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.
[sound of a subway train going overhead]
[in the background, Nas' verse from Main Source "Live at the BBQ" is heard]
[excerpt of verse is as follows]
(Street's disciple, my raps are trifle
I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle
Stampede the stage, I leave the microphone split
Play Mr. Tuffy while I'm on some Pretty Tone shit
Verbal assassin, my architect pleases
When I was twelve, I went to ... )
[conversation heard over this before Wild Style music kicks in is as follows]
[dialogue from the film between ZORO and his infantryman brother, Hector]
[Hector:] And you're sitting at home doing this shit? I should be earning a
medal for this. Stop fucking around and be a man, there ain't nothing out
here for you...
[ZORO:]
Oh yes there is...this!
[somebody from the Firm]
Yo Nas
Yo what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio Son?
[Nas]
Chill chill, that's the shit God, chill
[AZ the Visualiza]
Aiyyo yo, pull down the shade, man.
Let's count this money, nigguh
Aiyyo Nas, put the Jacksons and the Grants over there
You know what I'm sayin?
Cause we spendin the Jacksons
[Nas]
Right, yeah.
[AZ]
You know how we get down baby
[Nas]
True, true"
[the Firm]
Nas, yo Nas, man shit is mad real right now in the Projects
for a nigga yo, word to mother. All them crab ass rappers
be comin up to me man word to mother man I think we need
to let them niggaz know it's real man
[Nas]
True indeed, knahmsayin, but when it's real you doin this
even without a record contract, knahmsayin?
[AZ]
No question
[Nas]
Been doin this since back then
[the Firm]
No doubt
[AZ]
I'm saying regardless how it go down we gon keep it real
We trying to see many mansions and...and Coupes kid!
[Nas]
No doubt, we gon keep it real
True, true...
[the Firm]
Aiyyo where's Grand Wizard and Mayo at man?
Takin niggas a long time, man..."
[Nas]
Who got the Phillies? Take this Hennessey
[AZ]
Aiyyo Dunn! C'mon, c'mon, man stop waving that man
Stop pointing that at me Dunn, take the clip out
[Nas]
Nigga alright but take this Hennessey man
[AZ]
I'm saying take the clip man
C'mon, take it out...
[Nas]
Light them Phillies up man
Niggaz stop fucking burning Phillies man
Light some Phillies up then!
[the Firm]
Pass that Amber Boch, pass that Amber Boch, nigga! Act like you know.
[AZ]
Yo, we drinking this straight up with no chaser
I ain't fucking with you nigga
[Nas]
I'm saying though man...
[AZ]
What is it, what is it baby?
[the Firm]
What is it Son, what is it?
[AZ]
You know what time it is
[Nas]
I'm saying man, ya know what I'm saying?
Niggaz don't listen man, representing
It's Illmatic.
[in the background, Nas' verse from Main Source "Live at the BBQ" is heard]
[excerpt of verse is as follows]
(Street's disciple, my raps are trifle
I shoot slugs from my brain just like a rifle
Stampede the stage, I leave the microphone split
Play Mr. Tuffy while I'm on some Pretty Tone shit
Verbal assassin, my architect pleases
When I was twelve, I went to ... )
[conversation heard over this before Wild Style music kicks in is as follows]
[dialogue from the film between ZORO and his infantryman brother, Hector]
[Hector:] And you're sitting at home doing this shit? I should be earning a
medal for this. Stop fucking around and be a man, there ain't nothing out
here for you...
[ZORO:]
Oh yes there is...this!
[somebody from the Firm]
Yo Nas
Yo what the fuck is this bullshit on the radio Son?
[Nas]
Chill chill, that's the shit God, chill
[AZ the Visualiza]
Aiyyo yo, pull down the shade, man.
Let's count this money, nigguh
Aiyyo Nas, put the Jacksons and the Grants over there
You know what I'm sayin?
Cause we spendin the Jacksons
[Nas]
Right, yeah.
[AZ]
You know how we get down baby
[Nas]
True, true"
[the Firm]
Nas, yo Nas, man shit is mad real right now in the Projects
for a nigga yo, word to mother. All them crab ass rappers
be comin up to me man word to mother man I think we need
to let them niggaz know it's real man
[Nas]
True indeed, knahmsayin, but when it's real you doin this
even without a record contract, knahmsayin?
[AZ]
No question
[Nas]
Been doin this since back then
[the Firm]
No doubt
[AZ]
I'm saying regardless how it go down we gon keep it real
We trying to see many mansions and...and Coupes kid!
[Nas]
No doubt, we gon keep it real
True, true...
[the Firm]
Aiyyo where's Grand Wizard and Mayo at man?
Takin niggas a long time, man..."
[Nas]
Who got the Phillies? Take this Hennessey
[AZ]
Aiyyo Dunn! C'mon, c'mon, man stop waving that man
Stop pointing that at me Dunn, take the clip out
[Nas]
Nigga alright but take this Hennessey man
[AZ]
I'm saying take the clip man
C'mon, take it out...
[Nas]
Light them Phillies up man
Niggaz stop fucking burning Phillies man
Light some Phillies up then!
[the Firm]
Pass that Amber Boch, pass that Amber Boch, nigga! Act like you know.
[AZ]
Yo, we drinking this straight up with no chaser
I ain't fucking with you nigga
[Nas]
I'm saying though man...
[AZ]
What is it, what is it baby?
[the Firm]
What is it Son, what is it?
[AZ]
You know what time it is
[Nas]
I'm saying man, ya know what I'm saying?
Niggaz don't listen man, representing
It's Illmatic.
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
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