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.
Fall Back
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just let me cook, Man
I'm just gonna stir everything up, y'know?
Get me 'round the stove
All types of shit could happen, man
French toast, brioche bread
Thick cut bacon, fluffy eggs
Naked for the magazine spread
But remains open to other cockamamie notions
And forms of co-opting group was McLaughlin
Had the co-op hopping like Mao
At the Co-Op, Stringer Bell
Moving fast, Benny Hill
Fell in love, fucked, grew apart, broke up
And it's only Thursday
And it's only Thursday
Thirsty in the worst way
She dismounted with a curtsy
Stuck the landing, gold medals jangling
I'm feeling like Jane Fonda's cannon
Luckily cannabis his constant companion
Crisp as the skin on that Wu Tang salmon
Grudgingly put his name in the fuckin' canon!
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Game ain't the same but he
Still watch like a bookie
And kept strange strains Black
Girl Scout Cookies
Made it right with two wrongs
By moonlight burnt the barn
Local beef sustainably farmed
Passed your number one draft pick the bong
Said son, there's more where that came from
On my knees getting God up to speed
Still found a way to bury the lede
Blackface chimney sweep
Swam from Robben Island to
Your all-white beach
When he's gone your moms might weep
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
The Good Die, I'm Still Standing
Dim Sum with Henry Canyons
Everything was banging
Late show out in LA, I'm Gary Shandling
Afterwards she said this just can't happen
I'm sensing a pattern
And she still wear the ring, cold like Saturn
Dove deep dark ponds, the heart wants
Carte blanche
She wet like Good Hope but still said no
Easin' off that good dope, you already know
Sick wit' it
Said she liked how the dick fitted
And the angle it bend
But we all know how this shit ends
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
In "Fall Back," Billy Woods presents a stream-of-consciousness narrative that explores various themes and experiences. The song begins with the singer asserting their unorthodox nature and desire to stir things up. This sets the tone for the rest of the track, which lyrically moves through a range of ideas and observations.
The first verse opens with a culinary metaphor, mentioning French toast, brioche bread, thick-cut bacon, and fluffy eggs. This imagery serves as an entry point into a broader discussion of the singer's experiences and attitudes. They mention their client's unwillingness to pose naked for a magazine spread but their openness to other unconventional ideas. References to figures like McLaughlin, Mao, and Stringer Bell add a layer of complexity to the narrative, suggesting a connection to politics, power dynamics, and personal relationships.
The second verse continues the exploration of relationships and experiences, specifically highlighting a love affair that evolves and ends within the span of a week. The singer describes themselves as feeling thirsty and dismounting with a curtsy, suggesting a sense of grace and self-assuredness. The mention of Jane Fonda's cannon and cannabis as a constant companion add further layers of imagery and personal reflection.
The repetitive chorus ("Just say he's the best, let's not argue") can be interpreted as the singer's desire for recognition and acknowledgement without engaging in unnecessary conflict or debate. This can be seen as a reflection of the singer's confidence and self-assuredness. Throughout the song, Billy Woods employs vivid imagery, wordplay, and cultural references to convey a range of emotions and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Might be a bit unorthodox, but
I may approach things in a different way, but
Just let me cook, Man
Just let me do my thing, man
I'm just gonna stir everything up, y'know?
I'm going to shake things up, you know?
Get me 'round the stove
Let me be involved, in control
All types of shit could happen, man
Anything can happen, man
French toast, brioche bread
Simple pleasures, luxury
Thick cut bacon, fluffy eggs
Traditional breakfast, comfort
No, my client will not be
No, my subject will not be
Naked for the magazine spread
Exposed in a vulnerable way for public display
But remains open to other cockamamie notions
But is open to other unconventional ideas
And forms of co-opting group was McLaughlin
And methods of appropriating the group was McLaughlin
Had the co-op hopping like Mao
Had the cooperative bustling with activity like Mao
At the Co-Op, Stringer Bell
At the cooperative, someone influential like Stringer Bell
Moving fast, Benny Hill
Moving quickly, like Benny Hill
Fell in love, fucked, grew apart, broke up
Fell in love, had sexual relations, drifted apart, ended the relationship
And it's only Thursday
And it's only the beginning of the week
Thirsty in the worst way
Desiring something deeply
She dismounted with a curtsy
She gracefully stepped away
Stuck the landing, gold medals jangling
Successfully completed something, with accolades
I'm feeling like Jane Fonda's cannon
I'm feeling powerful and unstoppable
Luckily cannabis his constant companion
Fortunately, marijuana is always there for him
Crisp as the skin on that Wu Tang salmon
As fresh and perfect as that Wu Tang salmon
Grudgingly put his name in the fuckin' canon!
Reluctantly added his name to the prestigious list!
Just say he's the best, let's not argue
Let's all agree that he is the best, no need to debate
Game ain't the same but he
The game has changed but he
Still watch like a bookie
Still observe closely, like a bookie
And kept strange strains Black
And maintained unusual, unique qualities
Girl Scout Cookies
A specific type of cannabis
Made it right with two wrongs
Corrected the situation with unconventional methods
By moonlight burnt the barn
Destroyed something significant during the night
Local beef sustainably farmed
Dealt with local conflicts in a sustainable manner
Passed your number one draft pick the bong
Shared a significant opportunity with someone else
Said son, there's more where that came from
Expressed abundance, there is plenty more available
On my knees getting God up to speed
Praying, catching God up on the situation
Still found a way to bury the lede
Still managed to hide the most significant part
Blackface chimney sweep
A controversial and offensive character
Swam from Robben Island to
Moved from a difficult situation to
Your all-white beach
A place of privilege and exclusion
When he's gone your moms might weep
When he is gone, your moms might grieve
The Good Die, I'm Still Standing
Despite the good people dying, I'm still here
Dim Sum with Henry Canyons
Having a meal with someone named Henry Canyons
Everything was banging
Everything was great, impressive
Late show out in LA, I'm Gary Shandling
A reference to being in a late-night show in LA, like Gary Shandling
Afterwards she said this just can't happen
Afterward, she expressed that the situation cannot continue
I'm sensing a pattern
I'm recognizing a recurring theme or occurrence
And she still wear the ring, cold like Saturn
And she still wears the ring, distant and cold like Saturn
Dove deep dark ponds, the heart wants
Explored deep, hidden places, desires
Carte blanche
Complete freedom, unrestricted
She wet like Good Hope but still said no
She is sexually aroused but still refused
Easin' off that good dope, you already know
Reducing the use of drugs, as you are already aware
Sick wit' it
Extremely talented and skilled
Said she liked how the dick fitted
She expressed satisfaction with their sexual intimacy
And the angle it bend
And how it curved
But we all know how this shit ends
But we all know how this situation will eventually conclude
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind