So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
They wanna know where my name from, where I came from
Where I Florian Champagne done
Arm & Hammer grammar, campaign on it
Propane slang, put the flame on it
I was so hungry, I could eat a house
Then shit it out, 'til I figured out a different route
I'm try'na get clout, cash and a black card
So now even my pool got a backyard
Now it's time to fast-forward, speed up the process
I'm so fresh, I could fuck her off my outfit
Ridin' in the cockpit, ridin' with the top back
Ridin' on some butt-nicks, ridin' they say, What's that?
A fancy car
Or a big tit, I hang with the stars
[overlapping first line of chorus] I got money.
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Life as a trap star, switched to a rap star
Livin' on the fast lane, like I'm in a NASCAR
Switched up the game on 'em, keep it in the carry-on
Out of state travelin', traffickin'
Travelin' to Golden Isle, fuckin' with the Africans
Two G's less what averagin', averagin'
Don't blame me baby, I'm just my daddy's son
Know when he shot off, didn't think that I'll be shot out
Or show-off who show out and showboat when hoes out
Who know bout them know-bouts, once in ain't no outs
My buddy had the block lockdown, it was his
Now he in the cellblock lock doin' ten
It's bad for the biz, but still we gotta get cheese
But chu don't care about that, you just care about me
You don't wanna hold dough, you just wanna hold me
But shawty when you hold me, you hold me for me
It can't be cause
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
It's all about the riches, nuttin' else
You want it, go get it, strive for the best
I drink from the top shelf, flights in the first class
Hundred on the freeway, hope a nigga don't crash
Cause if I might, I'm gon miss my play comin' thew' tonight
Twenty-fo' for them hoes, fangs hope they bite
But, in spite, we love life
Started from the bottom on the way to the top
From ashy, to classy, to flashy
Money is my motivation that moves ME
I feel GOOD, I'm just tryna do me!
And if thangs right tonight, I might do three
Cause last night, I did two, who?
Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union
I'm just foolin' I paid my dues and I live like the movies
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
"Niggas act, like they can't see what another nigga been through
And don't give 'em no credit for surviving his battles
But I say, Fuck 'em look at me now bitches!
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
They wanna know where my name from, where I came from
Where I Florian Champagne done
Arm & Hammer grammar, campaign on it
Propane slang, put the flame on it
I was so hungry, I could eat a house
Then shit it out, 'til I figured out a different route
I'm try'na get clout, cash and a black card
So now even my pool got a backyard
Now it's time to fast-forward, speed up the process
I'm so fresh, I could fuck her off my outfit
Ridin' in the cockpit, ridin' with the top back
Ridin' on some butt-nicks, ridin' they say, What's that?
A fancy car
Or a big tit, I hang with the stars
[overlapping first line of chorus] I got money.
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Life as a trap star, switched to a rap star
Livin' on the fast lane, like I'm in a NASCAR
Switched up the game on 'em, keep it in the carry-on
Out of state travelin', traffickin'
Travelin' to Golden Isle, fuckin' with the Africans
Two G's less what averagin', averagin'
Don't blame me baby, I'm just my daddy's son
Know when he shot off, didn't think that I'll be shot out
Or show-off who show out and showboat when hoes out
Who know bout them know-bouts, once in ain't no outs
My buddy had the block lockdown, it was his
Now he in the cellblock lock doin' ten
It's bad for the biz, but still we gotta get cheese
But chu don't care about that, you just care about me
You don't wanna hold dough, you just wanna hold me
But shawty when you hold me, you hold me for me
It can't be cause
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
It's all about the riches, nuttin' else
You want it, go get it, strive for the best
I drink from the top shelf, flights in the first class
Hundred on the freeway, hope a nigga don't crash
Cause if I might, I'm gon miss my play comin' thew' tonight
Twenty-fo' for them hoes, fangs hope they bite
But, in spite, we love life
Started from the bottom on the way to the top
From ashy, to classy, to flashy
Money is my motivation that moves ME
I feel GOOD, I'm just tryna do me!
And if thangs right tonight, I might do three
Cause last night, I did two, who?
Sanaa Lathan, Gabrielle Union
I'm just foolin' I paid my dues and I live like the movies
I got money, lots of jewels and fancy cars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
Paid my dues and now I cruise with movie stars
(They say I'm wrong) But, baby don't blame me
I'm just a paper chaser
"Niggas act, like they can't see what another nigga been through
And don't give 'em no credit for surviving his battles
But I say, Fuck 'em look at me now bitches!
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Paper Chaser Lyrics as written by Earl Conyers Phonte Coleman
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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