Back In The Day
Ahmad Lewis feat. Ahmad Lyrics


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Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
I remember back in the days, when I was just a little nigger-o
I looked up to my bigger bro, begged if I could kick it
So when he went out with girls I could go taggin' along
Naggin' if she had a sis, maybe could mack a baby hoodrat
Y'all remember way back then, when it was 1985
All the way live, I think I was about 10
One of those happy little niggas, singin' the blues
That be always tryin' to bag with the shag and karate shoes
Sayin' "Yo momma black, his momma this, his momma that"
Then he get mad and wanna scrap
We stay mad about 10 minutes, then it's like back on the bike
To play hide and go get it with the younger hoes by the bungaloes
Then switch to playin' ding dong ditch
When that gets old and too cold to hack it, threw on a bomber jacket
You could tell the ballers 'cause they bail wearin' Gazelles
And if they really had money raised, be sportin' BK's
And all the girls had they Turkish link
If it broke then they made earrings to it, like they meant to do it
But, sometimes, I still sit and reminisce
Then, think about the years I was raised, back in the days
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
What? (Back in the day)
When? (Back in the day)
I'm still back in the days, but now the year is 87-88
That's when my crew and I were in junior high, in 7th grade
I hated school, wish it'd blown up
No doubt I couldn't wait to get out, and be a grown up
But let me finish this reminiscing and telling
About when girls was belling tight courderoys like for the boys
Basket weaves, Nike Cortez and footsie socks
And eatin' pickles with tootsie pops and it don't stop
I'm glad 'cause when J.J. Fad hit Supersonic
It was kinda like a sport to wear biker shorts or to wear jeans
And it seems like the masses of hoochies
Had poison airbrushed on their asses
Dudes had on Nike suits, and the Pumas with the fat laces
'Cause it was either that or K-Swiss
I miss those days, and so I pout like a grown jerk
Wishin' all I had to do now was finish homework
It's true, you don't realize really what you got 'til it's gone
And I'm not gonna sing another sad song
But, sometimes I do sit and reminisce
Then, think about the years I was raised, back in the days
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
What? (Back in the day)
When? (Back in the day)
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
What? (Back in the day)
When? (Back in the day)
Well it's the nigger-o
I figure that now I'm all grown up because I'm 18 years old
And guess you could say I'm holdin' down
A steady job, and crew steady mobbin'
You steady boppin' your head, and I'm paid, so I got it made
But didn't always used to have clout, used to live in South Central L.A.
That's where I stayed and figured a way out
I gave it all I had so for what it's worth I went from rags to riches
Which is a drag but now I'm first
So Ahmad and the Jones' is on our way up
Yup, we said that we was gonna make it since a kid, and we finally did
But sometimes I still sit there reminiscin'
Thinkin' 'bout the years I was raised, back in the days
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
What? (Back in the day)
When? (Back in the day)
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
What? (Back in the day)
When? (Back in the day)
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
And everybody say, "I remember way back when"
What? (Back in the day)
When? (Back in the day)
Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore




But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Back in the days

Overall Meaning

The song "Back in the Day" by Ahmad Lewis feat. Ahmad is a nostalgic trip down memory lane as Ahmad reminisces about his childhood during the 80s. He expresses his longing to relive those carefree days when he was young and had no worries. Despite being glad about his current success as an adult, he can't help feeling wistful about the past.


Ahmad reflects on his childhood memories of tagging along with his older brother on dates with girls, playing with his friends, playing hide and seek and ding dong ditch in the neighborhood. He also recalls the fashion trends of the '80s like wearing bomber jackets, Gazelles, playing basketball in Cortez shoes, and basket weaves. Ahmad's lyrics take the listener back to the '80s, a decade marked by its subculture, music, and fashion, as he sings about the cultural changes that took place during this time.


The song also speaks to the universal experience of getting older and realizing how different life can be as an adult compared to childhood. Ahmad acknowledges that while he might have wanted to be an adult when he was younger, he now misses the kind of friendships and experiences that he had when he was younger.


Overall, "Back in the Day" is a song that shows how music can transport us back in time and remind us of how much we've grown and changed over the years.


Line by Line Meaning

Back in the days when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore
Recalling his youth, the singer acknowledges his current adulthood


But some days, I sit and wish I was a kid again
Despite his maturity, the singer sometimes misses the carefree nature of childhood


I remember back in the days, when I was just a little nigger-o
Reflecting on his childhood, the singer acknowledges his race and the innocence of youth.


All the way live, I think I was about 10
The artist remembers the energy of his youth and recalls being about ten years old.


One of those happy little niggas, singin' the blues
As a child, the artist was content despite any struggles, and sang the blues as an expression of joy.


When that gets old and too cold to hack it, threw on a bomber jacket
When games like ding dong ditch became unappealing, the singer shifted his focus to fashion and donned a bomber jacket.


But, sometimes, I still sit and reminisce
Despite his current success and adulthood, the singer still fondly remembers his childhood.


And everybody say, 'I remember way back when'
Others also recall memories of their youth.


It's true, you don't realize really what you got 'til it's gone
The artist acknowledges the common theme of taking youth for granted and appreciating it only after it's gone.


Well it's the nigger-o
The artist acknowledges his race and identity.


So Ahmad and the Jones' is on our way up
The singer celebrates the success of his group, Ahmad and the Jones'.


But sometimes I still sit there reminiscin'
Despite his accomplishments, the artist still takes time to think fondly of his upbringing.




Writer(s): Stefan Kendal Gordy, Ahmad A. Lewis, John Klemmer

Contributed by Xavier M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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