Soldier
★ Eminem Lyrics

I'm a soldier, I'm a soldier, I'm a soldier, I'm a soldier
I am a fighter, someone who defends their beliefs no matter what.

Never was a thug, just infatuated with guns
I never had a criminal past, but I became fascinated with guns.

Never was a gangsta 'til I graduated to one
I became a gangster only when I joined a gang after joining the rap game.

And got the rep of a villain, for weapon concealin'
I gained a reputation as being a bad guy due to my habit of keeping guns hidden.

Took the image of a thug, kept shit appealin'
I started taking on the image of a tough guy and over time it became an important part of my public persona.

Willin' to stick out my neck for respect
I am willing to take risks to earn respect from others.

If it meant life or death, never live to regret what I said
If I am put in a situation where I have to risk my life for what I believe, I will not regret it even if it kills me.

When you're me, people just want to see if it's true
People are always curious about whether I live up to my public persona.

If it's you, what you say in your raps, what you do
People want to see whether my actions match up with the things I talk about in my music.

So they feel, as part of your obligation to fulfill
People feel that I have an obligation to live up to their expectations of me.

When they see you on the streets, face to face, are you for real
People want to know if I am really the same person offstage as I am when I am performing.

In confrontation ain't no conversation, if you feel
When it comes to confrontations, there is no talking it out. Only action can solve the issue.

You're in violation, any hesitation'll get you killed
If you violate my personal space or threaten me, I will not hesitate to take action which may lead to your death if necessary.

If you feel it, kill it. If you conceal it, reveal it
If you have a problem or a feeling, deal with it directly and do not hide it.

Being reasonable will leave you full of bullets
Acting cautiously or trying to reason with me during confrontations will not keep you safe from me if you are in the wrong.

Pull it, squeeze it 'til it's empty, tempt me, push me, pussies
If you push or tempt me, I will not stop until I have completely dealt with the issue.

I need a good reason to give this trigger a good squeeze
I will only use deadly force if I have a solid reason to do so.

I'm a soldier, these shoulders hold up so much
I am a person who has a lot of responsibility and heavy burdens to bear.

They won't budge, I'll never fall or fold up
Despite the difficulties I face, I will not give up or be defeated.

I love pissin' you off, it gets me off
I enjoy pushing people's buttons and making them angry because it gives me satisfaction.

Like my lawyers when the fuckin' judge lets me off
I feel a sense of triumph when I am able to avoid legal consequences for my actions.

All you motherfuckers gotta do is set me off
It's easy for anyone to make me lose my temper.

I'll violate and all the motherfucking bets be off
If you mess with me, I will not hesitate to engage in violent and illegal activities.

I'm a lit fuse, anything I do, bitch, it's news
I am always in the public eye and anything I do or say is reported on in the media.

Pistol whippin' motherfucking bouncer 6'2"
I am not afraid to engage in violence, even against people who are much larger than me.

Who needs bullets, soon as I pull it you sweat bullets
I can intimidate people just as well by brandishing a gun as I can by actually shooting someone.

An excellent method to get rid of the next bully
Using violence or intimidation to solve problems is a strategy that has worked for me in the past.

It's actually better 'cause instead you murderin'
It is more satisfying to torment and bully someone than to actually kill them.

You can hurt 'em and come back again and kick dirt at 'em
I enjoy causing damage to others and then coming back to taunt them about it.

It's like pourin' salt in the wounds, assault and get sued
By continuing to attack someone even after they have been hurt, I am just making things worse for myself and potentially opening myself up to being sued in civil court.

You can smell the lawsuits soon as I waltz in the room
I have so much legal trouble that it is almost palpable when I enter a room full of people.

Everybody halts and stops, calls the cops
People are quick to call the authorities when I am around because of my violent tendencies.

All you see is bitches coming out their halter tops
Even women who are dressed provocatively become frightened of me when they see me out in public.

Running and ducking out the Hot Rocks parking lot
People are willing to run away from me and make a scene in order to avoid a confrontation with me.

You'll all get shot whether its your fault or not, 'cause
Even people who are not directly involved in a conflict with me can become victims of my violence.

I spit it slow so these kids know that I'm talking to 'em
I take care to speak slowly and clearly in my music so that young people can better understand the message I am trying to convey.

Give it back to these damn critics and sock it to 'em
I am not afraid to challenge my critics and put them in their place when I feel they are wrong.

I'm like a thug with a little bit of Pac influence
I have been influenced by the late rapper Tupac Shakur in terms of the way I view the world and how I express myself in my music.

I spew it, and look how I got you bitches rockin' to it
People are so drawn to the power of my words that they cannot help but dance and move along to the beat of my music.

You motherfuckers could never do it like I could do it
No one else can do what I do in terms of the way I express myself and the impact my music has on people.

Don't even try it, you'll look stupid, do not pursue it
Don't even try to copy my style or my approach, because you will not be successful and it will only hurt your reputation.

Don't ever in your life try to knock the truest
Don't ever try to criticize me for being real and true to myself, because I will not tolerate it.

I spit the illest shit ever been dropped in two inch
My rhymes are so powerful and impactful that they have the power to change people's lives even in short bursts.

So ticky-tock, listen as the sound ticks on the clock
Listen carefully as time passes, because the clock never stops ticking.

Listen to the sound of Kim as she licks on the cock
This line serves as an explicit reference to the sexual relationship between Eminem and his ex-wife Kim.

Listen to the sound of me spillin' my heart through this pen
Listen to the thoughtfulness and sincerity in my lyrics as I pour my heart out through my writing.

Motherfuckers know that I'll never be Marshall again
My wild and reckless behavior has caused me to become more well-known as Eminem than as Marshall Mathers, my real name.

Full of controversy until I retire my jersey
I am no stranger to controversy and I will continue to court it until I am no longer making music.

'Til the fire inside dies and expires at 30
I will keep making music until I no longer have the passion for it or until I reach a certain age.

And Lord have mercy on any more of these rappers that verse me,
Other rappers who try to compete with me or challenge me will face harsh consequences.

And put a curse on authorities in the face of adversity
Even in the face of intense opposition and backlash from the authorities or other sources, I will continue to fight back and do things my way.

Yo left, yo left, yo left
This line is simply a repetition of the phrase 'yo left' as a way of drawing attention and adding emphasis to what comes next.

Right, left
The sequence ends with 'right left,' a simple way to encourage people to move or take action in one direction or another.