This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Mama she used to say, don't live by your knife
Mama she used to say, gotta get out the ghetto
Mama she used to say, morning comes and goes
Mama she don't know, I gotta get mine whoa, gotta get, mine
I'm livin' in the age of di chronic, forty ounce and blunts
The type of decent women allah know ah stunts
Now I got to wear Versace just to get a gal to watch me
It ain't no sunshine, how can I get mine?
Why I sell myself for modern day slavery?
Now I'm doin' LP's for 5cent royalties
Mama can ya save ya son? All these leeches over me
Feel like gathering my duns, gettin' all our guns
Count down 3, 2, 1, come down Mad Lion!
(Mad lion) yo yo roll a spliff, what, yeah!
Di night is young, We all got our guns
Who's down to go commit a robbery? A robbery
I gotcha block on lock soliciting private stocks of trees
Direct in boat from di West Indies
Jamaica, experience it just break ya
Smoke it inna ya blunts, Philly leaves are ya paper
I tell it, into my sensimilla place, my bodega
Here I got all type of flavor
Distribution major, no dealer can match me equal
Niggas buy my mixes, sell it as dimes to the people
Mama she used to say, don't live by your knife
Mama she used to say, gotta get out the ghetto
Mama she used to say, morning comes and goes
But, Mama she don't know, I gotta get mine whoa, gotta get, mine
Well den, huh!
When I was six I received my nines as a birthday gift
Pray ya Lord if ya see my nines
It's enough to make any grown man cry,
Now mama neva' tell me policeman would arrest me
Even though I without coach, me
an den try ti warn me ?
Dem ever get swole me, recruit me to di army guy tell me
I found out these things by my lonely. Well, well
X amount of things lead to see ya get dead
Livin' on dem greed ya get shot, knot dem face
Dem wanna lose dem life an weh say willed argument
Dey body all up pulpit cement, well well.
? get sense in a fuckin' situation
Everybody know say I man nev' run from provocation
The way things are run now the yout up inna possession
Fuck around an us buck dem inna point on, black Talon
Mama she used to say, don't live by your knife
Mama she used to say, gotta get out the ghetto
Mama she used to say, morning comes and goes
Mama she don't know, I gotta get mine whoa, gotta get, mine
Mama she used to say, gotta get out the ghetto
Mama she used to say, morning comes and goes
Mama she don't know, I gotta get mine whoa, gotta get, mine
I'm livin' in the age of di chronic, forty ounce and blunts
The type of decent women allah know ah stunts
Now I got to wear Versace just to get a gal to watch me
It ain't no sunshine, how can I get mine?
Why I sell myself for modern day slavery?
Now I'm doin' LP's for 5cent royalties
Mama can ya save ya son? All these leeches over me
Feel like gathering my duns, gettin' all our guns
Count down 3, 2, 1, come down Mad Lion!
(Mad lion) yo yo roll a spliff, what, yeah!
Di night is young, We all got our guns
Who's down to go commit a robbery? A robbery
I gotcha block on lock soliciting private stocks of trees
Direct in boat from di West Indies
Jamaica, experience it just break ya
Smoke it inna ya blunts, Philly leaves are ya paper
I tell it, into my sensimilla place, my bodega
Here I got all type of flavor
Distribution major, no dealer can match me equal
Niggas buy my mixes, sell it as dimes to the people
Mama she used to say, don't live by your knife
Mama she used to say, gotta get out the ghetto
Mama she used to say, morning comes and goes
But, Mama she don't know, I gotta get mine whoa, gotta get, mine
Well den, huh!
When I was six I received my nines as a birthday gift
Pray ya Lord if ya see my nines
It's enough to make any grown man cry,
Now mama neva' tell me policeman would arrest me
Even though I without coach, me
an den try ti warn me ?
Dem ever get swole me, recruit me to di army guy tell me
I found out these things by my lonely. Well, well
X amount of things lead to see ya get dead
Livin' on dem greed ya get shot, knot dem face
Dem wanna lose dem life an weh say willed argument
Dey body all up pulpit cement, well well.
? get sense in a fuckin' situation
Everybody know say I man nev' run from provocation
The way things are run now the yout up inna possession
Fuck around an us buck dem inna point on, black Talon
Mama she used to say, don't live by your knife
Mama she used to say, gotta get out the ghetto
Mama she used to say, morning comes and goes
Mama she don't know, I gotta get mine whoa, gotta get, mine
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.