Run a Train Lyrics – J. Cole

Read the full lyrics of “Run a Train” by J. Cole from the album The Fall-Off. Here, we have shared the complete “Run a Train” Lyrics along with its music video, deeper meaning and song credits.

J. Cole’s latest artistic chapter is poised to deepen with “Run a Train”, a song nestled on the first disc of his impending double-album The Fall-Off, which is scheduled to drop on Friday, February 6. This track comes amid one of the most momentous releases of his career, a project he’s framed as the closing chapter of his recorded legacy. Known for blending introspection with razor-sharp lyricism, Cole has been teasing this era with sporadic releases and social media teases, and fans now finally have a glimpse into one of the standout pieces shaping the narrative arc of the record.

Unlike conventional commercial singles, “Run a Train” fits squarely into the broader mosaic of The Fall-Off’s first half, which Cole has described as a sonic return to his roots—both geographically and emotionally—examining his life at age 29 during a pivotal homecoming to Fayetteville, North Carolina after his initial rise in the rap game. Thematically, sources close to the track and the album’s rollout suggest that the song carries a dense, metaphor-rich lyrical palette: classic J. Cole territory where the artist interrogates ambition, camaraderie, vulnerability, and the combustible mix of ego and loyalty that has shaped his journey from dreamer to hip-hop elder.

Cole, born Jermaine Cole, wrote the song in service of The Fall-Off’s narrative thrust, and while specific writing and production credits for “Run a Train” haven’t been publicly detailed yet, the album’s executive production is overseen by Cole himself alongside his longtime manager Ibrahm Ib Hamad and renowned beat-maker T-Minus. Dreamville and Roc Nation, Cole’s longstanding home labels, are handling distribution, reflecting his consistent control over both the creative and business dimensions of his work.

Musically, the track is expected to fall within the hip-hop genre that Cole has refined over two decades, weaving introspective storytelling with layered rhyme schemes. His past work—such as emotionally raw portrayals of fame and existential strain on 2014 Forest Hills Drive and the societal critiques on KOD—hints that “Run a Train” will likely mirror his ability to juxtapose personal narrative with broader cultural commentary. Unlike typical club singles, Cole’s offerings are often more like short films in verse, and this piece appears primed to follow that tradition, pushing listeners to unpack its metaphors and emotional resonance.

Although “Run a Train” isn’t announced as a standalone single with a runtime listed yet, its placement on The Fall-Off and the surrounding buzz give it an unmistakable weight within the project’s sprawling, dual-disc architecture. Cole’s language has always been English, and his stylistic leanings—rooted in conscious rap layered with boom-bap, soul samples, and contemporary trap influences—suggest that this track will resonate with longtime fans while challenging casual listeners to engage more deeply with its themes. As trivia goes, this album marks another milestone: Cole has proclaimed The Fall-Off as his final album, a complete arc from his early mixtapes to this moment of introspection and closure. Expect “Run a Train” to be dissected for years as one of those quintessential Cole cuts where every bar feels loaded with intent, reflection, and the gritty poetry of an artist at the peak of his storytelling powers.