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.
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mike D, come and rock the sure shot
I've got the brand new doo-doo, Guaranteed like Yoo-hoo
I'm on like Dr. John, yeah, Mr. Zu Zu
I'm a newlywed, not a divorcee (yeah)
And everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey
Well it's the taking of the Pelham 1, 2, 3
If you want a doody rhyme, then come see me
I've got the savior faire with the unique rhymin'
I keep it on and on, it's never quitting time and
Strictly handheld is the style I go
Never rock the mic with the pantyhose
I strap on my ear goggles and I'm ready to go
'Cause at the boards is the man, they call the Mario
You pull up at the function and you know I Kojak
To all the party people that are on my Bozac
I've got more action than my man, John Woo
And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew (yeah)
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
You know you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Adrock, come and rock the sure shot (Hurra-, Hurra-)
Cane will cross fade on your ass and bust your eardrums
Listen everybody 'cause I'm shifting gears
I'm fresh like Dougie when I get my specs
And on the microphone, I come correct
Timing like a clock when I rock the hip-hop
Top notch is my stock on the soapbox
I've got more rhymes than I've got gray hairs
And that's a lot because I've got my share (oohh, weee)
I've got a hole in my head and there's no one to fix it
I gotta straighten my thoughts
I'm thinking too much (yeah) sick shit
Everyone just takes and takes, takes, takes, takes
I'll have to step back, I gotta contemplate
Well, I'm like Lee Perry, I'm very on
Rock the microphone, and then I'm gone
I'm like Vaughn Bode, I'm a Cheech Wizard
Never quittin', so won't you listen
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, yes, indeed, it's fun time
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mca, come and rock the sure shot
I want to say a little something that's long overdue
The disrespect to women has got to be through
To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends
I want to offer my love and respect to the end
Well, you say I'm twenty-something
And I should be slacking
But I'm working harder than ever
And you could call it macking
So I'm supposed to sit upon my couch just watching my TV
I'm still listening to wax
I'm not using the CD!
Well, I'm that kid in the corner
All fucked up and I wanna
So I'm gonna (yeah)
Take a piece of the pie
Why not, I'm not quittin'
Think I'm-a change up my style just to fit in
I keep my underwear up with a piece of elastic
I use a bullshit mic that's made out of plastic
To send my rhymes out to all the nations Like Ma Bell
I got the ill communication
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Keep on and rockin' the sure shot
B-boys
B-girls
Tick-tock, tick-tick, tock-tock
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mike D, come and rock the sure shot
I've got the brand new doo-doo, Guaranteed like Yoo-hoo
I'm on like Dr. John, yeah, Mr. Zu Zu
I'm a newlywed, not a divorcee (yeah)
And everything I do is funky like Lee Dorsey
Well it's the taking of the Pelham 1, 2, 3
If you want a doody rhyme, then come see me
I've got the savior faire with the unique rhymin'
I keep it on and on, it's never quitting time and
Strictly handheld is the style I go
Never rock the mic with the pantyhose
I strap on my ear goggles and I'm ready to go
'Cause at the boards is the man, they call the Mario
You pull up at the function and you know I Kojak
To all the party people that are on my Bozac
I've got more action than my man, John Woo
And I've got mad hits like I was Rod Carew (yeah)
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
You know you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Adrock, come and rock the sure shot (Hurra-, Hurra-)
Cane will cross fade on your ass and bust your eardrums
Listen everybody 'cause I'm shifting gears
I'm fresh like Dougie when I get my specs
And on the microphone, I come correct
Timing like a clock when I rock the hip-hop
Top notch is my stock on the soapbox
I've got more rhymes than I've got gray hairs
And that's a lot because I've got my share (oohh, weee)
I've got a hole in my head and there's no one to fix it
I gotta straighten my thoughts
I'm thinking too much (yeah) sick shit
Everyone just takes and takes, takes, takes, takes
I'll have to step back, I gotta contemplate
Well, I'm like Lee Perry, I'm very on
Rock the microphone, and then I'm gone
I'm like Vaughn Bode, I'm a Cheech Wizard
Never quittin', so won't you listen
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, yes, indeed, it's fun time
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Because you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Mca, come and rock the sure shot
I want to say a little something that's long overdue
The disrespect to women has got to be through
To all the mothers and the sisters and the wives and friends
I want to offer my love and respect to the end
Well, you say I'm twenty-something
And I should be slacking
But I'm working harder than ever
And you could call it macking
So I'm supposed to sit upon my couch just watching my TV
I'm still listening to wax
I'm not using the CD!
Well, I'm that kid in the corner
All fucked up and I wanna
So I'm gonna (yeah)
Take a piece of the pie
Why not, I'm not quittin'
Think I'm-a change up my style just to fit in
I keep my underwear up with a piece of elastic
I use a bullshit mic that's made out of plastic
To send my rhymes out to all the nations Like Ma Bell
I got the ill communication
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
'Cause you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Well, you can't, you won't, and you don't stop
Keep on and rockin' the sure shot
B-boys
B-girls
Tick-tock, tick-tick, tock-tock
Lyrics submitted by piesupreme, edited by titwhistle, sokorny
Sure Shot Lyrics as written by Wendell T Fite Jeremy Steig
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Perfect example of an underrated single. When Ill Communication came out, we all bought it after hearing Sabotage, which was the first single released before the album dropped. Sure Shot is just as strong of an opening to this album as Jimmy James was for Check Your Head. I love the dog at the beginning saying, "I love you". Sure Shot is one of the more hip hop influenced songs on this album & the styles are kinda all over the place in the 1st few tracks. But after hearing their other 3 albums they had gained the trust of their fans to always place trust in them. Even though Sabotage was so awesome & these songs didn't sound like it, nor did they sound alike at all- it was still great! And you kinda forget about Sabotage when you hear songs like Sure Shot. The Beasties had perfected a new style that they created & introduced to us with Check Your Head. Ill Communication was the closing of an era. For the Beasties & the music industry in general. Kurt Cobain was dead & generation X'ers were well into their 20's. This album, along with Check Your Head was well liked by the kids who were 12 & getting into stuff like this. It was probably a much better influence on them than Licensed To Ill was on me when I was 12.