Still Alive
A.M.B. Lyrics
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Shit
Man, this shit is crazy
All I'm tryin' to do is live
I try to help out where I can, I always try to give
But everytime I step out the house it's like a war zone
People runnin' and screamin' and bustin' on my dome
Throwin' bricks, talkin' shit, and hockin' spit
One kid even walked up and straight up just slapped me (what the fuck?)
I cut his throat and returned to bein' happy
Cause I'm still alive
Chorus x 2:
I'm still alive, walkin' in the sunshine
And if I die, I'm dyin' with a smile on my face
And everybody out there better realize
That you can kill me, but I'm dyin' with a smile on my face (cause I am still alive!)
Bonez Dubb:
It's fucked up, I got this place right on Knox and 38th
I got a nice view of the street, but it ain't safe (nobody's fuckin' safe!)
You see, you pass me by all day
On the way to work (to work)
You find me with a sign, I need a dollar cause I'm hurt (hurt!)
And I lost my job, man
And my pocket's on low
I keep on movin' so I get my box and go, but
This life is fuckin' tight.
I'm fuckin' breathin', right?
And if I'm dead I'm dyin' high
Cause I'm still alive!
Chorus x 2:
I'm still alive, walkin' in the sunshine
And if I die, I'm dyin' with a smile on my face
And everybody out there better realize
That you can kill me, but I'm dyin' with a smile on my face (cause I am still alive!)
Otis:
It ain't shit, man. See, what y'all don't realize is shit really ain't that bad, ya know what I'm sayin'?
Lemme tell you a little story of somethin' that happened to me.
It went a little bit like this, it's like, uh:
I got shot in my face like twice
The shitty part about it is who did it.
Yeah, it was my wife.
I didn't slap her or attack her
I just stood there and laughed
And grabbed my face up off the ground and started puttin' it back
She's a lifeless bitch, with no high hopes of Faith
Talkin' so much shit she needs a diaper duct taped to her face
I guess the moral of the story is don't worry about the hatred and lies
You got a family here and yes, we're still alive.
Fade in: I'm still alive x 4
Chorus x 2:
I'm still alive, walkin' in the sunshine
And if I die, I'm dyin' with a smile on my face
And everybody out there better realize
That you can kill me, but I'm dyin' with a smile on my face (cause I am still alive!)
The song "Still Alive" by A.M.B. portrays the struggle and hardships of daily life, constantly facing violence and judgment for the way one lives and looks. The lyrics sung by Otis speak of his constant efforts to help out and give despite the hostility and danger he faces. The fear and warzone-like atmosphere he lives in is described through lines like "People runnin' and screamin' and bustin' on my dome" and "throwing bricks, talking shit, and hocking spit." The rapper talks about being physically assaulted, slapped by a kid, and yet he returns to his happy state because he is still alive.
Bonez Dubb, another rapper on the song, talks about his own struggles of living on the streets, seeking help from others and working odd jobs to survive. Despite all of the hardships, he has gratitude for being able to breathe and live another day, as being alive is a blessing on its own.
The chorus is the recurring theme of the song, emphasizing the fact that the rappers, despite everything that happens to them, will always smile because they are still alive. Death is a reality that everyone has to face, but they choose to face it with a smile, showing their resilience and determination to live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Shit
Introduction to the harsh reality of life
Man, this shit is crazy
Acknowledging the difficult and dangerous surroundings
All I'm tryin' to do is live
Expressing the basic human desire to survive
I try to help out where I can, I always try to give
Expressing the urge to help others despite the difficult circumstances
But everytime I step out the house it's like a war zone
Describing the dangerous environment outside the safety of the home
People runnin' and screamin' and bustin' on my dome
Portraying the chaotic situation with the use of vivid imagery
Throwin' bricks, talkin' shit, and hockin' spit
Listing the various forms of violence and disrespect encountered
All because of how I look and how I walk and live
Attributing the hostility towards the difference in physical appearance and lifestyle
One kid even walked up and straight up just slapped me (what the fuck?)
Recounting a violent incident that happened
I cut his throat and returned to bein' happy
Expressing a brutal and gruesome reaction to violence
Cause I'm still alive
Celebrating the fact of being alive despite the constant threat of violence
Chorus x 2:
Recurring chorus emphasizing the message of survival
I'm still alive, walkin' in the sunshine
Describing the act of walking outside and enjoying life despite the dangers
And if I die, I'm dyin' with a smile on my face
Suggesting that death is not to be feared or avoided, but embraced as a part of life
And everybody out there better realize
Calling for others to acknowledge the strength and resilience of the survivor
That you can kill me, but I'm dyin' with a smile on my face (cause I am still alive!)
Reiterating the message of embracing life and accepting death
It's fucked up, I got this place right on Knox and 38th
Introducing a new character and location
I got a nice view of the street, but it ain't safe (nobody's fuckin' safe!)
Emphasizing the danger and instability of the environment
You see, you pass me by all day
Describing the common occurrence of being ignored
On the way to work (to work)
Highlighting the daily routine of people
You find me with a sign, I need a dollar cause I'm hurt (hurt!)
Depicting a common experience of begging due to misfortune
And I lost my job, man
Explaining the reason for the current situation
And my pocket's on low
Implies the lack of money and resources
I keep on movin' so I get my box and go, but
Suggesting the need to keep moving and adapting to survive
This life is fuckin' tight.
Describing life as extremely difficult and challenging
I'm fuckin' breathin', right?
Posing a rhetorical question about the basic survival instinct
And if I'm dead I'm dyin' high
Implies the use of drugs and addiction as a coping mechanism
Cause I'm still alive!
Reaffirming the message of survival despite the difficult circumstances
It ain't shit, man. See, what y'all don't realize is shit really ain't that bad, ya know what I'm sayin'?
Expressing a nonchalant attitude towards the challenges of life
Lemme tell you a little story of somethin' that happened to me.
Introducing a personal anecdote to illustrate the previous statement
It went a little bit like this, it's like, uh:
Transitioning into the retelling of the story
I got shot in my face like twice
Relaying a violent incident that happened to the artist
The shitty part about it is who did it.
Highlighting the emotional impact of the violent act
Yeah, it was my wife.
Revealing a surprising twist in the story
I didn't slap her or attack her
Clarifying that the singer did not initiate any violence
I just stood there and laughed
Portraying a bizarre and abnormal reaction to violence
And grabbed my face up off the ground and started puttin' it back
Relaying a grotesque and shocking image of self-repair
She's a lifeless bitch, with no high hopes of Faith
Describing the singer's wife in a derogatory and insulting manner
Talkin' so much shit she needs a diaper duct taped to her face
Using a vulgar metaphor to depict the negative qualities of the wife
I guess the moral of the story is don't worry about the hatred and lies
Providing a lesson or insight derived from the story
You got a family here and yes, we're still alive.
Reaffirming the message of the previous verses while also introducing the concept of a chosen family
Fade in: I'm still alive x 4
Musical interlude emphasizing the recurring message of survival
Contributed by Zachary F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.