Real Earth
Cannibal Ox Lyrics

They lied - when they said there was no air/Aire in space
The singer is commenting on the falsehood of the statement that there is no air in space.

MC shit right here, master of ceremonies
The singer is declaring himself as a skilled MC.

All that other garbage
The singer is expressing the value he places on other music in comparison to his own.

("one dimensional emcees can't handle that")
The artist is asserting that less skilled MCs cannot compete with his performance.

Negroids act like Sigmund Freud
The artist is criticizing people of a certain race for their behavior.

Dreaming of a perfect i-roid, screaming cerebrum steroid
The singer is mocking people for their desire for technological enhancement.

Faking-jack decoys got beef with Ox
The singer is expressing that he has rivals.

You can get caught in my Real Earth chatterbox
The artist is asserting that he is a skilled communicator and can captivate his audience.

That's virtual (virtual), if you drunk a V8
The artist is implying that virtual experiences are not real.

You couldn't be parallel, because hell is vertical
The artist is saying that if one can go to Hell, they cannot parallel it - therefore it must be real.

Aha, fooled ya, thought it was beneath you
The singer is being sarcastic towards the recipient of his message for underestimating him.

Got propelled in the sky, now soul is see-through
The artist is referring to the spiritual experience of leaving their body.

But it doesn't matter cause there's no molecules
The singer is implying that the experience was not real because there were no tangible objects.

Then genius becomes burden to ridicule
The singer is commenting on the experience of greatness becoming the target of mockery.

Realize much at stake
The singer is acknowledging the gravity of the situation.

And excuse me for lack of better words, that's my bond that never breaks
The artist is apologizing for their inability to articulate their thoughts but promising their continued commitment to the cause.

Pierce hearts with stakes, bloodsuckers cast no reflection
The artist is saying they are capable of causing emotional harm to those who take advantage of others.

In my prism detention, they hate
The singer feels they are a target of hatred.

On Prison's intentions, get diesel, read a book
The singer is encouraging others to dedicate themselves to bettering themselves.

Find god in a cell block, that's your fate
The artist is telling others that they can find meaning even in difficult circumstances.

I'm that voice in the back of LL's head saying
The artist is referencing another rapper who he has influence on.

"You gonna let a weed plant do that?" yeah, I like to instigate
The artist is implying that he enjoys needling others.

This aint a space race so why you rushin'
The singer is using figurative language to question why others are in a hurry to be successful.

To be the first to catch a concussion, from El-P's percussion
The artist is saying that others are in a hurry to be successful, even at the risk of being harmed.

Watch me throw a sentence in the air, say word up
The singer is using figurative language to illustrate his skill as an MC.

That's just a phrase for my action, like a bum with a cup
The singer is commenting on the importance of words in his music, even if they may seem insignificant.

And Rome wasn't built in a day but it fell in one
The singer is using an example to illustrate the fragility of success.

And you don't got half of a step but you walk like one
The artist is saying that someone believes they are better than they are, despite not having the skills to back it up.

I got calluses on my hand 'cause I held the sun uneven
The artist is using figurative language to describe the physical pain they have experienced from their hard work.

I, got the weight of the world on my chest and still breathin'
The singer is saying that they have a lot of responsibility but can handle it.

Can-Ox is like 007 and man from U.N.C.L.E.
The singer is using a metaphor to describe their role in the music industry.

You off the top broke but I rip the turn-buckle
The artist is saying that their competition is weak and they can easily defeat them.

You a halloween thug, I'll expose ya face
The artist is calling someone a coward and threatening to publicly embarrass them.

And use you as an example that fell from Grace
The artist is saying that they will use their enemy's failure as an example of failure.

They lied when they said there was no air/Aire in space
The singer is again criticizing the statement that there is no air in space.

I'll boil an emcee to the teeth with no trace
The artist is threatening physical harm to those who oppose him.

I'm like Moses with a staff that parts the Red Sea
The singer is using a metaphor to describe his ability to lead people to success, despite obstacles.

But it's a new day, so I use the mic to depart emcees
The singer is saying that he will use his skills as an MC to distance himself from his competition.

This Earth is as real as a Chinese fortune cookie
The singer is using figurative language to say that the world is unpredictable and filled with surprises.

In English with lottery numbers; I'm finished
The artist is commenting on the inane nature of fortune cookie messages.

And one dimensional emcees (can't handle that)
The artist is again asserting that less skilled MCs cannot compete with him.

And one dimensional emcees (be biting backs)
The singer is saying that his competition is defensive and unoriginal.

And one dimensional emcees (be getting smacked)
The singer is claiming to have physically defeated his competition.

Now one dimensional emcees (know how to act)
The artist is recognizing that his competition has learned their lesson and is becoming more respectful.