The Big Nothing
Billy Woods Lyrics

Getting old
The singer is getting old and smokes alone at home while being high.

Dingy housecoat, rotary phone
The singer wears a dirty robe and has an old rotary phone.

Hidden room where cheeba is grown
There is a secret room where marijuana is grown.

Occasionally roam, see what's gone
Sometimes the artist goes out to see what's new or happening.

The Crone play keys of elephant bone
An old woman plays music on a unique instrument, made from the bones of an elephant.

Took the chalice with a shrug
The singer accepts the chalice of poison without much concern.

"when in Rome"
The singer shrugs off the chalice poison as if living by the phrase 'when in Rome.'

Sipped the cup of destruction
The artist drinks from the chalice of poison, accepting the potential consequences.

Pipe-head said "Lemme hold somethin'"
Someone asks the artist for a drag of smoke.

Dance like marionette
The artist dances without direction, like a puppet on strings.

Numb to it all like I'm smoking wet
The singer is emotionally numb like they're high on PCP.

Yellowed newspapers said he opened
Old newspaper clippings depict the artist 'making it.'

For the greatest dusty books
The singer values old, dusty books over monetary gain.

Chain on the door, he know 'bout that jux
The singer expects danger, so they chain up their door to prevent the likelihood of a robbery.

Go to church if you're shook
If you're scared, go to church.

Or get a pistol
If you're not religious, get a gun.

Dollars amounted to a fistful
The artist has a lot of money.

Tellin' you like big homie told me
The singer is relaying advice that someone gave to them.

"Black Girl Lost", "You Owe Me"
The singer references old Nas songs to make a point.

Coin of the realm, paid to trolls
Humans are becoming increasingly uncivil, making things like online comments and tweets valuable assets to trolls.

Rake the coals
The artist is stirring up trouble.

Negroes run till they out of road, dig a hole
Black people are frequently on-the-run and will have no other option but to dig their own graves when they're out of options.

Madder than Dame Dash, stockings full of coal
The singer is angrier than Dame Dash, who is known for his temper, and finds stocks a better investment option than coal.

Their eyes was watching God top
The artist is referencing the novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' by Zora Neale Hurston but describes it as something found on top of a stripper pole.

Of the stripper pole
The singer is describing God as something found on top of a stripper pole.

Passed dour to brothers on parole
The singer has passed lessons to those who are incarcerated.

Would say somethin', but what do I know?
The singer isn't certain they're knowledgeable or informed enough to give advice.

Sweet chariot, swing low, scoop me
The artist references the famous song by urging someone to 'rescue' them.

Trunk full of dro, speakers blown
The artist has marijuana in their car and their sound system is broken.

Out of state plates, Ls lit, tempt the Fates
The singer has out-of-state license plates and is attracting attention while smoking marijuana despite the risk of getting caught.

NY to DC, barely tapped the brakes
The singer drives from New York to Washington, D.C. without stopping much.

White privilege
The artist is referring to the advantages and benefits some white people have compared to minorities solely because of their race.

Cocky smile like you know my style
The artist's confidence and positive energy show confidence in their abilities.

Todd Marinovich never had the chance
Todd Marinovich's dad micro-managed and forced his life as a sport athlete, stripping him of a genuine childhood.

You lose, you get nothing you get nothing
There are no benefits to losing.

Friend of a friend, you had a fun night
The artist is talking to a friend of a friend who had a fun night.

Good job, and in addition he seemed nice
The friend of a friend also seemed nice.

Still, something not quite right
The singer has a sense or suspicion that something is amiss.

Women's intuition
The singer credits their intuition or perception which is commonly held by women.

The difference between finding yourself
The artist is talking about the difference between figuring out one's identity and disappearing or being killed.

And coming up missing
The artist fears being killed or disappearing.

In the meadow, she bring me
The singer met someone in a meadow.

Like a big bee, she sting me
The woman they met stung the singer similarly to how bees do.

Granted manumission
Granting of freedom, often from slavery or from oppressive circumstances.

One black came back, knife glistening
A black person had returned, and they had a knife.

Heart like a piston
The artist has a strong, driving heart.

Back scarred from whippings
There are visible scarring on the singer's back from being whipped.

Let that be a lesson, listen
The artist is reflecting on a lesson learned and advises others to do the same.

Whispered sedition
The singer discusses conspiracies or uprisings quietly.

Saw Lincoln at intermission
The singer saw or experienced history.

Gots to get got, my gat accept no petition
The singer must be prepared for any situation and will not accept pleas or requests.

Better yet, save your breath
Don't bother speaking or trying to convince the artist - it's a waste of time.

Ask God those questions
The artist suggests people should ask God life's big questions.

Possession, nine-tenths of the law
If you own something, it's very likely to be yours for the rest of your life.

Gas station, vacuum rental car
The singer is at a gas station and is using the car vacuum to clean the car.

Back in the back of the bar, demons spar
People are fighting or arguing in the back of the bar.

Wrote in a cloud of smoke, Negroes in Paris
The artist wrote something while under the influence and refers to 'Negroes in Paris,' a social conflict in the US that played out through art and literature.

Clock stroke, frayed peacoat
The clock chimed, and the artist has a jacket which is fraying at the seams.

Await my carriage
The singer awaits the end of the night and the arrival of their ride home.

Good day, Sir!
A courteous farewell.