J. Cole feat. Future - Run A Train
J. Cole & Future Drop Introspective Anthem “Run A Train” on The Fall-Off
“Run A Train” stands out as one of the most talked-about tracks from J. Cole’s seventh studio album, The Fall-Off - a sprawling, 24-song double project that many fans are calling the rapper’s most personal and reflective work yet.
Released on February 6, 2026, The Fall-Off marks a significant moment in Cole’s career, framed by the artist himself as a potential closing chapter to his storied journey in hip-hop.
A Deep Cut with Emotional Weight
Placed as Track 4, “Run A Train” sees J. Cole teaming up with Future, whose melodic hook underpins the song’s contemplative themes and gives the record a haunting, soulful feel.
Lyrically, the song digs into Cole’s personal struggles, ambition, pain, and reflection. Lines like “F**k do you know ‘bout my passion?” - delivered in Future’s hook - invite listeners into a dialogue about internal battles and the cost of success, beyond fame or public perception.
Storytelling Meets Self-Reflection
The verses weave together vivid imagery and introspective bars, touching on:
The tension between spiritual grounding and worldly pursuit.
The harsh realities of the streets versus the artist’s own journey from Fayetteville, NC.
Memories, identity, and the complexities of growth over time.
A particularly striking lyrical moment even name-drops NBA star Victor Wembanyama, using a basketball metaphor to describe the challenge of earning success legally — a modern metaphor that anchors Cole’s narrative in contemporary culture.
Production & Placement
Backed by production from noted collaborators like T-Minus and Jūn Tetra, the beat blends lush instrumentation with introspective textures that give space for Cole’s reflective flows and Future’s hook to resonate emotionally.
As part of an album steeped in introspection and legacy, “Run A Train” has already become a favorite among listeners for its balance of vulnerability, lyrical depth, and atmospheric production.
Reception So Far
Though it’s early in the album’s cycle, “Run A Train” is being praised for its lyrical honesty and chemistry between Cole and Future — with many fans highlighting it as a standout moment in The Fall-Off’s first half.
Lyrics
[Intro]
Ooh
Ooh
[Chorus: Future]
Fuck do you know 'bout my passion?
Fuck do you know 'bout my pain?
Fuck do you know 'bout my struggle?
Fuck 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
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[Chorus: Future & J. Cole]
Fuck do you know 'bout my passion? (Ta-ra-ra, ra-ra)
Fuck do you know 'bout my pain?
Fuck do you know 'bout my struggle? (Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra)
Fuck do you know 'bout Jermaine?
Ten toes is down on the pavement (Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)
Umbrellas don't stop no rain
Niggas, they die everyday (Ra-ra, ra-ra-ra)
Fuck 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 niggas 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 end grief
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]
Fuck do you know 'bout my passion? (Ta-ra-ra, ra-ra)
Fuck do you know 'bout my pain?
Fuck do you know 'bout my struggle? (Ra, ra, ra, ra, ra)
Fuck do you know 'bout Jermaine?
Ten toes is down on the pavement (Ra-ra-ra-ra-ra)
Umbrellas don't stop no rain
Niggas, they die everyday (Ra-ra, ra-ra-ra)
Fuck the world, let's run a train
[Outro: Future]
Fuck the world, let's run a train
Fuck the world, let's run a train
Fuck the world, let's run a train
Fuck the world, let's run a train
In a world
In a world
In a world
