In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Yo, when times get trifle
I'm subjected to street survival
See many never complete they cycle, other retreat to bibles
Livin' holy, but currency seem to control me
Movin' coldly, in the presence of old parolies
My mind mold me, keep me in mack mode like Goldie
Police know me, but ain't got enough to hold me
I follow rules, through the knowledge, swallow jewels
A form of teachin' from the streets, never taught in school
You caught you lose, a wise man utilize tools
Solitude certifies all moves
So I walk this path of the old dread that lead me off the Ave
Absorbin' fast, learnin' from niggas I lost in the past
It's poison plays in these foul days
Housin' cops and they foul ways and walkin' through a wild maze
Holdin' my brain, tryna maintain
Sleet, snow, or rain, I guess the game'll never change
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Since the genesis, paraphernalia circle my premises
Poor images, project life drained my innocence
I saw the worst genocide, I guess the water's cursed
My old earth identified, though her soul is for the church
She prayed for peace, hopin' I'm saved before she lay deceased
To say the least, the warden's to wise to play the streets
I know the ropes, certain niggas too slow to cope
And though I sold some coke, it was only to stay afloat
Amongst the frozen hearted, some now bentin', some departed
Inhalin' chocolate, tracin' back to where it started
The crack wave 2 for 5, deuce and tres
The MAC sprays, puffin' lye, truth and days
And though it sound ill, through all the foul shit, I'm down still
All around real, rough as the grounds in Brownsville
I know the ledge, meditatin', holdin' my head
Eyes red, it's Doe Or Dietil I'm dead
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
I played all positions, plus learned from each mission
Politic with all type niggas with different diction
I did it up, from young in some cunt, the way I hit it up
Buggin' off my first Philly blunt, and how I lit it up
But time flyin', playin' these corners'll let it slide by
Puffin' lye, homicide, coke supplies dry
So play the game, other slow up, change the lane
Awaken, unchain the brain in exchange to take away the pain
It's a part of scriptures, put together with different mixtures
They tricked us, got us trapped in takin' pictures
Interogatin', locatin', destination
Estimatin', or play a part of them investigatin'
It's on goin', from them killers, to them broads hoin'
Unknowin' first time felons on trial blowin'
So burn your clips
And sit back, learn your shit
The last of these real reps left turned legit
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Yo, when times get trifle
I'm subjected to street survival
See many never complete they cycle, other retreat to bibles
Livin' holy, but currency seem to control me
Movin' coldly, in the presence of old parolies
My mind mold me, keep me in mack mode like Goldie
Police know me, but ain't got enough to hold me
I follow rules, through the knowledge, swallow jewels
A form of teachin' from the streets, never taught in school
You caught you lose, a wise man utilize tools
Solitude certifies all moves
So I walk this path of the old dread that lead me off the Ave
Absorbin' fast, learnin' from niggas I lost in the past
It's poison plays in these foul days
Housin' cops and they foul ways and walkin' through a wild maze
Holdin' my brain, tryna maintain
Sleet, snow, or rain, I guess the game'll never change
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Since the genesis, paraphernalia circle my premises
Poor images, project life drained my innocence
I saw the worst genocide, I guess the water's cursed
My old earth identified, though her soul is for the church
She prayed for peace, hopin' I'm saved before she lay deceased
To say the least, the warden's to wise to play the streets
I know the ropes, certain niggas too slow to cope
And though I sold some coke, it was only to stay afloat
Amongst the frozen hearted, some now bentin', some departed
Inhalin' chocolate, tracin' back to where it started
The crack wave 2 for 5, deuce and tres
The MAC sprays, puffin' lye, truth and days
And though it sound ill, through all the foul shit, I'm down still
All around real, rough as the grounds in Brownsville
I know the ledge, meditatin', holdin' my head
Eyes red, it's Doe Or Dietil I'm dead
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
I played all positions, plus learned from each mission
Politic with all type niggas with different diction
I did it up, from young in some cunt, the way I hit it up
Buggin' off my first Philly blunt, and how I lit it up
But time flyin', playin' these corners'll let it slide by
Puffin' lye, homicide, coke supplies dry
So play the game, other slow up, change the lane
Awaken, unchain the brain in exchange to take away the pain
It's a part of scriptures, put together with different mixtures
They tricked us, got us trapped in takin' pictures
Interogatin', locatin', destination
Estimatin', or play a part of them investigatin'
It's on goin', from them killers, to them broads hoin'
Unknowin' first time felons on trial blowin'
So burn your clips
And sit back, learn your shit
The last of these real reps left turned legit
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Pieces of a black man, my thoughts travel
Trapped on savage land it's like taboo
Stuck in time, so many young boys bustin' nines
Some servin' state bids 'cause they hustle blind
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Pieces of a (Black) Man Lyrics as written by Jean Claude Olivier Anthony S Cruz
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Cloud9
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/