Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Midnight rush, with a pen in my hand
Inkin' Lincoln, sanskrit with a fan
Rememberin' me, before we began
Sometimes I felt so Def in the Jam
But the ones who loved me, told me to stop
Like, "Homegirl can't catch shit if it drop"
A superwoman chick, you know that I am
Some shit don't fly by me in a man
'Cause I do not accept any less
Than someone just as real, as fabulous
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But don't have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want any paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Got something really shiny to start
Want me to sign there on your Range Rover heart
I've heard it before
Yeah, the dinners were nice
'Til your diamond words melted into some ice
You shoulda been rappin' to the beat of my song
Mr. Californ-ia, paper ganster-a
I'm lookin' for love, not an empty page
Full of stuff that means nothin' but "you've been played"
'Cause I do not accept any less
Than someone just as real, as fabulous
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta (gangsta, gangsta)
Don't want no paper gangsta (gangsta, gangsta, gangsta)
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But don't have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But don't have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Inkin' Lincoln, sanskrit with a fan
Rememberin' me, before we began
Sometimes I felt so Def in the Jam
But the ones who loved me, told me to stop
Like, "Homegirl can't catch shit if it drop"
A superwoman chick, you know that I am
Some shit don't fly by me in a man
'Cause I do not accept any less
Than someone just as real, as fabulous
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But don't have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want any paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Got something really shiny to start
Want me to sign there on your Range Rover heart
I've heard it before
Yeah, the dinners were nice
'Til your diamond words melted into some ice
You shoulda been rappin' to the beat of my song
Mr. Californ-ia, paper ganster-a
I'm lookin' for love, not an empty page
Full of stuff that means nothin' but "you've been played"
'Cause I do not accept any less
Than someone just as real, as fabulous
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta (gangsta, gangsta)
Don't want no paper gangsta (gangsta, gangsta, gangsta)
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But don't have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign away my life to
Someone who's got the flavor
But don't have no follow through
Don't want no paper gangsta
Won't sign no monkey papers
I don't do funny business
Not interested in fakers
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Oh-oh
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Don't want no paper gangsta
Lyrics submitted by youaintright20
Paper Gangsta Lyrics as written by Stefani Germanotta Nadir Khayat
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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First of all, this is such an underrated song. I agree that the song can have two meanings but I think it's more about Def Jam records. The imagery in the song is mostly related to writing, recording, and performing music and being "courted" by a record label (although I can see how "monkey papers" could be a prenup). Also, the line "You pimp LA" is, I think, a reference to how Def Jam screws over lots of Hollywood acts. She's basically saying even though you didn't believe in me I'm famous and you could have been a lot better off had you stuck with me (You shoulda been rappin to the beat of my song) but that's OK cause I'm a lot better off cause I didn't stick with you (A superwoman chick you know that I am). Throughout The Fame Gaga uses love and relationships as metaphors for fame and most of the songs can be interpreted both ways, but conceptually the album is still about fame.