B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) Lyrics
GZA is quite possibly among the top 5 lyricist of all time, and definitely the best in hip hop. His words are like swords but few listeners understood them. Now, "B.I.B.L.E." is the deepest and hardest of them all.
That said, an understanding of its meaning is not required to enjoy this track at all. Just know this: on the album Liquid Swords, this is the final track and the only "warm" song on the entire record. Listening to the album from start to finish is like going through a cold forest, some streets in a rough neighhood, and survived some gunfights, and finally here you are -- a warm haven. You gain strength from the warmth. This particular track really is a spiritual journey, even if the rest of the album weren't.
Literally, the lyrics are instructions given to a soldier that is about to die. Biggie and Pac must have been playing this song in their heads while they got shot. Since everyone of us will die sooner or later, we all should remember these instructions and follow them before our lives end.
Killah Priest is the one who raps this and his lyrics are dope
This is some serious stuff
Sick song. Really deep.
Kind of dissapointed though when i found out it wasn't GZA
I find it weird that GZA would let someone rap an entire song on his own solo album??? Oh well, he wrote the amazing lyrics...and that's what matters...so yeah...
His Five Percenter beliefs definitely shine through here. Mentions of sect of the swine, Tribe of Edam, Cesare Borgia and Pope Alexander indicate that this is not mainstream Christianity he is speaking of, but actually it was what he grew up questioning. Whatever your beliefs, his dedication to his religion and spirituality ('I studied till my eyes was swollen, and only arose when I found out that we were the chosen') is clearly evident.
As pagen_hd said, this final track is definitely the only 'warm' song on the record. It has a markedly different feel to the rest, and I consider it a classic.
"who build picket signs to legalize abortion, the evil eye distortion". Lost a lot of respect for GZA and Killah when I heard this line.
The "evil eye distortion" is ever so clever, because isn't that what it is? Hm. Maybe read about Jane Doe in Roe vs Wade to get a better perspective. Maybe thats what he meant about eyes swollen...Geeeezzzzz!! Luv this guy! Hopefully he is ultra poplular!!!
The "evil eye distortion" is ever so clever, because isn't that what it is? Hm. Maybe read about Jane Doe in Roe vs Wade to get a better perspective. Maybe thats what he meant about eyes swollen...Geeeezzzzz!! Luv this guy! Hopefully he is ultra poplular!!!
one of my favorite tracks on liquid swords and its not even by GZA.
so deep and while I can't relate to the whole 5 percenter beliefs and the like, I can still relate to being 12 living in hell so that line chokes me up sometimes.
im glad gza let killah shine on his own. really makes the classic album go out with a bang