Dreamed of you this morning
Then came the dawn, and
I thought you were here with me
If you could only see
How much I love you
That's all, that's all baby
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
But there's always
That's all, that's all, baby

This is the shit you dream about with the homies steaming out
Back-to-back, backing them Beemers out
Seems as our plans to get a grant
To go off to college, didn't pan or even out
We need it now, we need a town
We need a place to pitch, we need a mound
For now, I'm just a lazy boy
Big dreaming in my La-Z-Boy
In the clouds of smoke, been playing this Marvin
Mama forgive me, should be thinking about Harvard
But that's too far away, my niggas are starving
Ain't nothing wrong with my aim, just gotta change the target
I got dreams of bagging snidd-ow, the size of pillows
I see pies every time my eyes clidd-ose
I see rides, sixes, I got to get those
Life's a bitch, I hope to not make her a widow

Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(Just American dreamin')
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
But there's always
That's all, that's all

Now see the life's right there, and it seems right there
It's not quite near, and it's not like we're
Professionals, moving the decimals
Know where to cop? Nah! Got a connect? No!
Who in the F knows how to be successful
Need a Personal Jesus," I'm in Depeche Mode
They say its celestial, its all in the stars
Like Tony LaRussa how you play your Cards
'Cause y'all ain't fucking with me! The ironies are
At all costs better avoid these bars
Now let's start, on your mark
Get set, let's go, get out the car
Going in circles it's a vicious cycle
This is a crash course, this ain't high school
Wake up Muttley, you're dreaming again
Your own reality show, the season begins

Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(Just American dreamin')
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
But there's always
That's all, that's all

Step one in this process, scramble up in your projects
And head to the heights where big coke is processed
You gotta convince them that you're not from the precinct
Please speak slow 'cause he no speaky no English
If he takes a liking after a couple of trips
And your money is straight, he's going to give you consignment
You're now in a game where only time can tell
Survive the droughts, I wish you well, hold up
Survive the droughts? I wish you well?
How sick am I? I wish you health
I wish you wheels, I wish you wealth
I wish you insight so you could see for yourself
You could see the signs when the jackers is scheming
And the cops is coming, you could read they mind
You could see from behind, you could redefine
The game as we know it, one dream at a time
I'm American dreamin'

Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
Oh no, oh, I never gave up no way
I never felt that before
(American dreamin')
But there's always
That's all, that's all

American dreamin'

But there's always
That's all, that's all


Lyrics submitted by strykerchick

American Dreamin' Lyrics as written by Marvin Gaye Mario Winans

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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American Dreamin' song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I think he's saying American Dreamin' with a tinge of sarcasm, as though it's just that: dreaming. He thinks the opportunities are there for real success, but they aren't the priority.

    Alejoon December 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    He's saying the "American dream" is relative. It isn't to him what it wud be to a white guy who is ceo of a bank. This whole album is based on the movie "american gangsta" in the movie frank lucas talks briefly about the american dream. This song is jay-z's interpretation of that scene. The relation of that scene to his life. This song was the American dream of a young, broke Jay-z

    Cushion January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The whole American Gangster Cd is the tale of Shawn Corey not the American Gangster film but there are similar allusions. The album depicts the growth of this 'Gangster' throughout the whole album in sequential order. This is his beginning or his 'American Dreamin' with his friend/partner which later turns into reality. "This is the shit you dream about- With the homie steamin' out- Back, back, backing them Beemer's out" or "And its not like we're professionals-Movin' the decimals-Know where to cop? Nah-Got a connect? No"

    Their dream of getting rich seems to happen in

    "And head to the heights where big coke is processed You gotta convince 'em that you not from the Precinct"

    then to

    "He's gon' give you consignment You're now in a game where only time can tell"

    when the song end, this chapter ends. The next "chapter" or song on the album is 'Hello Brooklyn'

    alllexon June 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hustle hard

    jayduffleon September 26, 2008   Link

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