Wonderful
Billy Woods Lyrics


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Live, live and direct live, live and direct
Live, live and direct live, live and direct

Born in a flood on a
Frontier, at first light, Nurse like
"You should not have come here, scumbag"
Out a love shack into a Blood bath, hustling
Young king snakes through skull tats
Knowers of the whole half
Hulk smash overture
One man Motorcade, none stand holier
Cowabunga Houses of the Holy fuck
In free New York
It's Hoodie over Goalie mask
For Obi Wan, two, Three and four
And five and six
Open for the broke as hell and high as shit
Who write survival music
Nevermind the tiny Violins
Never mind the icy handed racketeer
We're Smashing Atoms here
It's oranges and apple care
I'm only out of bed to grapple
With the hanger in the
Rabbit ears And pass a little
Data through the atmosphere
Bump in the night
Black hearts under the knife
Money, it's a wonderful life

Some, some, some people they live life
Not with my money it's how we do it though
You, you, you really had a wonderful life
As we go, go
Some, some, some people they live life
How, how, how, it's how we do it though
You, you, you really had a wonderful life
As we go, go, go, go

Only as he died
Was there a true assessment of wasted time
Field of Dreams full of landmines
Schemes over landlines
Early Girl, swirl, spit 'er out like wine
Edge of the world, I'm where sherpas climb
Fragrant smoke curl in forgotten shrines
Pith helmet, Quinine, waves like crime
Below deck, slaves lay supine
Blind lead blind, Cyclops rock shines
Ghetto Versailles, dusted pantomime
Fly wigs, Spry Jester's jibes
Iago in the wings, eyes like knives
Santa's sleigh bring ways to slay Kings
Conflict ice in his Super Bowl ring
Lufthansa Heist be like "his usual thing"
Equality of Man once the shrapnel fling
Drive 'round till that transponder ping

Some, some, some people they live life
Not with my money it's how we do it though
You, you, you really had a wonderful life
As we go, go
Some, some, some people they live life
How, how, how, it's how we do it though
You, you, you really had a wonderful life
As we go, go, go, go

Dry saliva scent
I will survive in less than five attempts
I got a bad case of the whatchamacallit's
I caught it crawling through the vents
Bread and circuses
For all purposes and all intents
But hear me out
The pornographics of poison gases
Is hella graphic i cite my sources
They're mostly scorpions and yellow jackets
Obi Seven wielding force of habit
Bringing home the bacon
Faking out the telepathics another classic
Another ass to kick, file it
My steel toe got a lotta mileage
Tryna teach the scum to use the sun
To tell what time it is
Something's gotta give for gods and generals
Far as minerals and vitamins
Service with a smile and know the
Aisle where your item is
Live from Emerald City where the glass
Is greener minus all the Heinekens
Holy spirit that's been cleared
To smear your sciences
And clear your sinuses





Live, live and direct live, live and direct
Live, live and direct live, live and direct

Overall Meaning

The song "Wonderful" by Billy Woods explores the themes of survival, resilience, and the complexities of life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a gritty existence, starting with the singer's birth in chaotic circumstances ("Born in a flood") and navigating through a world filled with violence and struggle. The line "It's oranges and apple care" implies a juxtaposition between the sweet and the bitter aspects of life, highlighting the unpredictable nature of existence.


Throughout the song, Woods embraces a defiant attitude, emphasizing his determination to survive and overcome adversity. He references the importance of music as a means of endurance, describing it as "survival music" and dismissing any notion of self-pity or sentimentality ("Nevermind the tiny Violins"). The repeated line "Money, it's a wonderful life" hints at the harsh reality that financial struggles and the pursuit of wealth often define one's existence.


The lyrics also touch on themes of power, hierarchy, and the exploitation of others. Lines like "Blind lead blind, Cyclops rock shines / Ghetto Versailles, dusted pantomime" suggest a world where those in power exploit and manipulate the disadvantaged. The reference to the Lufthansa Heist, a notorious robbery, further highlights the theme of criminality and the pursuit of personal gain.


Line by Line Meaning

Born in a flood on a Frontier, at first light, Nurse like "You should not have come here, scumbag"
The singer was born in a chaotic and dangerous environment, greeted by a nurse who expresses disdain for their presence.


Out a love shack into a Blood bath, hustling Young king snakes through skull tats
Leaving a seemingly pleasant place quickly turns into a violent and risky situation, navigating through dangerous obstacles.


Knowers of the whole half Hulk smash overture
Those who possess some understanding of a complex situation have the power to enact swift and forceful actions.


One man Motorcade, none stand holier Cowabunga Houses of the Holy fuck
The artist, symbolizing individual power and prestige, surpasses anyone considered more righteous, even in shocking and contradictory circumstances.


In free New York It's Hoodie over Goalie mask
Even in a supposedly liberated city like New York, one must mask their true identity and intentions, prioritizing personal safety.


For Obi Wan, two, Three and four And five and six
The singer references the Star Wars character Obi-Wan Kenobi and implies a continuing cycle of challenges and conflicts to face.


Open for the broke as hell and high as shit Who write survival music
The singer welcomes those who are financially impoverished and emotionally vulnerable, yet possess the ability to create art that aids in their resilience.


Nevermind the tiny Violins
Dismiss the insignificant complaints and sorrows expressed by others.


Never mind the icy handed racketeer We're Smashing Atoms here
Ignore the intimidating and manipulative individual; the artist and their associates are engaged in radical actions and pursuits.


It's oranges and apple care I'm only out of bed to grapple With the hanger in the Rabbit ears
The artist's daily activities revolve around trivial concerns and struggles, as they face the challenge of adjusting TV antenna reception.


And pass a little Data through the atmosphere
In the midst of their mundane activities, the singer transmits and shares information with others.


Bump in the night Black hearts under the knife Money, it's a wonderful life
Amidst uncertain and dangerous circumstances, sinister intentions prevail, fueled by the pursuit of wealth and material gain.


Only as he died Was there a true assessment of wasted time
Only in death does one fully realize the extent of their wasted and unfulfilled moments in life.


Field of Dreams full of landmines Schemes over landlines
The singer's aspirations and visions are fraught with unseen dangers and deceitful plans communicated over phone lines.


Early Girl, swirl, spit 'er out like wine
Referring to a type of tomato, the singer swiftly rejects and dismisses something or someone, treating them like an unpalatable drink.


Edge of the world, I'm where sherpas climb Fragrant smoke curl in forgotten shrines
The artist metaphorically exists in a remote and extreme location, where spiritual practices and rituals have been abandoned but still carry a lingering presence.


Pith helmet, Quinine, waves like crime
Referring to colonialist symbolism and a tonic for malaria, the artist suggests that danger and deceit permeate their surroundings.


Below deck, slaves lay supine Blind lead blind, Cyclops rock shines
Hidden beneath the surface, oppressed individuals remain passive, following leaders who are equally blind to the truth, while a dangerous and prominent symbol stands out.


Ghetto Versailles, dusted pantomime Fly wigs, Spry Jester's jibes
A reference to a glamorous but superficial place, the singer highlights a performance filled with artificial extravagance and witty criticisms.


Iago in the wings, eyes like knives Santa's sleigh bring ways to slay Kings
Drawing from Shakespeare's character Iago, the artist alludes to a deceitful presence lurking behind the scenes, whose piercing gaze brings destruction to those in power.


Conflict ice in his Super Bowl ring Lufthansa Heist be like "his usual thing"
An allusion to criminal activities, the artist implies that conflict and illicit actions have become customary for a particular individual.


Equality of Man once the shrapnel fling Drive 'round till that transponder ping
Amidst the chaos caused by explosive debris, true equality among humanity can be achieved, and the artist searches tirelessly until they find a signal or indication of their objective.


Dry saliva scent I will survive in less than five attempts
With a metaphorical indication of their determination and resilience, the singer declares that they will persist and thrive even in extremely difficult circumstances.


I got a bad case of the whatchamacallit's I caught it crawling through the vents
The artist has encountered an undefined and perplexing problem, assimilating it while actively navigating through their surroundings.


Bread and circuses For all purposes and all intents
Referring to the ancient practice of providing food and entertainment to distract the masses from larger issues, the singer acknowledges such tactics employed for various motives and reasons.


But hear me out The pornographics of poison gases Is hella graphic i cite my sources
Despite the preceding distractions, the singer urges listeners to pay attention to the horrifying nature of toxic gases and justifies their claims by citing credible references.


They're mostly scorpions and yellow jackets Obi Seven wielding force of habit
The sources they refer to primarily involve dangerous creatures and Obi-Wan Kenobi, signifying a reliance on habitual approaches to confront threats.


Bringing home the bacon Faking out the telepathics another classic
Securing financial stability while outsmarting those who claim to possess psychic abilities is a recurring and familiar success for the artist.


Another ass to kick, file it My steel toe got a lotta mileage
Adding another defeated opponent to their record, the artist emphasizes the longevity and effectiveness of their steel-toed boots in delivering impactful blows.


Tryna teach the scum to use the sun To tell what time it is
The singer endeavors to educate and uplift individuals considered lowly or contemptible, enabling them to observe and understand the passage of time using sunlight.


Something's gotta give for gods and generals Far as minerals and vitamins
There must be a breaking point or resolution for the divine and authoritative figures, extending to the essential components of life and health.


Service with a smile and know the Aisle where your item is
Providing assistance with a pleasant demeanor, the artist advises others to be knowledgeable about the specific location where their desired item is found.


Live from Emerald City where the glass Is greener minus all the Heinekens
Broadcasting or speaking from a place symbolized as the Emerald City (possibly referring to New York), the artist acknowledges that the appearance of a more prosperous environment exists, disregarding the presence of distractions or intoxications.


Holy spirit that's been cleared To smear your sciences And clear your sinuses
Referring to the religious concept of the Holy Spirit, the artist claims that this purification allows them to expose flawed scientific theories while simultaneously providing relief from nasal congestion.


Live, live and direct live, live and direct
Emphasizing the immediacy and authenticity of their message, the singer repeats the phrase 'live and direct.'




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