Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III (born 1979 in Orange County, California), bett… Read Full Bio ↴Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III (born 1979 in Orange County, California), better known by the stage name Aloe Blacc, is an American soul singer, rapper and musician. He began his recording career as an MC back in 1995 when he joined up with hip-hop producer Exile to form the mainstay indie rap group Emanon. Aloe released his debut solo album Shine Through on Stonethrow Records in 2006 and followed this up in 2010 with Good Things. He has also collaborated with the Cradle Orchestra under the name Bee, and they released the project Open Your Mind in 2009. His song "I Need a Dollar" is the intro song for the HBO show How to Make It in America. The I Need A Dollar Songfacts reports that after this retro soul track hit the charts throughout continental Europe, Blacc signed with major label Epic Records for the UK and Ireland release of the record.

A few years later, Aloe would “stow away” on a Lootpack European tour and become fast friends with Oh No – a relationship which led to many fruitful collaborations as a solo artist.

These days, Aloe Blacc has evolved into a true Renaissance man – dubbed “the indie R. Kelly” by online retailer Turntable Lab. Recordings like his Latin cover of John Legend’s “Ordinary People” prove that – not only can this multi-instrumentalist produce, rap and sing – but he can flip it in Spanish, too. With an amazingly broad set of influences ranging widely from the acoustic guitar stylings of folk artist Cat Stevens, to the soul-stirring sounds of the Negro Spirituals, Aloe prides himself on the spectrum of his musical roots. His sound often forays into the digital R&B realm, but always grooves with a tinge of Latin and the pulse of hip-hop.

Glory Days
Aloe Blacc Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I remember the days when we had none
Tryna fight through the waves, we were so young
Made the best of the place that we came from
But I never woulda made it
No, I never woulda made it alone
We would blaze through the night to the sad songs
And we'd dream of a life full of stardom
It would take us away from the problems

No, I never woulda made it alone

Welcome to the glory days
We finally made it out the maze
The memories never fade away
My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you
Welcome to the glory days
We finally made it out the maze
The memories never fade away
My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you-you

Stressin' over dumb shit that would keep me up at night
You were always there just like an angel by my side
Tell me not to worry, we could leave it all behind
One day, we'll be living up the good life
Look at how far that we've come, do anything that we want
Take a vacay for a month, we could just chill in the sun
Now that the struggle is done, we get the seat at the front
I'm glad I didn't do it alone

Welcome to the glory days
We finally made it out the maze
The memories never fade away
My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you
Welcome to the glory days
We finally made it out the maze
The memories never fade away
My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you

And all I wanna say is
Even if we ended up with nothing
I know that we were fightin' for something
The only thing that matters is one thing
It's that I did it with you

Welcome to the glory days
We finally made it out the maze
The memories never fade away
My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you
Welcome to the glory days
We finally made it out the maze
The memories never fade away
My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you-you

My glory days are with you
My glory days are with you

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of "Glory Days," Aloe Blacc reminisces about the early days of his journey, emphasizing how he and his friends had nothing but their dreams to hold onto. They faced challenges, and the waves of life tried to push them back. However, they persevered and made the best of their situation, finding solace in each other's company. Blacc acknowledges that he could not have achieved what he did without the support and companionship of his friends. The sad songs they listened to fueled their dreams of a life filled with stardom, which they believed would allow them to escape their problems.

The chorus serves as a symbol of triumph and liberation as they welcome the "glory days." Blacc expresses that they have finally escaped the confusion and challenges of the "maze" they were trapped in. The memories they created during their journey will never fade away. He attributes his glory days to the presence and influence of his friends, recognizing that they charted a path to success together.

In the second verse, Blacc reflects on the anxieties that used to keep him up at night. However, he acknowledges that his friends, represented by the angel figure, always provided him with peace of mind and reassurance. They encouraged him not to worry and assured him that they could leave their troubles behind. Blacc looks forward to a life of abundance and happiness, where they have the freedom to do whatever they want, like taking vacations and basking in the sun. He appreciates that they have come a long way and can now enjoy the front-row seats of life's accomplishments. Blacc expresses gratitude for not having to face the struggles alone and cherishes the shared victories.

The final verse emphasizes the importance of their journey together, even if they had arrived at their destination with nothing. Blacc emphasizes that they fought for something meaningful, regardless of the outcome. The only thing that truly matters is that he achieved his dreams alongside his beloved friends. The chorus repeats once again, emphasizing that their glory days will forever be associated with the collective experiences they shared.

Overall, "Glory Days" is a celebration of friendship, resilience, and the power of companionship during times of struggle. It reflects on the early days of the journey, acknowledges the support and guidance of friends, and celebrates the triumphs and memories they created together. The song beautifully encapsulates the idea that true success and fulfillment are found in the company of loved ones.

Line by Line Meaning

I remember the days when we had none
I recall the times when we had nothing, no material possessions.

Tryna fight through the waves, we were so young
We were attempting to overcome challenges and obstacles, despite our young age.

Made the best of the place that we came from
We maximized the opportunities and made the most of our humble beginnings.

But I never woulda made it
However, I would not have achieved success or happiness.

No, I never woulda made it alone
I couldn't have done it without your presence and support.

We would blaze through the night to the sad songs
We would passionately immerse ourselves in melancholic music during late hours.

And we'd dream of a life full of stardom
We envisioned a future filled with fame and success.

It would take us away from the problems
Such a life would provide an escape from our troubles and worries.

Welcome to the glory days
Now, let me introduce you to the moments of triumph and joy.

We finally made it out the maze
We successfully navigated through a complicated and confusing path.

The memories never fade away
The recollections of those times never diminish in significance.

My glory days are with you
My most triumphant and cherished moments are linked to our relationship.

Stressin' over dumb shit that would keep me up at night
Getting overly concerned about trivial matters that would cause sleepless nights.

You were always there just like an angel by my side
You consistently provided support and comfort as if you were a guardian angel.

Tell me not to worry, we could leave it all behind
You would reassure me, encouraging us to leave our worries in the past.

One day, we'll be living up the good life
In the future, we will experience a life of prosperity and fulfillment.

Look at how far that we've come, do anything that we want
Reflecting on our remarkable journey and realizing we can now pursue any desire.

Take a vacay for a month, we could just chill in the sun
Imagine going on a month-long vacation to relax and enjoy the sunshine.

Now that the struggle is done, we get the seat at the front
Since we have overcome the challenges, we now have a prominent position or advantage.

I'm glad I didn't do it alone
I am grateful that I had your companionship and support throughout.

And all I wanna say is
The only thing I want to express is

Even if we ended up with nothing
Even in the scenario where we have no possessions or achievements

I know that we were fightin' for something
I am aware that we were pursuing something meaningful and worthwhile.

The only thing that matters is one thing
The sole aspect that holds significance is

It's that I did it with you
The crucial point is that I accomplished it alongside you.

My glory days are with you
My most triumphant and cherished moments are linked to our relationship.

Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins, Jonas Jeberg, Neil Richard Ormandy

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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