After releasing a pair of albums with the Freestyle Fellowship, To Whom it May Concern... and Innercity Griots, Acey signed to Capitol Records and released his highly acclaimed solo debut, All Balls Don't Bounce, in 1995. He returned three years later with his second album, A Book of Human Language, a collaboration with producer Mumbles.
Acey returned solo again in 2001 with his third solo album, Accepted Eclectic. In 2002, the Freestyle Fellowship returned after 9 years for the release of their third group album, Shockadoom. 2002 and 2003 saw two more solo releases, Hip Hop and the World We Live In and Love & Hate and another A-Team album ('Lab Down Under'). In 2006, Aceyalone released two more solo projects, first, Magnificent City, a collaboration with producer RJD2, followed by Grand Imperial. 2007 sees Acey releasing the first in his planned explorations of world musics, Lightining Stikes.
Widely recognized as one of the more lyrically gifted in the history of emceeing, Aceyalone embodies the sophisticated west coast style that is showcased in other indie artists such as Blackalicious and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien.
the theif in the night
Aceyalone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born from the slums and taken
Through the ritual, childhood, puberty, adulthood, maturity
And mastery of me
And my surroundings counting down the days till I'm exposed,
"I hear it move swiftly" underneath the nose
Till one day you're face to face you're gonna cross the line
You're lost for time
Heart beat finished replenish
Now you can be one with the light
But when it comes it'll come like a thief in the night
Hook:
So hollow the ground and don't put up a fight
Cause when it comes it'll come like a thief in the night
Yeah, obey the laws and do everything right
But when it comes it'll come like a thief in the night
For real we take 'em away
They take 'em away
We take 'em away
They take 'em away
We take 'em away
Verse 2:
I hear the sound of the rain trickling down my window pane
It stains the seal to let me know life is real
Sustain and build and and maintain a force field
I use it in a time of need when it's hazzardest
As it is said
Be defensive at all time for instance
As soon as I'm elevated out of existence
I am no more
I can soar
Right on the back of an eagle
Or look eye to eye with a beetle
But now I am engaged
In none other than the physical form in which I'm caged
Such lawlessness involved in this charade
Tainted face painted black
"is that the end momma? can't I come back? "
No your train stops here
Right where the rain drops appear
Next stop inbetween the ears
Objection to make you cirular
Work you just enough so you can work yourself
Hook
Verse 3:
Overly anxious can't just wait
To see when death is gonna pull you to your fate
It's inevitable there's no escape
There's no mistake
Every time a life is given it's another one you have to take
Then your electricity and and your energy's released
Born into another soul after your physical's deceased
May you forever rest in peace
Although your current is concurrent there is no deturrent
You will cease to be no more
The war has been won
The warrior is rested and your duty here is done
Just when you think you're having fun
It'll snatch you up and run
For a second you appreciate the sun
For a half a second you appreciate the stars
For a half a second you reflect on who you are
And what you where
And in a flash it's all a blur
Hook
Outro:
Ladies and gentlemen today's subject is death
The way I look at it it's three basic elements right?
Die, dying, dead right? die, dying, dead. death becomes you says the crow to
The cheetah because you're an old cat. see you seem a little under the
Weather, while me, my wings are as strong as ever, he says.
"well that may be so" the cheetah says to the crow, but you know where to
Find me, because everybody gets their time card pulled. you'll just be a few
More steps behind me, and behind you may I remind you so is everything that's
True and living, that's life driven is given a final shock boy. frankly
Speaking, everything in here is on the clock boy. every atom, organism,
Insect, animal, man is gonna die, dying, dead. "death becomes you," says the
Armadillo to the crow, "oh you oh you are gonna die."
The song "The Thief in the Night" by Aceyalone is a contemplative piece on the inevitability of death. The first verse describes the journey of life from youth to maturity, where the singer is aware of the ticking clock that is counting down to the end of his life. The line, "Till one day you're face to face you're gonna cross the line, you're lost for time," suggests that death will arrive unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, and the singer resigns himself to the fact that there is no point in putting up a fight against it. The second verse describes the physical existence as a cage, and that we are trapped in this physical form until death. The line, "Right where the rain drops appear, next stop in between the ears," suggests that death is where we enter the afterlife, or the "spiritual realm."
The third verse discusses the anxiety of waiting for death, as it is inevitable and there's no escape from it. The line, "It'll snatch you up and run," suggests that death comes suddenly, without warning. The outro of the song features a dialogue between a crow and a cheetah, where the crow says that death is an inevitable part of life, and everything in life is on the clock. The line, "every atom, organism, insect, animal, man is gonna die, dying, dead," suggests that every living being will eventually meet their fate. The song's overall message is a reminder that death is an inescapable part of life, and it is important to reflect on the fact that our time on earth is limited.
Line by Line Meaning
As I awaken
As I become conscious or aware
Born from the slums and taken
Born and raised in a poor, disadvantaged area before being taken by life's journey
Through the ritual, childhood, puberty, adulthood, maturity
Progressing through life's milestones and stages of development
And mastery of me
Achieving a level of control and understanding over oneself
And my surroundings counting down the days till I'm exposed,
Aware of the limited time one has to live in their environment and society
"I hear it move swiftly" underneath the nose
Sensing the approach of an unknown force that will reveal the truth
Till one day you're face to face you're gonna cross the line
Until the day comes where one must confront the reality of their situation
You're lost for time
Time is running out and there is a sense of urgency
Life lose diminished
Life force is dwindling and the end is near
Heart beat finished replenish
After death, the body's energy is released and replenished elsewhere
Now you can be one with the light
After death, one may become unified with a higher power or energy
But when it comes it'll come like a thief in the night
Death will come unexpectedly or suddenly
So hollow the ground and don't put up a fight
Accept death peacefully and without resistance
Cause when it comes it'll come like a thief in the night
Death will come suddenly and unexpectedly
Yeah, obey the laws and do everything right
Live a virtuous life and follow moral codes
For real we take 'em away
In reality, death takes us away
I hear the sound of the rain trickling down my window pane
Noticing the beauty in the world around us
It stains the seal to let me know life is real
Recognizing the physical and emotional aspects of life
I use it in a time of need when it's hazzardest
Utilizing inner strength during difficult or dangerous moments
Be defensive at all time for instance
Be ready for any situation by maintaining a guarded mindset
As soon as I'm elevated out of existence
Upon death, transcending to a different state of existence
In none other than the physical form in which I'm caged
Stuck in a human body that limits one's abilities and experiences
Such lawlessness involved in this charade
Recognizing the lack of control and chaos in life
Tainted face painted black
Death and decay leave their mark on the physical body
"is that the end momma? can't I come back? "
Questions that may arise about the nature of life and death
No your train stops here
Death is the end of the line for life's journey
Right where the rain drops appear
Symbolic of the moment of death
Next stop inbetween the ears
Transitioning to a new plane of consciousness or spiritual existence
Overly anxious can't just wait
Feeling anxious and impatient about death
To see when death is gonna pull you to your fate
Waiting for the unknown moment of death
It's inevitable there's no escape
Death is unavoidable and inescapable
Every time a life is given it's another one you have to take
With new life comes eventual death
Then your electricity and your energy's released
Upon death, one's energy and essence are freed
Born into another soul after your physical's deceased
Belief in reincarnation or the continuation of energy after death
May you forever rest in peace
Wishing for peace and comfort after death
Although your current is concurrent there is no deturrent
Despite one's current trajectory in life, death is unavoidable
You will cease to be no more
Death marks the end of one's existence in this world
The war has been won
Death marks the end of one's struggles and battles in life
The warrior is rested and your duty here is done
Completion of one's life journey, with death as the final duty
Just when you think you're having fun
Life can end unexpectedly even during moments of joy
It'll snatch you up and run
Death can come suddenly and quickly
For a second you appreciate the sun
In the face of death, one may appreciate the beauty of life
For a half a second you appreciate the stars
Recognizing the vastness and wonder of the universe before death
For a half a second you reflect on who you are
Contemplating one's identity and life before passing
And what you where
Reflecting on one's past accomplishments and legacy
And in a flash it's all a blur
Death can be sudden and disorienting
Ladies and gentlemen today's subject is death
Announcement of the theme of the song
The way I look at it it's three basic elements right?
Introducing the idea of death as consisting of three phases
Die, dying, dead right? die, dying, dead.
Listing the three phases of death
death becomes you says the crow to the cheetah because you're an old cat.
Death is natural and inevitable, for both humans and animals
see you seem a little under the weather, while me, my wings are as strong as ever, he says.
The crow taunts the cheetah, claiming that death will not affect it
"well that may be so" the cheetah says to the crow, but you know where to find me,
The cheetah acknowledges the inevitability of death, but the crow's taunts are unconvincing
because everybody gets their time card pulled.
Death is a fundamental part of life for all living things
you'll just be a few more steps behind me, and behind you may I remind you
The cheetah suggests that the crow will also eventually die, but the crow remains unconvinced
so is everything that's true and living, that's life driven is given a final shock boy.
All living things will eventually die, and death is the ultimate and shocking end
frankly speaking, everything in here is on the clock boy.
Everything in life has a limited amount of time
every atom, organism, insect, animal, man is gonna die, dying, dead.
All living things will eventually pass through the three phases of death
"death becomes you," says the armadillo to the crow, "oh you oh you are gonna die."
Another animal acknowledges the inevitability of death and highlights the crow's attempts to avoid it
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sean Germaine
This whole album a masterpiece
satatay23
This is a true MasterPiece. Amazing score by Mumbles, it sounds as though he had an actual band at his disposal. And of course Ace 1, the stories, lyrics, delivery, style, conviction. I believe he is the only vocals on the album as well? That is incredible.
clokwize
its funny, that little 1 minute outro at the end probably changed my whole life forever
Justin Carnes
Honestly such an amazing song
Justin Carnes
This man is something else... can’t believe I’ve never heard of him until recently. I feel so motivated by this and I can’t explain why.
skronnyrotten
aceyalone = best west coast, kool keith = best east coast... hands down, no one else can touch .
rizednb
Most underrated emcee of all time... big ups Ace One
Eziokilla9595
Aceyalone doesn't have a weak album. He's top 5 in discography, and top 5 in flow.
Willy Parraviccini
acetylene the voice of freestyle fellowship....
JediTheKnight
Aceyalone, one of my best rapper for the meaningful lyrics and the music too of course