Back In The Day
Badu Lyrics
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Back in the day when things were cool, hey
All we needed was bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Oho, bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well, well, well
Back in the day when things were cool, hey
Oho, bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well, well, well
Soul flower, take me flying with you, hey
Gimme dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Gimme some of dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well, well, well
Back in the day when things were cool
We used to meet up with these dudes
Then we rode out on hopes and truths
And would ride around the park 'til it's after dark
Pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well, well, well, sayin'
Back in the day when things were cool, hey
All we needed was bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Oho, bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well, well, well
Back in the day when things were cool, hey
All we needed was bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Oho, bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well, well, well
Soul flower, take me flying with you, hey
Just gimme dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Gimme some of dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well, well, well
Wailin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
And pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well, well, well
The laughin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
And pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well, well, well
Laughin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
And pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well, well, well
And we would ride around the park 'til it's after dark
And when we get home hope the dogs don't bark, puff
Well, well, well
Laughin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
And pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well, well, well
And we would ride around the park 'til it's after dark
And when we get home hope the dog don't bark, puff
Well, well, well
Laughin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
And pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well, well, well
And we would ride around the park 'til it's after dark
And when we get home hope the dogs don't bark, puff
"Back in the Day" is a nostalgic song by Erykah Badu that reflects on a time when life was simpler and more carefree. The repeated phrase "Back in the day when things were cool" sets the tone for a time when all they needed was "bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp" and to ride around the park until it was after dark. The song's lyrics express a longing for the past, for the days when the simple things in life could bring joy.
The repeated "bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp" is meant to conjure up the fun and easy-going feeling of the time when the song takes place. The lines "Soul flower take me flying with you, hey/Gimme dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp/Gimme some of dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp" imply that the singer is transported back to that time and is asking to be taken away by the music and the memories it conjures up.
The song's lyrics tell the story of a group of friends who would ride around the park with the windows rolled up, laughing, singing, jamming and talking, and listening to music with the bass turned up. This ritual provided a temporary escape from the stresses of everyday life. In today's age of technology, where every moment is capturable and shareable, the song reminds us that sometimes the simple act of being present in the moment with good company can be enough to make us happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Back in the day now
Remember when things were different and simpler
Back in the day when things were cool, hey
Remember when life was enjoyable and less complicated
All we needed was bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
All we needed for pleasure and fun, was music with a certain beat
Oho, bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Just emphasizing the addictive rhythm and sound of the music
Well, well, well
An expression of satisfaction and nostalgia
Soul flower, take me flying with you, hey
A request to music to uplift and transport the listener to a better headspace
Gimme dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Repetition of the fact that the music is what they want and need
Gimme some of dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Repeated to emphasize the pleasure and satisfaction derived from the bouncy rhythm
We used to meet up with these dudes
Remembering the good old days with friends
Then we rode out on hopes and truths
They lived with hope and honesty, riding out into the world for adventure and fun
And would ride around the park 'til it's after dark
They spent time driving around, passing the night in each other's company
Pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Listening to loud music with the windows up and smoking
Well, well, well, sayin'
Repeating an expression of satisfaction and pleasure
Wailin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
Enjoying music, talking and singing loudly
And when we get home hope the dogs don't bark, puff
Hoping not to attract attention with their loud music as they returned home
Laughin' and singin' and jammin' and talkin'
The joy of friendship and music
And pumpin' the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Repeating the image of listening to loud music with the windows up and smoking
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Jason Poyser, Joy Grand, Pat Vibas, Erykah Badu, Burton Rashad Smith, Audrey Maggat
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@avajayyy
[Chorus]
Back in the day when things were cool, hey
All we needed was bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Ooooh, bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well well well
[Repeat]
Soulflower take me flying with you, hey
Gimme dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Gimme some of dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well well well
Back in the day when things were cool
We used to meet up with these dudes
Then we'd roll out on Vogues and Trues*
And would ride around the park till its after dark
Pumpin the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well well well
[Chorus 2x]
Soulflower take me flying with you, hey
Just gimme dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Gimme some of dat bop-bop, bop-bop, bop-ba-domp
Well well well
Wailin and singin and jammin and talkin
And pumpin the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well well well
Da laughin and singin and jammin and talkin
Pumpin the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well well well
Laughin and singin and jammin and talkin
And pumpin the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
And we would ride around the park till its after dark
And when we get home hope the dogs dont bark, puff
Well well well
Laughin and singin and jammin and talkin
And pumpin the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well well well
And we would ride around the park till its after dark
And when we get home hope the dogs dont bark, puff
Well well well
Laughin and singin and jammin and talkin
And pumpin the trunk with the windows rolled up, puff
Well well well
And we would ride around the park till its after dark
And when we get home hope the dogs dont bark
[Puff until fade-out
@Placesandspaces35
This will still be hittin’ in the year 2050!
@niradnagrom2356
This is her timeless joint; all the best have one...
@crhbeats579
My dad played this song for me all the time as a kid. I'm 14 now, and I'm am starting to realize that my Dad had a really good taste in music. Wish I found that out sooner...
@samurai9319
And you will continue to realize this as you go. 💓🎶💕☯️💓💕🎶
@PlantHoardingAdventures
Dope! You’ve got a cool dad! Hope my kid grows up to realize the same thing about my taste 😝
@stiq4659
Rtt
@shadesofcalm
❤
@nicoroberson9210
Wow 14! Stay positive my child you are loved everywhere ‼️
@lakeshiamcgee3385
2020 listeners where are you ?
@whyyoutrippindeebo3514
I remember watching her perform this on the Chapelle Show. Loved it every since...