His mother was an English literature professor from Jamaica. His father was a Ph.D. Marxist writer, active in the Zimbabwe War of Liberation and then a member of the government in Zimbabwe. In 1980, the family moved to Zimbabwe. After the death of Woods' father, they returned to the United States in 1989. Woods briefly attended Howard University before getting involved in New York City's hip-hop scene. He started making music in the late 1990s. He wrote his "first real rhyme" at a laundromat in Kennebunk, Maine in 1997.
Billy Woods released his debut solo album, Camouflage, on his record label Backwoodz Studioz in 2003. In 2012, he released History Will Absolve Me. In 2013, he released Dour Candy, which was entirely produced by Blockhead. In 2017, he released Known Unknowns. It was included on Rolling Stone's "15 Great Albums You Probably Didn't Hear in 2017" list. In 2019, he released a collaborative album with producer Kenny Segal, titled Hiding Places, and a solo album, Terror Management. 2020 brought Brass, a collaborative album with Moor Mother. Woods released Aethiopes and Church in 2022. On May 5th 2023 Woods released Maps , second collaborative album with producer Kenny Segal.
Dark Woods
Billy Woods Lyrics
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Soon as I arrived
Knew I shoulda never came through
Side-eye when they claim plans foolproof
So no real surprise when easy as one-two
Turn to "Oh no dude, fuck is we gon' do?"
Deep Woods OFF!, Ted Kaczynski
White man map, the space empty
Glaciers of ice conjure black
Ganja that don't burn
Malice and spite squandered
The dead don't learn
Harpy claw like bone saw
Self-Murderers flout divine law
That great escape, Tree of Knowledge
Bagged by the eighth, it only took one snake
Rope around my neck and kick the ladder out
Hid from his eye
Cheered when they tumbled out the sky
Humbled and chastised, all lies crumble
A thousand eyes in the jungle
Lifetime of pies and bundles death marching
One in the back of the head when you stumble
As I lay moldering, head stove-in
L still smolderin', eyes red-rimmed
Calf had the golden skin
A cold wind, twist and spin from old limb
Thick skinned, wide cadaver grin
No new friends
What says the priest?
The priest does not say
The priest does not say nihil dicit
I'll not secondsay you in your
Notions don't ask it
Ah, priest what could I ask of
You that you've not already given?
In the song "Dark Woods" by Billy Woods, the lyrics portray a sense of discomfort and unease from the very beginning. The opening lines, "Sky is my roof, grass high as bamboo, soon as I arrived, knew I shoulda never came through," set the stage for a journey into an uncertain and potentially dangerous place. The mention of Side-eye and foolproof plans suggests a level of suspicion and skepticism towards the intentions of others.
The next lines introduce references to Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, and a white man's map with empty spaces. This imagery alludes to isolation and the possibility of encountering monsters within the dark and mysterious forests. The line "Ganja that don't burn, malice and spite squandered, the dead don't learn" adds to the atmosphere of darkness and suggests a disregard for consequences or lessons once death is inevitable.
The following lines contain vivid imagery and metaphors. "Harpy claw like bone saw, self-murderers flout divine law, that great escape, Tree of Knowledge, bagged by the eighth, it only took one snake" portrays a sense of entrapment and the consequences of seeking knowledge or freedom. The mention of "Rope around my neck and kick the ladder out" illustrates a desperate and self-destructive mindset.
The lyrics then shift to a scene where someone is hiding, celebrating the downfall of others, and feeling justified in their own actions. The imagery of a thousand eyes in the jungle creates a sense of constant surveillance and vulnerability. The lines "Lifetime of pies and bundles death marching, one in the back of the head when you stumble" suggest a life mired in criminal activity and the ever-present threat of violence.
The final verse introduces a conversation with a priest, who remains silent and offers no words of wisdom or guidance. This interaction reflects a sense of disillusionment and a lack of faith in traditional sources of support and understanding. The closing line, "Ah, priest what could I ask of you that you've not already given?" questions the relevance and effectiveness of seeking advice or assistance from others.
Overall, "Dark Woods" tells a story of navigating through a treacherous and uncertain world, where one's choices and actions may lead to isolation, violence, and a loss of faith. The lyrics paint a grim and introspective picture, highlighting the complexities of human existence and the search for meaning in the face of darkness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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