its amazing how far music can come.. 24 years after it released and its one of the most heartfelt songs ive heard
Uh uh, yo
They plan was to knock me out the top of the game
But I overstand they truth is all lame
I hold cannons that shoot balls of flames
Right in they fat mouth then I carve my name
Nas, too real, Nas, true king
It's however you feel, g'head, you swing
Your arms too short to box with god
I don't kill soloists only kill squads
Fame went to they head, so now it's "Fuck Nas"
Yesterday you begged for a deal, today you tough guys
I seen it coming
Soon as I popped my first bottle I spotted my enemies tryna' do what I do
Came in with my style, so I fathered you
I kept changing on the world since "Barbeque"
Now you wanna hang with niggas I hung with
Fuck bitches I hit, it's funny I once said
If I, ever make a record
I take a check and put something away for a rainy day to make my exit
But look at me now, ten years deep
Since in the project, crack in my socks weep
I never asked to be top of rap's elite
Just a ghetto child tryna' learn the traps of the streets
But look at me now
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
Now wait a sec', give me time to explain, women and fast cars
And diamond rings can poison a rap star
It's suicidal, how I smoke in so much la'
I saw a dead bird flying through a broken sky
Wish I could flap wings and fly away
To where black kings and Ghana stay
So I could get on my flesh right away
But that'll be the day when it's peace
When my gat don't need to spray
When these streets are safe to play
Sex with death, indulge in these women
Vision my own skeleton swimming in eternal fire
Broads play with pentagrams in they vagina
Like the Exorcist, then they gave birth to my seeds
I beg for God's help, why they love hurting me?
I'm your disciple, a thug certainly
I'm the N the A to the S-I-are
If I wasn't I must've been Escobar
Forty-five in my waist, staring at my reflection
In the mirror, sitting still in the chair like my conception
When everything around me got cloudy, the chair became a king's throne
My destiny found me
It's clear why the struggle was so painful
Metamorphosis, this is what I changed to
And God, I'm so thankful
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
They plan was to knock me out the top of the game
But I overstand they truth is all lame
I hold cannons that shoot balls of flames
Right in they fat mouth then I carve my name
Nas, too real, Nas, true king
It's however you feel, g'head, you swing
Your arms too short to box with god
I don't kill soloists only kill squads
Fame went to they head, so now it's "Fuck Nas"
Yesterday you begged for a deal, today you tough guys
I seen it coming
Soon as I popped my first bottle I spotted my enemies tryna' do what I do
Came in with my style, so I fathered you
I kept changing on the world since "Barbeque"
Now you wanna hang with niggas I hung with
Fuck bitches I hit, it's funny I once said
If I, ever make a record
I take a check and put something away for a rainy day to make my exit
But look at me now, ten years deep
Since in the project, crack in my socks weep
I never asked to be top of rap's elite
Just a ghetto child tryna' learn the traps of the streets
But look at me now
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
Now wait a sec', give me time to explain, women and fast cars
And diamond rings can poison a rap star
It's suicidal, how I smoke in so much la'
I saw a dead bird flying through a broken sky
Wish I could flap wings and fly away
To where black kings and Ghana stay
So I could get on my flesh right away
But that'll be the day when it's peace
When my gat don't need to spray
When these streets are safe to play
Sex with death, indulge in these women
Vision my own skeleton swimming in eternal fire
Broads play with pentagrams in they vagina
Like the Exorcist, then they gave birth to my seeds
I beg for God's help, why they love hurting me?
I'm your disciple, a thug certainly
I'm the N the A to the S-I-are
If I wasn't I must've been Escobar
Forty-five in my waist, staring at my reflection
In the mirror, sitting still in the chair like my conception
When everything around me got cloudy, the chair became a king's throne
My destiny found me
It's clear why the struggle was so painful
Metamorphosis, this is what I changed to
And God, I'm so thankful
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
"You're the man" "You're the man"
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
You're da Man Lyrics as written by Paul Mitchell Nasir Jones
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Techno Ted may be a person who caused Chris incredible emotional pain & trepidation as well as moments of peace & happiness but now is removed and awaiting his fate. Darling may be a different person who is also free of him and can live her life free of Ted's tyranny. "In between all the laughing, and daydreams ... lies: a desert of truth" Lies are like a desert or the omission of Truth: Where there were Lies then Truth was absent. The song, "Techno Ted", may be a cathartic celebration of the downfall of this person.
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Hayalperest
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holiday
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Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Awesome lyrics and song. To me, it's Nas explaining all the pitfalls that are involved in the rap game which regular people never see because all they ever are privy to is the glitz and glamor (rims, cars, money, women, Cristal, etc.).
Nas is explaining almost in a warning tone to other potential young rappers to avoid these pitfalls at all cost, as if they become famous, they'll have someone telling them "You're the man" while they're hot. But when/if they fall off, all those "friends" will leave.
He's also talking about people who rap for the wrong reasons, aka to get money and fame. Nas says that he never really wanted fame, it just happened because he was a good rapper- "I never asked to be top of rap's elite Just a ghetto child tryna' learn the traps of the streets But look at me now"
My favorite line is "Your arms is too short to box with God"
Ha, I love that line, too.
'...Barbeque' refers to the song Live at the Barbeque, a song on Main Source's 1991 album, which was the first song that Nas was on.
this song's great, from the first time I heard it it struck me as classic Nas tone. a relatively young guy with a ton of wisdom, and like GrtOne41 said it's almost a cautionary tale to other young rappers. it sort of reminds me of Rise and Fall as he deals with personal struggles in both and shaking himself out of the funk he was in. some great imagery in this song, especially in the beginning and end of the second verse, he's letting us in to his personal space for a second and telling us what was going on in his head.
"I don't kill soloists, only kill squads" haha fucking badass
he is the best rapper alive
well him and outkast :)
"Your arms too short to box with God"? Erm Black Star(Kweli) used a smiliar line "your firearms are too short to box with God"? And Black Star came out in 98, Stillmatic in 01 if I'm not wrong. So I'm not sure if it originated from Nas. I remember Xzibit using something similar in a song with Kweli as well.
Not that I'm playa hating though, this is my favourite Nas song of all time, and one of my fav. hip hop songs. The line that killed it for me was "I beg for God's help, why they love hurtin' me. I'm your disciple, a thug certainly".
Lines about flying away to Ghana and the metamorphosis into a king from all his struggles were dope too. This is truly Nas on his throne, at the top of his game.
that whole first verse is about the jay-z and nas beef when this album was released. "Right in they fat mouth then I carve my name"= jay-z's big lips "I don't kill soloists only kill squads"= see Nas' "Ether" "Fame went to they head, so now it's "Fuck Nas"= see Jay-Z's "Takeover" "Yesterday you begged for a deal, today you tough guys"= When Jay-Z was making his first album he asked Nas to be on it, but he declined saying Jay should do it himself, like Nas did on his first album "Came in with my style, so I fathered you"= In "Ether," Nas states that Jay took his rhyme style on Reasonable Doubt "Now you wanna hang with niggas I hung with Fuck bitches I hit,"= On the Jay song "Superugly," a reply to "Ether," he states that he slept with Nas' ex
This song is so ill "Sex with death, indulge in these women picture my own skeleton swimmin in eternal fire Broads play with pentagrams in they vagina like the Exorcist instead they gave birth to my seed, I beg for God's help why the love hurtin me?..." thats like the hottest line in the song