics? And what do they mean?

The track features a soothing instrumental coupled with the deep-cutting theme of evolution and facing the reality of his past.

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As his fans already know, his storytelling is off the charts, and this track is no different.

Here are the full lyrics.

Full lyrics to J. Cole & Future’s ‘Run A Train’ from new album ‘The Fall-Off’

[Intro]

Ooh

Ooh

[Chorus: Future]

F**k do you know 'bout my passion?

F**k do you know 'bout my pain?

F**k do you know 'bout my struggle?

F**k do you know 'bout Jermaine?

[Verse 1: J. Cole]

They say the Lord's timing is divine

And I walk with Him, so that explains mine

Cole, deep down you may find all that pain creates a strange bond

Slums connected like the drums in a bass line

Petrified of death and poverty, I chase mine

Like breathalyzer tests, I'm tryna walk a straight line

Meditating for a better state in my deranged mind

Till I saw the Buddha pose and realized he throwin' gang signs

I guess the lesson is you can't escape crime

Even when the strays flying, I remain calm

Fayettenam, you my heart, but at the same time

If I'm being honest, I can feel that flame dyin', uh

[Pre-Chorus: J. Cole]

So I'm ridin' through the city streets reachin' for a memory to hang on

Goin' backwards like a penalty to see a younger me, but that day's gone

Wild times looking up at cloud nine, how high can Jermaine climb?

Remember when they ain't respond when you holla?

Funny how a few dollars can change minds

[Chorus: Future & J. Cole]

F**k do you know 'bout my passion? (Ta-ra-ra, ra-ra-ra)

F**k do you know 'bout my pain?

F**k do you know 'bout my struggle? (Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra)

F**k do you know 'bout Jermaine?

Ten toes is down on the pavement (Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)

Umbrellas don't stop no rain

N****s, they die everyday (Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)

F***k the world, let's run a train

[Verse 2: J. Cole]

Since I was a pipsqueak, lean on survival instincts

On backstreets, where they're tearin' up hearts like them guys in NSYNC*

Codeine in they soda, dirty poppin' plus how the ends meet

When serving rock on deserted blocks tryna cause a frenzy

To profit quickly, I'm passin' by my pockets empty

Tryna to make a legal dollar seem harder than guarding Wemby

When you're hardly six feet tall, if somehow I could ball

I better work hard on my handles, 'cause n****s gon' try to rip me

Don't wanna RIP, but if I leave, know God'll lift me

I'd rather sit inside a Bentley and be the owner like providin' kidneys

I know the love does not extend deep

I choose my homies wisely, seen too many die from friends beef

Big dreams to change the world back when I ride a ten-speed

Youthful delusion thinkin' through music I could engrieve

When too many bodies get piled up in these rivals' histories

So stoppin' this violence is like bringing the Gaza Strip peace, uh

[Pre-Chorus: J. Cole]

So I'm ridin' through the city streets reachin' for a memory to hang on

Goin' backwards like a penalty to see a younger me, but that day's gone

Wild times looking up at cloud nine, how high can Jermaine climb?

Remember when they ain't respond when you holla?

Funny how a few dollars can change minds

[Chorus: Future & J. Cole]

F**k do you know 'bout my passion? (Ta-ra-ra, ra-ra-ra)

F**k do you know 'bout my pain?

F**k do you know 'bout my struggle? (Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra)

F**k do you know 'bout Jermaine?

Ten toes is down on the pavement (Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)

Umbrellas don't stop no rain

N****s, they die everyday (Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)

F**k the world, let's run a train

[Outro: Future]

F**k the world, let's run a train

F**k the world, let's run a train

F**k the world, let's run a train

F**k the world, let's run a train

In a world

In a world

In a world

J. Cole - Run A Train (Official Audio)

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