Achilles and the Tortoise
Buck 65 Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Achilles]
This collection of sketches, rough and scattered, is arranged by instinct.
There's entropy at work, but mostly it happened by accident
Sure a story goes with this, but for it to make sense you'd have to be me,
And for it to make dollars I would have to be something I despise,
Don't ask me how I managed, no one gets paid to make change,
Every morning I salute the flag, turn, grab the fingers of my left hand behind my back and continue my search.
I'm wondering how I got here,
Who besides me is responsible?
I'm not the young man I was when I first wrote the code,
Now I dont have it in me to fuss over much.
I need sleep..... more than ever before.
What remains of my violence is so precious that I keep it all of it to myself.
What frightens me most now is my gradual loss of hearing.
So i'm guided more and more by vibes.
I shield my eyes from flickering images and document my dreams with as much detail as possible.
I figure I'll write my book when its all I can do, but I don't know.
Have you any idea how hot these sands are?
Ya, i come in contact with the odd scavenger here and there, but those encounters rarely amount to much
I just gaze the same few black and white photographs:
Distant loves, long lost souls. diamonds of my most glorious moments,
I remember the gold rush
Ya, she makes me laugh now to think of the risks I took
The monuments will remain, and thats all that matters but the question always becomes:
'Am I happy?'


[Sample: Source Unknown]
When young, we mourn for one woman,
When we grow old, for woman in general,
The tradgey in life is man is never free,
Yet strives for what can never be,
The thing most feared in secret, always happens: my life, my love, where are they now?
But the more the pain grows, the more this instinct for life somehow asserts itself,
The necessary beauty in life is giving yourself to it completely.
Only later will it clarify itself as not coherant

[Tortoise]
I wandered the fields and listen for the sound of drums
The colder the ground becomes the closer I get I home
The planets not fit to roam but with all the chaos
But, when I saw the savages I played the law of averages
And when the river splits in half, I start to lose my wits and laugh
And cry at the same time, there's nothing I can do about it
Even though I wouldn't doubt it, if the winds began to blow
And carry the sounds of my voice to the lands below
So I put my hands around my mouth and hollered to the sunken city
That, wallows in the filth of its own drunken pity
And wait to see a signal but a signal is never seen
Eventually fatigue builds inside me exponentially and so I sleep
And dream that I'm able to fly
"They will respect a man with wings!"
Later I awake, in agony and learn
That while I was sleeping the city had burned
Shrugging my shoulders, I paused and gathered thoughts
Think twice about staying put, then decide I rather not
So I press on in my agnostic pilgrimage
Knowing that I can swim deeper than the grim reaper
Ready for whatever sea creatures may abound
When the water swallows me and not the other way around
Survival saw me through the mechanical district
Starvation leads to being cannibalistic
I have to rely on cons and silence and non talking quick
Defending myself with nothing but this walking stick
I've never had friends and no parental guidance
I'm wild at heart and weird on top, I'm feared nonstop
Even though my rage is worn out
My life's a book with several pages torn out.
I just climb trees and look for rhythm everywhere.

I used to be the town crier in a city of stone throwers
Until my soul was laid bare and displayed in the pearled square
Ignored, more than a lot, not less, no one understood my thought, process
I was gagged and bound over noise complaints
But, commanding the resolve that destroys constraints
I found my escape in a melding of memories
The next thing I know, I'm rowing this boat
And blowing this note on an old tarnished trumpet
(Pause for trumpet sample)
Ever since then I've been wondering lots
Watching the sky and pondering thoughts
Strange angel, music box genie
Behind for some time and now I'm blind in one eye
And how this happened exactly will never be known





My thoughts take the shape of the hang-man's house
Never fails in time-traveling salesman visiting

Overall Meaning

The song "Achilles and the Tortoise" by Buck 65 is a conversation between two characters, Achilles and Tortoise. The lyrics revolve around their personal struggles and experiences. Achilles, the first character, talks about how his life has changed since he first wrote the code. He talks about how he is not the young man he was and how he has lost his hearing. He feels that his violence is precious and keeps it all to himself. He also talks about his fears, including the fear of not being happy. The second character, Tortoise, talks about his life and how he is on a pilgrimage. He talks about how he is wild at heart and weird on top, and how he is feared nonstop. He talks about his experiences with starvation and how he has to rely on cons and silence. He also talks about how he was gagged and bound over noise complaints, but he found his escape in a melding of memories.


The song is a reflection on how people's lives can change over time and how they are affected by the experiences they have. The characters in the song are struggling with their own fears and emotions. The song also touches on themes of loneliness and the search for meaning in life.


Line by Line Meaning

This collection of sketches, rough and scattered, is arranged by instinct.
My work is the result of my natural creative process and is not meticulously planned or organized.


There's entropy at work, but mostly it happened by accident
Things are disordered and sometimes chaotic, but there is still a sense of intention and direction behind it all.


Sure a story goes with this, but for it to make sense you'd have to be me,
There is a narrative behind what I create, but it is personal and may not be easily understood by others.


And for it to make dollars I would have to be something I despise,
If I were to change my art to make more money, it would go against my values and beliefs.


Don't ask me how I managed, no one gets paid to make change,
I don't really know how I got here, but I know that making a difference in the world doesn't always come with a high financial reward.


Every morning I salute the flag, turn, grab the fingers of my left hand behind my back and continue my search.
I have routines that help me to focus and stay on track in my work and personal life.


I'm wondering how I got here,
I'm reflecting on my journey so far and questioning how I ended up where I am today.


Who besides me is responsible?
I'm examining the factors and individuals that have contributed to my present circumstances.


I'm not the young man I was when I first wrote the code,
I've changed and grown since I first started creating and my outlook may be different now.


Now I don't have it in me to fuss over much.
I've reached a point where I don't want to waste time on minor details or things that don't matter as much.


I need sleep..... more than ever before.
I'm feeling more tired than usual and am recognizing the importance of rest.


What remains of my violence is so precious that I keep it all of it to myself.
The intensity and aggression in my work is valuable to me and I don't want to dilute or lose it.


What frightens me most now is my gradual loss of hearing.
I'm concerned about a physical decline and how it might affect my work.


So i'm guided more and more by vibes.
I'm relying on intuition and instinct rather than logic or concrete plans.


I shield my eyes from flickering images and document my dreams with as much detail as possible.
I protect myself from distractions and am actively exploring my subconscious mind through my dreams.


I figure I'll write my book when its all I can do, but I don't know.
I plan on writing a book at some point, but I'm not sure when that will be or if it will even happen.


Have you any idea how hot these sands are?
I'm emphasizing how difficult and uncomfortable my journey has been so far.


Ya, I come in contact with the odd scavenger here and there, but those encounters rarely amount to much
I've encountered a few people along the way, but they haven't had much impact on my journey.


I just gaze the same few black and white photographs: Distant loves, long lost souls. diamonds of my most glorious moments, I remember the gold rush
I cherish a few memories and experiences from my past, yet also recognize that they are fleeting and cannot be recaptured.


Ya, she makes me laugh now to think of the risks I took
Looking back, I can laugh at how daring and foolish I was in certain situations.


The monuments will remain, and that's all that matters but the question always becomes: 'Am I happy?'
My legacy and impact may live on after me, but I'm still questioning whether my journey has been fulfilling and satisfying.


I wandered the fields and listen for the sound of drums
I'm exploring and searching for something, listening for any signs of life or direction.


The colder the ground becomes the closer I get I home
The more difficult and challenging my journey becomes, the stronger my desire to return to a sense of stability and comfort.


The planets not fit to roam but with all the chaos
The world is a chaotic and unpredictable place and can be difficult to navigate.


But, when I saw the savages I played the law of averages
When faced with danger or adversity, I take calculated risks and make decisions based on probability.


And when the river splits in half, I start to lose my wits and laugh
When faced with confusion or uncertainty, I try to find humor in it all to help me cope.


And cry at the same time, there's nothing I can do about it
I'm experiencing conflicting emotions and don't know how to reconcile them.


Even though I wouldn't doubt it, if the winds began to blow and carry the sounds of my voice to the lands below
I have a sense of hope and optimism that my message or voice will be heard by others despite the odds.


So I put my hands around my mouth and hollered to the sunken city that wallows in the filth of its own drunken pity
I'm trying to make my voice heard and reach out to those who are struggling.


And wait to see a signal but a signal is never seen Eventually fatigue builds inside me exponentially and so I sleep
Despite my efforts to connect with others, I often feel ignored or unseen, which leads to exhaustion and rest.


And dream that I'm able to fly 'They will respect a man with wings!' Later I awake, in agony and learn That while I was sleeping the city had burned
In my dreams, I imagine myself as powerful and free, but in reality, the world often burns and falls apart.


Shrugging my shoulders, I paused and gathered thoughts Think twice about staying put, then decide I rather not
When faced with uncertainty or indecision, I take a moment to reflect before making a choice.


So I press on in my agnostic pilgrimage, knowing that I can swim deeper than the grim reaper
I continue my journey without clear direction, but know that I have the strength and resilience to face any challenge.


Ready for whatever sea creatures may abound when the water swallows me and not the other way around
I'm prepared for whatever obstacles or dangers may come my way, and will not let them defeat me.


Survival saw me through the mechanical district starvation leads to being cannibalistic
I've fought through hardships and difficult situations to keep going, but know that extreme hunger could drive anyone to desperate measures.


I have to rely on cons and silence and non talking quick defending myself with nothing but this walking stick
When facing danger or threat, I use my wits and physical tools to defend myself and stay safe.


I've never had friends and no parental guidance I'm wild at heart and weird on top, I'm feared nonstop
I've never had a lot of support or guidance in my life, and I stand out as unconventional and strange to others as a result.


Even though my rage is worn out, my life's a book with several pages torn out.
Despite feeling tired or overwhelmed, my life has been full of experiences and memories, even if some are incomplete or missing.


I just climb trees and look for rhythm everywhere.
I find joy and inspiration in the simple things, like nature and music.


I used to be the town crier in a city of stone throwers until my soul was laid bare and displayed in the pearled square
I used to be a voice for change in a hostile environment, but became vulnerable and exposed in the process.


Ignored, more than a lot, not less, no one understood my thought, process
Despite my efforts to connect with others and share my ideas, I often feel ignored or misunderstood.


I was gagged and bound over noise complaints but, commanding the resolve that destroys constraints
My passion and determination have led me to fight back against those who try to silence me or hold me back.


I found my escape in a melding of memories
I've found solace and comfort in reflecting on my past experiences and blending them together in my mind.


The next thing I know, I'm rowing this boat and blowing this note on an old tarnished trumpet
Sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and I find myself in new situations or pursuing new passions.


Ever since then I've been wondering lots, watching the sky and pondering thoughts
I'm constantly questioning and exploring, seeking answers and inspiration from the world around me.


Strange angel, music box genie behind for some time and now I'm blind in one eye
I've had mystical experiences and felt a sense of magic or otherworldliness in my life, yet also recognize that I've lost some of my vision or clarity.


And how this happened exactly will never be known
Sometimes life's mysteries cannot be fully explained or understood.


My thoughts take the shape of the hang-man's house
My mind is sometimes dark or morbid, and my thoughts resemble a symbol of death and sorrow.


Never fails in time-traveling salesman visiting
Despite its bleakness, my mind is still imaginative and whimsical, and I can still find moments of joy and creativity.




Contributed by Elijah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

FUZATl

I'm pretty sure the theme is coming out from a Felini movie called Satyricon, but never found the right version so far.

I wonder where Rich' got it from...

AmongstTheMasses

+FUZATl well maybe I was a little too harsh with that statement... he's up there with them, just a level below I'd say. nothing wrong with being behind the greatest though

FUZATl

Yes Lynch doesn't even come close to the ones you've mentioned.

AmongstTheMasses

+FUZATl for sure he's better today than he was, which is rare sole also,and that's saying something because this album is a 10. yeah I like lynch alot,probably my fav modern director. honestly though he can't even touch fellini,Goddard,Bergman ANd kurosawa.kurasawas made like 30 amazing movies and in the 70s he made only one bad movie and he tried committing suicide.lynch isn't on that level.i still love him though

FUZATl

Thank you very much for all the infos, I haven't found the soundtrack to the movie yet but someone uploaded the scene that Buck used at 3:24
Yes I saw a few movies from Fellini but my fav stays Roma so far. Only saw the 7 Samurais by Kurosawa and Le Mépris & Alphaville from Godard, never saw any Bergman yet.
I'm actually more into David Lynch.

That's why I lve Buck 65 yes, if one is into culture his songs become even more enjoyable and makes him a very interesting person to me.

Chris Hassien

Its actually from the '91 movie slacker which is in texas and its super abstract for the time and an american film.i love fellini,i just watched la strada today, buck does too.i see fellini stuff and jean luc Goddard alot on posters or pictures he puts up sometime.i don't wanna speak for him but if you're down with fellini,goddard,kurasawa, and Bergman you know good movies and he can use some of their amazing poetry with his amazing poetry

Luis Castro

Where can I find the instrumental?

dingodogo1o1

I had no idea I had a clone wandering around out there...

Chris Hassien

You are correct, buck loves fellini movies.goddard too