Showtime At The Gallow
Canibus Lyrics

This is Showtime at the Gallows
The singer is preparing to perform and is using dramatic language.

Yo, I dialogue wit Amen-Ra 'til he gives me the nod
The singer works hard and prays for validation from a higher power.

Or replaces me wit a supercomputer automaton
The singer feels like he is in constant competition with technology and fears being replaced.

I don't barter for time I'm a martyr to rhymes
The artist is committed to perfecting his craft and does not waste time on anything else.

And a selfish soldier wit pride that was ordered to die
The artist sees himself as someone who has to keep fighting even when it's detrimental to himself.

A burnin' star in the sky my heart is warped wit a drive
The singer is passionate and driven like a star in the sky.

Expressin' thoughts through a rhyme my metaphors are alive
The singer puts a lot of thought into his lyrics and views them as alive and meaningful.

It's like I've been crucified they hate me now like Nas
The artist feels attacked like he is being crucified and is compared to another rapper (Nas) who also faced criticism.

They punctured me through my side the bleeding was cauterized
The artist feels like he has been hurt and his injuries were only temporarily fixed.

I was revived after I died
The artist overcame a difficult situation and came out stronger because of it.

Only then I saw how I was truly admired and worshiped like a god
The singer gained respect and admiration from others after proving himself.

Shit'd mired up my mind they showed me a sign
The situation caused the artist to feel confused and lost, but he eventually found a way out of it.

I fell off the ocean liner someone throw me a line
The singer feels like he is drowning and needs help to get back on track.

Let the world know the truth but it became my demise
The singer values honesty, but his honesty caused problems for him.

Mothafucka you know we even I don't owe you a dime
The singer feels like he has paid his dues and does not owe anyone anything.

Sometimes I feel like killin' myself they've stolen my shine
The artist feels defeated and like he has lost his spark.

I wanted to be the illest for a moment in time
The artist wanted to be the best at what he does at least once.

From the ink to my pen to my pad to the ink in my arm
The singer sees his tattoos as a reflection of himself and his work.

How can one diss song possibly last this long?
The singer questions how a single song (diss track) could have such a lasting effect.

Tyson ain't the champ no more them days is gone
The artist references a former champion boxer (Mike Tyson) and notes that things have changed over time.

And Rip the Jacker ain't too stubborn to say when he's wrong
The artist is humble and knows when to admit when he's made a mistake.

I should get twenty dollars and go to Econolodge
The artist is considering leaving his current situation and starting fresh somewhere else.

And tie the sawed-off trigger around the doorknob
The singer is contemplating a violent act as a way out of his problems.

Call the police squad and tell them I'm in room one oh five
The artist is going to report himself for the planned violence he just described.

And that a dirty bomb's inside
The singer is intentionally causing panic by exaggerating the situation he has created.

Woke up in the cargo plane playin' Christy Lane
The singer has had a strange dream that he is sharing.

For some entertainment while I train in the misty rain
The singer enjoys the music he listens to while training in bad weather.

"One Day at a Time Sweet Jesus" is playin'
The artist is listening to a song with religious overtones.

I'm sittin' there prayin' you prolly can't believe what I'm sayin'
The artist is reflecting on his faith and how it helps him through difficult times.

But the voice in the back of my head keeps sayin' "Germaine
The singer hears a voice in his head, which he addresses by name.

This is the real deal man this is not a dream this is not a game
The voice in the singer's head is trying to remind him of the seriousness of his task.

The only sixteen you got from now on is locked
The artist only has a limited amount of time to accomplish his goals.

and loaded and in your hand
The artist is ready and prepared to take action.

Deploy or detach on land you the man
The artist has the ability to make decisions and take action on his own.

And the pain is the weakness leavin' the body, understand?
The singer believes that pain is a sign of strength and growth.

I can reload wit a full pack call COMSAT
The artist is prepared to continue fighting and has the necessary resources.

Tell them you need suppressive fire for troops in the back stat
The singer is calling for backup to deal with enemies behind him.

Insurgence and counter-insurgence move wit a purpose
The singer is knowledgeable about military strategies and tactics.

Absolutely mission critical you never get nervous
The singer understands the importance of staying calm under pressure.

Applicate the shock tube to the surface
The artist has a specific method of dealing with enemies.

Standby blow it eyes open wit the scope on the terrorist
The artist is ready to take down an enemy with precision and accuracy.

Tell him to go to hell in Arabic put a bullet through his narrow neck
The singer is threatening to kill an enemy in a specific way.

Watch the wall behind him get wet
The singer describes the aftermath of firing a bullet into an enemy.

I'm an animal I'll murder you and stare at your pets
The artist is ruthless and willing to take extreme actions against enemies and even their loved ones.

Get the tape I know where the surveillance cameras is kept
The artist has knowledge of the enemy's surveillance methods and knows how to avoid them.

If you want a confession? you got it
The artist is confident in his abilities and knows he can get the enemy to confess.

You want product? Gimme twenty dollars
The singer is willing to sell whatever the listener wants for a specific amount of money.

You want gossip? I'll give you logic on any topic
The artist is knowledgeable and can provide insightful information on anything.

Recordin' the positive data
The singer is documenting important information for future use.

Ripper's the best rapper go confirm the status
The singer believes he is the best rapper and challenges anyone who doubts him to prove otherwise.

One million page dissertation written on paper
The singer has a lot to say and has spent a significant amount of time documenting his thoughts.

Cheap label from Pitney Bowes' tree curator
The artist sees himself as more than just a commodity and is independent of labels and branding.

My purification process is greater
The artist believes that he has gone through a difficult process to become the best version of himself.

But thinly tapered verbatim
The singer acknowledges that his method of communication may not be perfect.

My album is equal to over fifty acres
The singer sees his album as a significant and valuable accomplishment.

Can-I-Bus before the Big Bang
The artist sees himself as existing before the beginning of time.

And after the big crunch I only gotta say it once
The artist will continue to be heard and remembered even after the end of the world.

Let there be light and I write a sentence
The artist believes in the power of words and creation.

The greatest discovery since 'opethicus afarensis
The singer sees himself and his work as groundbreaking and important.

Back to before Sumerians landed on the Cayman
The artist is referencing a time long ago and far away.

In the Caribbean carryin' bacteria with antigens
The singer is describing the spread of disease and germs during this time period.

And Nine-foot stone mannequins
The singer is referencing a time long ago when people created statues and artwork.

The key to nuclear power and four delivered talaria
The singer believes he knows the secret to harnessing nuclear power and refers to ancient footwear with wings as a metaphor for his knowledge.

Showtime at the gallow the Age of Aquarius
The artist is referencing an astrological time period and suggests it's time for action (showtime) to make a change.

And Space Harrier's life's last barrier
The artist is using a video game reference to illustrate that there is no limit to what he can accomplish.