Bushwick Bill was born Richard Stephen Shaw on December 8, 1966, in Kingston, Jamaica. His father was a merchant marine, and his mother was a maid. Shaw was born with dwarfism and was listed as 3 feet 8 inches (112 cm) tall.
Shaw got his start in the music industry in 1986 as a member of the Geto Boys, where he performed as a dancer known as Little Billy. He later transitioned to rapping, and was featured on the Geto Boys' debut album, Making Trouble in 1988. The album received little attention and negative reviews, which led to Rap-A-Lot dropping all members from the group except for Bill and DJ Ready Red. Soon after, Rap-A-Lot CEO J. Prince recruited Scarface and Willie Dee, two local aspiring artists out of Texas as the second incarnation of the group. The new lineup began recording together in 1988 and their debut project as a group and second overall for the Geto Boys, Grip It! On That Other Level was released in 1989 to much better reception, being considered a classic album and one of the earliest entries into the Horrorcore genre. It was around this time the group's lyrical content began to generate controversy, which was multiplied in 1991 when the cover of the group's third album We Can't Be Stopped depicted a graphic image of Bill moments after he shot himself during an argument with his girlfriend. Nevertheless, the album went on to be their most successful to that point, being certified platinum in 1992.
Bushwick Bill can be heard on the album The Chronic by Dr. Dre; he appears in the video of "Dre Day" as one of Eazy-E's fellow rappers. His 1998 album No Surrender…No Retreat was dedicated to his friend Gil Epstein, a Fort Bend County prosecutor who was shot dead in Houston, Texas, in 1996.
On June 19, 1991, Shaw shot himself in the eye during an argument with his girlfriend, losing his right eye in the process while under the influence of Everclear grain alcohol and PCP. The aftermath of the incident was documented on the album cover for Geto Boys' 1991 album We Can't Be Stopped, which shows Shaw being pushed through the hospital on a gurney by bandmates Willie D and Scarface. Shaw claims he "died and came back to life" during the incident, and has made reference to it in his music. In 2006, he became a born-again Christian. On May 2010, Shaw was arrested in Georgia for possession of marijuana and cocaine. Based on his prior arrest record, he was facing deportation.
On May 1, 2019, Shaw revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. On June 9, 2019, reports emerged that Shaw had died, but news of his death was later refuted by his son. However, it was subsequently reported and confirmed that Shaw died later that day at a hospital in Colorado.
Only God Knows
Bushwick Bill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every now and then I stop to think about my life
Wonderin' if it´s even worth this stressin tryin' to strive
All I ever do is get high everyday
Even fuck my girl then I sleep the rest away
I rarely comes out before night I ain't employed
Why should I wake up early in the muthafuckin' morning
All Imma do is smoke a sack of green
No one seems concerned about my world beein'
It seems my life's already ended that's why I'm spendin'
So much time in the 5th ward high as a kite
It's too late for me to try to live my life right
Shit, if I should die today who would really care?
If I should die today who would come and stare?
If I should die today who would carry me?
On my last day above dirt and who would bury me?
Damn...!!
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
-Homie only God knows
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
Tell me...damn...!!
(Verse 2):
What is life and just how long will it last?
Will you be happy and satisfied when you've passed?
Will you die young or old and wise?
If you face your killer will there be tears in your eyes?
Will you holler and backscream and crawl?
Will you die like a bitch or stand tall through it all?
Will you fight if you're givin' the chance?
Or will you ball up like a baby and shit in your pants?
Damn..!
We'll never know until it's your time Loc
You'll never know what you gon do until that ass get smoked
So you can miss me with that tough man trash
Until you're layin' in the streets with hollow tips in that ass
Hot metal to the dome couldn't take me away
I'm talkin' point blank range and I'm still here today
Nobody knows the troubles I've seen
When I lay my head to rest now who could answer me?
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
-Homie only God knows
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
Tell me...tell me...
(Verse 3):
I'm in so much pain it hurts my heart to wake up
I've done lost my sense of gain I feel about to brake up
Stress is eatin' and my mind is playin' tricks again
It's tellin' me that I ain't shit
It's tellin' me to quit
In one's words: when I stop to think a kind of agree
Even with one good eye my future's hard to see
The end is rushin' at me homie shit I damned it down
I tries to duck I tries to hide but shit I just can't run
It's like I'm trapped inside this world of mines and just can't win
I'm overcomed by suicidal thoughts but damned that's sin
I need my momma cause she'd be always there by my side
To help me out when I ain't strong enough to make the right
If I die who would teach my sons right from wrong?
If I die who would teach my sons to stand strong?
If I die who would teach 'em nuthin comes for free?
I can't die cause won't nobody teach 'em shit but me
Damn...!!
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
-Homie only God knows
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
-Homie only God knows
How will I die?
-Homie only God knows
How long will I live?
Tell me...
In Bushwick Bill's song "Only God Knows," the artist delves deeply into the subject of life and death. Through his lyrics, he expresses his feelings of hopelessness, doubt, and fear about his future. Bushwick Bill expresses his lack of motivation and direction, stating that all he does is "get high every day" and sleep the day away, which makes him wonder if his life is even worth the effort. Furthermore, he seems to be resigned to a life of crime and drug use, stating that he spends much of his time in the "5th ward high as a kite." Bill also ruminates on the inevitability of death, wondering "If I should die today who would really care? If I should die today who would come and stare?"
Throughout the song, Bushwick Bill asks questions about the nature of life and death, acknowledging that only God knows the answers. He ponders how he will die and how long he will live, and concludes that only the creator knows. However, he also acknowledges his role in shaping his own destiny, asking the important question: "If I die, who will teach my sons right from wrong?" The song is a poignant reflection on the nature of life and the uncertainty of the future, offering a commentary on the struggles that many people face in their daily lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Every now and then I stop to think about my life
I have moments where I contemplate the direction my life is headed
Wonderin' if it´s even worth this stressin tryin' to strive
I question if putting in effort to better myself is worth the stress it brings
All I ever do is get high everyday
I resort to drug use as a means of escape on a daily basis
Even fuck my girl then I sleep the rest away
I engage in sexual activity with my girlfriend and then sleep the day away
I rarely comes out before night I ain't employed
I am often inactive until nighttime and currently unemployed
Why should I wake up early in the muthafuckin' morning
I question the purpose of waking up early in the morning
All Imma do is smoke a sack of green
All I plan to do is smoke marijuana
And throw 2 or 3 rocks at the penitentiary
I find pleasure in damaging the prison building by throwing rocks at it
No one seems concerned about my world beein'
I feel like nobody cares about my personal struggles
It seems my life's already ended that's why I'm spendin'
I feel like my life has already ended so I live in the present moment
So much time in the 5th ward high as a kite
I spend a lot of time in the 5th ward while under the influence of drugs
It's too late for me to try to live my life right
I feel like it's too late for me to turn my life around and make better choices
If I should die today who would really care?
I question if anybody would care about my death
If I should die today who would come and stare?
I question who would come to see my body if I die
If I should die today who would carry me?
I question who would carry my casket at my funeral
On my last day above dirt and who would bury me?
I wonder who will bury me on my last day alive
What is life and just how long will it last?
I question the meaning of life and how long it will last
Will you be happy and satisfied when you've passed?
I wonder if I will be content with my life when I die
Will you die young or old and wise?
I question if I will die young or old and having learned from life
If you face your killer will there be tears in your eyes?
I question if I will be emotional when faced with my killer
Will you holler and backscream and crawl?
I question how I will react when facing physical harm
Will you die like a bitch or stand tall through it all?
I question if I will die cowardly or demonstrate strength in the face of danger
Will you fight if you're givin' the chance?
I question if I will defend myself if given the opportunity
Or will you ball up like a baby and shit in your pants?
I question if I will cower in fear and act like a baby in the face of danger
We'll never know until it's your time Loc
We cannot predict our reactions until we are in that situation
You'll never know what you gon do until that ass get smoked
We cannot know how we will react until we are faced with the possibility of death
So you can miss me with that tough man trash
Do not bother with tough talk because nobody knows how they will react in a life-or-death scenario
Until you're layin' in the streets with hollow tips in that ass
You will not understand the reality of danger until you experience it firsthand
Hot metal to the dome couldn't take me away
Even if I were shot in the head, I may still survive
I'm talkin' point blank range and I'm still here today
I have survived dangers that would normally be fatal
Nobody knows the troubles I've seen
I have been through difficult experiences that nobody else knows about
When I lay my head to rest now who could answer me?
When I reflect on my life before falling asleep, I have nobody to answer my thoughts and questions
I'm in so much pain it hurts my heart to wake up
My emotional pain is becoming unbearable
I've done lost my sense of gain I feel about to brake up
I have lost any motivation to better myself and feel like I am about to break down
Stress is eatin' and my mind is playin' tricks again
Stress is consuming me and causing my mind to play tricks on me
It's tellin' me that I ain't shit
My mind is convincing me that I am worthless
It's tellin' me to quit
My mind is urging me to give up
In one's words: when I stop to think a kind of agree
I agree with the idea that when I stop to think, I realize I am not living my best life
Even with one good eye my future's hard to see
My future seems uncertain even with the little hope I have left
The end is rushin' at me homie shit I damned it down
I feel like death is quickly approaching and it scares me
I tries to duck I tries to hide but shit I just can't run
I have tried to avoid my problems but it seems like there is no escaping them
It's like I'm trapped inside this world of mines and just can't win
I feel trapped in my own mind and cannot seem to overcome my challenges
I'm overcomed by suicidal thoughts but damned that's sin
I struggle with thoughts of suicide but I view it as a sin
I need my momma cause she'd be always there by my side
I turn to my mother for support because she has always been there for me
To help me out when I ain't strong enough to make the right
My mother helps me make the right choices when I am not strong enough to do it on my own
If I die who would teach my sons right from wrong?
I worry about who will teach my children morals if I were to die
If I die who would teach my sons to stand strong?
I worry about who will instill strength and resilience in my children if I were to die
If I die who would teach 'em nuthin comes for free?
I worry about who will teach my children the value of hard work and that nothing is free
I can't die cause won't nobody teach 'em shit but me
I feel responsible for teaching my children important life lessons and cannot die because nobody else would do it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BURT F. BACHARACH, HAL DAVID, BRYAAN JAMES ROSS, RICHARD SHAW, ISAAC HAYES, BRYAN ROSS, CLEMENT L. BURNETTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
This Is The Way Las Vegas
RIP BushWick Bill. You got me thru some really hard times. Thank you for being awesome
A Tabby Cat
Rip Bushwick bill god bless your soul your songs help me get through some dark times sleep in peace 🙏
Wǔyīng Rèn
Amen
619 San Diego
Rip
Goof
Rest in peace the legend
ThugNinja
"I'm in so much pain it hurts my heart to wake up" 🔊🙏 Bruh I felt that
Rolando Ibarra
I feel u bruh
Og Bbq
REST IN PEACE TO A LEGEND THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER
619 San Diego
"I cant die, because no one will teach them shit but me"- Bushwick Bill....rest easy
FrostedLane
Bushwik is mad underrated. He has to be one of the realest rapper I've ever listened to...