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.
Sleep
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Driving fast, the mountains behind us
Trees mash in the grinder
Secret compartment, fine china
Catch a Fire, Night find us
Black Hills, wide awake pills
Each a turn at the wheel
Two sleep, one picks CDs, ride to the beat
Switch at 3
Stretch, air crisp, breath steaming
Piss, slept dreamless, Drifting
Open country, squat prisons
Cities of the Plain hum in the distance
One thousand miles from Christmas
Watching the speed limit on
The road to perdition bad coffee, gasoline
Hard stares from men in
Muddy jeans on tailgates shared nicotine
Back on the road, feels like snail's pace
Questioning the fail-safe day breaks miserly
Gray slate pressing down great weight
There is only one road, the one you made
And they say they say they say
They say they say they say
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
And they say they say
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
And they say they say
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
And they say they say
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
And they say they say
In these lyrics, Billy Woods takes the listener on a journey through a long road trip. The first paragraph sets the scene as they ride through a pass in a Pathfinder, with the mountains in their rearview mirror. The imagery of trees being mashed in a grinder creates a sense of urgency and danger. The mention of a secret compartment and fine china suggests some hidden or illicit activities taking place. The references to Catch a Fire and Night imply a tense and dramatic atmosphere.
The second paragraph delves into the specifics of the road trip. The Black Hills and wide awake pills indicate a feeling of restlessness and the need to keep going. Each person in the car takes turns driving, while one selects the CDs to create a rhythmic soundtrack for the journey. The reference to Noreaga's Driver's Seat adds a touch of nostalgia and a connection to hip-hop culture. Switching at 3 suggests that they keep a tight schedule and maximize their driving time.
The third paragraph explores the physical and emotional aspects of the trip. The mention of stretching, breathing, and drifting shows the transition from sleep to wakefulness. The open country and squat prisons create a stark contrast, highlighting the vastness and freedom of the open road against the confinement and restrictions of urban life. The reference to being a thousand miles from Christmas suggests a sense of isolation or being disconnected from the familiar comforts of home.
The fourth paragraph delves into the mundanity and challenges of the road trip. The focus on the speed limit and mentions of bad coffee, gasoline, and muddy jeans create a gritty and weary atmosphere. The shared nicotine and hard stares from strangers show the sense of camaraderie and connection with fellow travelers on the road. The reference to the road feeling like a snail's pace and the questioning of the fail-safe hints at the weariness and doubts that can arise during a long journey. The mention of the weight pressing down and the one road they made implies a sense of personal responsibility and determination, suggesting that the road trip is not just a physical one but also a metaphor for life's journey.
The repetition of "And they say they say they say, No sleep 'til Brooklyn" in the chorus adds a layer of introspection and self-reflection. It could suggest that despite the challenges and obstacles faced during the road trip, they remain committed and determined to reach their destination. The connection to Brooklyn, a diverse and vibrant city, could symbolize the pursuit of dreams, success, or a place of belonging. Overall, these lyrics offer a vivid portrayal of a long and arduous road trip, exploring themes of restlessness, camaraderie, and personal determination.
Line by Line Meaning
Rode through the pass, four in the Pathfinder
We traveled through the mountain pass, four of us in the Pathfinder.
Driving fast, the mountains behind us
We were speeding away, leaving the mountains behind us.
Trees mash in the grinder
The trees get crushed and destroyed.
Secret compartment, fine china
We hide valuable possessions in a hidden compartment.
Catch a Fire, Night find us
We encounter danger and excitement in the darkness.
Black Hills, wide-awake pills
We take stimulants to stay awake while passing through Black Hills.
Each a turn at the wheel
Everyone takes their turn driving.
Two sleep, one picks CDs, ride to the beat
Two people sleep while one person selects and plays CDs, driving to the rhythm of the music.
Hug the road to Noreaga's Driver's Seat
We closely follow the path to Noreaga's Driver's Seat, a symbolic destination.
Switch at 3
We swap driving duties at 3 AM.
Stretch, air crisp, breath steaming
We take a break, feeling the fresh air, exhaling visible vapor.
Piss, slept dreamless, Drifting
We urinate, then sleep without dreams, drifting through our rest.
Open country, squat prisons
We encounter open landscapes juxtaposed with confining prisons.
Cities of the Plain hum in the distance
We hear the distant sounds of mundane cities.
One thousand miles from Christmas
We are far away from the joyous holiday season.
Watching the speed limit on
We pay attention to the maximum speed allowed.
The road to perdition bad coffee, gasoline
We traverse a path towards damnation, fueling ourselves with poor coffee and gasoline.
Hard stares from men in muddy jeans
We receive intense gazes from men wearing dirty jeans.
On tailgates shared nicotine
We smoke cigarettes together on the tailgates of vehicles.
Back on the road, feels like snail's pace
Returning to the journey, it seems to progress very slowly.
Questioning the fail-safe day breaks miserly
Doubting the reliability of our safety measures, daylight creeps stingily.
Gray slate pressing down great weight
A heavy burden, symbolized by a gray slate, weighs down on us.
There is only one road, the one you made
There exists only one path, the one you have created for yourself.
And they say they say they say
People keep repeating what they say.
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
We won't rest until we reach Brooklyn, metaphorically representing our goal.
And they say they say
Again, people continuously echo what they say.
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
We persist in our pursuit without resting until we reach Brooklyn.
And they say they say
Once again, others keep repeating their words.
No sleep 'til Brooklyn
We remain relentless in our journey until we arrive in Brooklyn.
And they say they say
Once more, people continually echo their claims.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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