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.
The Wake
Billy Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the same time
Pedaling to school as a child
Under a canopy of jacarandas
It ain't change much
Colorful trees still surround us
L's get touched
Baby-faced, staring out the window
Same wistful look but shackled up
Bearded down
Momma kissed his forehead good luck
Tears anoint the crown
He lied to her anyway and
Toasted that night over pounds
Sterling, whispers in whirlwinds
Polaroid pictures, edges curling
At the auction the contents of one storage
Space, sight unseen, Going once
Sixteen, seventeen, cracking Philly Blunts
Half the smarts, but twice the heart
Look at the picture, eyes had a spark
Sputtering, at the bar mutterin'
Money comes and goes
Broke today, but tomorrow who knows?
Ten years ago she was just some hoe
Five years after that, I'm in love
And if you asked me today
I could give a fuck go figure
Ahhh
Sorry I ain't make the wake, yeah I know
A dollar short and 24 hours late
Trying to live my whole life in '98
Your moms watchin' me clean my plate
But there ain't no seconds
I'm at the ATM emptying my checking
I'm eleven years old firing a weapon
Dad's hand on my shoulder, smoke in my nose
Got older, went from chocolate to dro
Now if it ain't flight, it's a no go
Bigger, Faster, Stronger
I seen old friends start
Working with the po-po just goes to show
I could go back tell myself everything I know
But me at 23 would probably shrug a shoulder
Put stoge to fire like you're
Preaching to the choir
V-Mega was spitting through the wire
Like, don't even wet that
It ain't about no get back
We doing digit's on Route 90
Late for your wedding
Sitting in the morning sun with
That good Otis Redding
Th-th-th-this music th-th-this music
Ii-is so much ii-is so much bigger than me
B-b-b-bigger than me b-b-bigger than me
Th-th-th-this music th-th-this music
The lyrics to Billy Woods's song "The Wake" touch on themes of nostalgia, the passage of time, and the complexities of life. The opening lines reflect on the singer's present moment in the recording booth, juxtaposed with memories of riding to school as a child under beautiful jacaranda trees. The imagery suggests that while time may have passed, certain aspects of life remain constant.
The lyrics then shift to a scene twenty years later, where the singer, now grown and burdened with responsibilities, reflects on the choices he has made. He acknowledges lying to his mother but still finds solace in toasting over his accomplishments. The mention of "Polaroid pictures, edges curling" and "auction the contents of one storage space" hints at a sense of impermanence and the fleeting nature of material possessions.
The song continues with references to personal growth, relationships, and the unpredictability of life. The line "Broke today, but tomorrow who knows?" suggests a sense of uncertainty and the constant ebb and flow of financial circumstances. The lyrics also hint at regrets and missed opportunities, expressed through the singer's absence at a wake and his attempts to reconcile with the past.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Wake" evoke a sense of reflection on the past, the complexities of life's choices, and the perseverance of moving forward despite the challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I stand in this booth in a moment we call now
I am present in this recording booth, capturing the essence of the current moment
At the same time
Simultaneously
Pedaling to school as a child
Riding a bicycle to school when I was young
Under a canopy of jacarandas
Beneath a vibrant cluster of jacaranda trees
It ain't changed much
The surroundings have remained relatively unchanged
Colorful trees still surround us
We are still surrounded by vibrant trees
L's get touched
Engaging in risky activities
Baby-faced, staring out the window
Having a youthful appearance, gazing out the window
Of a school bus twenty years later
On a school bus two decades later
Same wistful look but shackled up
Wearing the same nostalgic expression but burdened by restraints
Bearded down
Having a beard
Momma kissed his forehead good luck
Mother giving a farewell kiss on the forehead for good luck
Tears anoint the crown
Tears sanctify the head
He lied to her anyway and
He deceived her regardless and
Toasted that night over pounds
Celebrated that night with a significant amount of weight (possibly referring to drugs)
Sterling, whispers in whirlwinds
Valuable discussions amidst chaotic situations
Polaroid pictures, edges curling
Old instant photographs with curling edges
At the auction the contents of one storage
At an auction, the belongings of a storage unit
Space, sight unseen, Going once
An empty storage unit being sold without prior inspection
Sixteen, seventeen, cracking Philly Blunts
Smoking blunt cigars at the ages of sixteen and seventeen
Half the smarts, but twice the heart
Having limited intelligence, but possessing a strong passion
Look at the picture, eyes had a spark
Observing a photograph with lively eyes
Sputtering, at the bar muttering
Stuttering and mumbling at the bar
Money comes and goes
Financial fortunes fluctuate
Broke today, but tomorrow who knows?
Being financially destitute today, but uncertain about the future
Ten years ago she was just some hoe
A decade ago, she was considered promiscuous
Five years after that, I'm in love
Five years later, I found myself in love
And if you asked me today
If you were to ask me currently
I could give a fuck go figure
I wouldn't care, it's ironic
Sorry I ain't make the wake, yeah I know
Apologies for not attending the funeral, I am aware
A dollar short and 24 hours late
Lacking funds and arriving a day later than desired
Trying to live my whole life in '98
Attempting to relive my entire existence in the year 1998
Your moms watchin' me clean my plate
Your mother observing me finish my meal
But there ain't no seconds
No additional servings are available
I'm at the ATM emptying my checking
At the ATM, withdrawing all the funds from my checking account
I'm eleven years old firing a weapon
As an eleven-year-old, I was shooting a gun
Dad's hand on my shoulder, smoke in my nose
My father's hand resting on my shoulder, smelling smoke
Got older, went from chocolate to dro
As I matured, I transitioned from indulging in sweets to using marijuana
Now if it ain't flight, it's a no go
If it's not exceptional, it's disregarded
Bigger, Faster, Stronger
Larger, quicker, and more powerful
I seen old friends start
I witnessed former acquaintances commence
Working with the po-po just goes to show
Collaborating with law enforcement indicates
I could go back tell myself everything I know
I could return to the past and advise my younger self with all the knowledge I possess
But me at 23 would probably shrug a shoulder
However, my 23-year-old self would likely remain indifferent
Put stoge to fire like you're
Ignite a cigarette as if you're
Preaching to the choir
Addressing someone who already agrees with your point of view
V-Mega was spitting through the wire
V-Mega was rapping passionately without any restrictions
Like, don't even wet that
To advise against taking any action
It ain't about no get back
It's not about seeking vengeance
We doing digits on Route 90
We are moving rapidly on Route 90
Late for your wedding
Arriving behind schedule for your wedding
Sitting in the morning sun with
Resting in the morning sunlight with
That good Otis Redding
Listening to the enjoyable music of Otis Redding
Th-th-th-this music th-th-this music
This music, this music
Ii-is so much ii-is so much bigger than me
Is much greater than my individual self
B-b-b-bigger than me b-b-bigger than me
Significantly larger than myself
Th-th-th-this music th-th-this music
This music, this music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind