Walking With Shadows
Bionic Jive Lyrics
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I was speaking to a close partner
A black Caddie rolled up
(I shot ya)
I felt my soul reach back through times
With my youth was cold and gritty
On the south side of the city
Read the sign it says 'Town of no pity'
First grade was vague
Eighth grade bounce to the east side
(From Negros to essays)
Scuffle from Sunday through Saturdays
In alley ways, shady ways
When my Mom wasn't lookin'
A midnight marauder, life was part of
Me dippin' out the window of your daughter
Days come and gone, define who we are
There I am at age 19 a ghetto super star
(Bang, bang)
Angel of death came to claim
(Bang, bang)
Holding a bullet with my name
(Bang, bang)
Life is over, too late to change
I'm walking with shadows
To the Valley of Death, come on
Yeah I'm a dead man walking out
Yeah too late to change
So many escapades led me astray
Look there goes the time I first held an A K
Aimed at your way, itchy finger
Lookin' to turn y'all to dead weight
No role model, living life at full throttle
Mind gone doing wrong, passin' out with a 40 bottle
(And I tell ya)
I kept trippin' as my soul kept drifting through death
I'm remenising my life of non fiction
Globe still spinning witnessing what I'm missin'
And that made me yearn addiction to money, weed and bitches
Game brought me the riches, sabotage from snitches
This is just a chronicle of days come and gone, now
(Bang, bang)
Angel of death came to claim
(Bang, bang)
Holding a bullet with my name
(Bang, bang)
Life is over, too late to change
I'm walking with shadows
To the Valley of Death
(Bang, bang)
Angel of death came to claim
(Bang, bang)
Holding a bullet with my name
(Bang, bang)
Life is over, too late to change
I'm walking with shadows
To the Valley of Death, come on
Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying, not to lose my head
Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying, not to lose my head
(Bang, bang)
Angel of death came to claim
(Bang, bang)
Holding a bullet with my name
(Bang, bang)
Life is over, too late to change
I'm walking with shadows
To the Valley of Death
(Bang, bang)
Angel of death came to claim
(Bang, bang)
Holding a bullet with my name
(Bang, bang)
Life is over, too late to change
I'm walking with shadows
To the Valley of Death
The lyrics of Bionic Jive's song "Walking With Shadows" are a reflection of the struggle of growing up in a difficult environment where the allure of drugs, violence, and crime can quickly become a way of life. The song is told from the perspective of someone reflecting on his past mistakes and struggles, as well as the inevitability of his eventual demise. The opening of the song describes a chance encounter on the street that triggers memories of his past: "One day on the block, I was speaking to a close partner, a black Caddie rolled up, (I shot ya), I felt my soul reach back through times with my youth was cold and gritty on the south side of the city, read the sign it says 'Town of no pity'". This introduction sets the tone of the song, which is one of sorrow and regret.
The following verses reflect upon different stages of his life, from first to eighth grade, on the east side of town, facing violent encounters every day. He describes his difficulty in dealing with temptation, as he falls deeper into a self-destructive lifestyle: "No role model, living life at full throttle, mind gone doing wrong, passin' out with a 40 bottle". The chorus repeats "Angel of death came to claim, holding a bullet with my name, life is over, too late to change, I'm walking with shadows to the Valley of Death". The lyrics suggest that the singer recognizes the inevitability of his own demise, an unfortunate end that was caused by his own choices.
Overall, "Walking With Shadows" is a haunting, introspective song. It offers a raw and brutal commentary on life in the inner city, highlighting the painful circumstances that can lead to violence and crime. The lyrics are a reflection on the decisions and circumstances that can lead a person away from happiness and towards an early death.
Line by Line Meaning
One day on the block
One day while on the street
I was speaking to a close partner
I was talking with a close friend
A black Caddie rolled up
A black Cadillac car arrived
(I shot ya)
Someone shot me
I felt my soul reach back through times
I remembered my past experiences
With my youth was cold and gritty
My childhood was difficult and harsh
On the south side of the city
In the southern part of the city
Read the sign it says 'Town of no pity'
The sign read 'This town shows no mercy'
First grade was vague
I have few memories of my early years
Eighth grade bounce to the east side
I moved to the east side in eighth grade
(From Negros to essays)
From fighting with black people to focusing on school
Scuffle from Sunday through Saturdays
I had fights all week long
In alley ways, shady ways
In dark, dangerous places
When my Mom wasn't lookin'
When my mom wasn't watching me
A midnight marauder, life was part of
I was a criminal, and it was a big part of my life
Me dippin' out the window of your daughter
I'm sneaking out of your daughter's window
Days come and gone, define who we are
Our past experiences shape who we are
There I am at age 19 a ghetto super star
At 19, I was a famous person in my neighborhood
(Bang, bang)
The sound of gunshots
Angel of death came to claim
Death came to get me
Holding a bullet with my name
The bullet was meant for me
Life is over, too late to change
My life is ending, and I can't do anything about it
I'm walking with shadows
I'm moving towards death
To the Valley of Death, come on
I'm going towards death
Yeah I'm a dead man walking out
I'm a person who is going to die, and I know it
Yeah too late to change
It's too late for me to change
So many escapades led me astray
I made many poor decisions that caused me to go in the wrong direction
Look there goes the time I first held an A K
I remember when I first held an AK-47 gun
Aimed at your way, itchy finger
I was ready to shoot you because my finger was itching
Lookin' to turn y'all to dead weight
I wanted to kill all of you
No role model, living life at full throttle
I didn't have any good examples to follow, and I lived life recklessly
Mind gone doing wrong, passin' out with a 40 bottle
My mind wasn't focused, and I often got drunk
(And I tell ya)
And let me tell you
I kept trippin' as my soul kept drifting through death
I felt like I was going to die, and I was scared
I'm remenising my life of non fiction
I'm thinking about my real life experiences
Globe still spinning witnessing what I'm missin'
The world continues to turn, and I'm not experiencing it
And that made me yearn addiction to money, weed and bitches
That made me want to have lots of money, smoke marijuana, and sleep with many women
Game brought me the riches, sabotage from snitches
My illegal lifestyle made me wealthy, but people who snitched on me caused problems
This is just a chronicle of days come and gone, now
This is a story of my past experiences
Don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge
Don't make me angry or upset because I might do something dangerous
I'm trying, not to lose my head
I'm trying to stay calm and not lose control
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AKO MACK, CHRIS JAMES ELSNER, CLIFTON CHASE, EDWARD FLETCHER, EDWARD G. FLETCHER, LARRY L. ELYEA, MARC ANTHONY AKA EMERG MCVEY MOORE, MELVIN GLOVER, RICHARD LEROY, II GARTNER, SYLVIA ROBINSON
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