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.
Human Resources
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend, we're older, but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams
Are still the same
Grave is the fertile womb
One prophet twelve goons
Worship suns, crescent moons
The Creator at his loom
Air shimmers in sand dunes sunstruck
Dead dinosaurs dissolve, gassed up
The muezzin calls
1000 Israeli gunbutts arrayed
On Solomon's walls the curved blade cuts
The lamb thrashes
Steel sharpens steel, a thrown stone bashes
Bloody hands thrust skyward the mob heaves
For debts older than fire
Niggas bleed just like us
Tremble in the shadow of
Volcanoes that might bust
Everyday struggle ten absolutes
Got A Story To Tell
The most perfect truth Death is eternal life
Hell is to exist without his light
Eternal night cold to the bone
Copper on eyelids I'm coming home
Cruel deities
Fashioned from circuit's and wire
Nimrod's shimmering tower reaching
Higher and higher
We bent lightning and strode through the fire
Cracked the Earth, conquered the skies
Captured space and time
We headed thataway, as the crow flies
As the pilotless drone glides
Only problem with being your own god
Is you still gotta die
Cast spells as you might late nights in labs
Practicing animal sacrifice
All under the watchful gaze
Of intelligent satellites
Pull fact from fiction like light
Separated by a prism
Surrounded by telescreens
Advanced surveillance systems
Kaczynski's in prison
Danse Macabre, entranced by
Mars heaven, Earth, Then light!
Watch nuclear fission through black goggle
Lead bunker the King approves
Magicians peddle baubles
The High Priests deal in absolutes
Exotic theorems, equations and infinite loops
The first verse of Billy Woods's "Human Resources" begins with nostalgia. The singer hears "familiar laughter" and sees the face of a friend from the past who calls out their name. Although the two friends have grown older, they haven't necessarily grown wise in their minds as they still harbor the same dreams that they held in their hearts when they were younger, suggesting that regardless of how much one's life changes, the dreams and aspirations they had in their youth linger on.
The second verse speaks of the dichotomy between creation and destruction. The fertile womb is likened to a grave, and the image of the dead dinosaurs provides a graphic example of life extinguished. The image of a muezzin calling for prayer is juxtaposed with Israeli gunturrets lining Solomon's walls, and the curved blade of the sickle harvested lambs are mentioned, adding to the sense of conflict and destruction. The lyrics also mention how people bleed regardless of their race, which implies that the idea of race is a social construct that doesn't determine fundamental differences between humans.
The third verse is about humans' technological advancements and the risks they bring. The references to Nimrod's tower and man's ability to fly, crack the earth, and conquer the skies are allusions to humans' accomplishments. However, the singer points out that even though we have created a world dominated by technology, it is still fraught with danger and uncertainty, and no matter how much we try to control our world, we still have a limited amount of time on earth. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of surveillance and how technology has the potential to be used in sinister ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the door
The singer is physically entering a place where he hears people laughing.
There came familiar laughter
The people's laughter is not new to the singer.
I saw your face and heard you call my name
The singer recognizes the face and voice of someone he knows.
Oh my friend, we're older, but no wiser
The two people are older than before, but they have not gained any significant knowledge during that time.
For in our hearts the dreams
Despite their age, the two still hold on to their dreams.
Are still the same
Their dreams have not changed over time.
Grave is the fertile womb
Death and birth are inherently linked.
Born again through empty tomb
Rebirth can occur even after death.
One prophet twelve goons
There are many followers to one leader.
Worship suns, crescent moons
People worship many things.
The Creator at his loom
God is likened to a weaver and creates the fabric of life.
Air shimmers in sand dunes sunstruck
The desert is hot and the sun is bright.
Dead dinosaurs dissolve, gassed up
Fossil fuels are made from ancient organisms.
The muezzin calls
The Muslim call to prayer is made.
1000 Israeli gunbutts arrayed
There are many Israeli soldiers holding weapons.
On Solomon's walls the curved blade cuts
Violence is occurring in the Middle East.
The lamb thrashes
An animal is struggling, possibly as a sacrifice.
Steel sharpens steel, a thrown stone bashes
Harming others can result in retaliation.
Bloody hands thrust skyward the mob heaves
A violent crowd raises its hands.
For debts older than fire
Some offenses are ancient in nature.
Niggas bleed just like us
All people suffer equally.
Tremble in the shadow of
Being afraid of something powerful or dangerous.
Volcanoes that might bust
Volcanoes can erupt unpredictably.
Everyday struggle ten absolutes
Life is difficult and uncertain.
Got A Story To Tell
The singer has a story to tell.
The most perfect truth Death is eternal life
Death is a natural part of life.
Hell is to exist without his light
Without God's guidance, existence can be painful.
Eternal night cold to the bone
Eternal darkness is bleak and uncomfortable.
Copper on eyelids I'm coming home
Death is approaching and accepting it is like returning home.
Cruel deities
Gods can be vengeful or harsh.
Fashioned from circuit's and wire
Modern gods are technological.
Nimrod's shimmering tower reaching
Humans can build impressive structures.
Higher and higher
Humans continue to aspire for greatness.
We bent lightning and strode through the fire
Humans have tamed electricity and discovered fire.
Cracked the Earth, conquered the skies
Humans have explored and claimed their world and the atmosphere.
Captured space and time
Humans have gained the ability to measure and study the universe.
We headed thataway, as the crow flies
Humans prefer straightforward and direct paths.
As the pilotless drone glides
Humans have advanced to the point where we can send unmanned aircraft.
Only problem with being your own god
Self-reliance can be problematic when mortality is still a problem.
Is you still gotta die
Death is universal and inevitable.
Cast spells as you might late nights in labs
Humans still try to conquer the unknown through experimentation.
Practicing animal sacrifice
Humans still try to appease supposed higher powers through sacrifice.
All under the watchful gaze
Humans are constantly monitored.
Of intelligent satellites
Humans have developed various intelligent systems to keep watch over others.
Pull fact from fiction like light
Knowledge can sometimes be hard to distinguish from lies.
Separated by a prism
Truth can have different components that can be separated.
Surrounded by telescreens
Living in a world of constant surveillance.
Advanced surveillance systems
Systems for monitoring have become more and more sophisticated.
Kaczynski's in prison
The Unabomber is currently imprisoned.
Danse Macabre, entranced by
Being mesmerized by the idea of death.
Mars heaven, Earth, Then light!
Different celestial bodies have unique and beautiful images.
Watch nuclear fission through black goggle
An ominous image of atomic bombs detonating.
Lead bunker the King approves
Leadership can be corrupt and overlooks the safety of others.
Magicians peddle baubles
Something seemingly magical can be simple or valuable.
The High Priests deal in absolutes
Religious leaders make definite proclamations.
Exotic theorems, equations and infinite loops
The endless pursuit of knowledge includes many complicated areas.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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