Do The Right Thing
Common & Ludacris Lyrics
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Hip hop nation, this is Spiz-ike Lee
Been sleepin' for too long, wake up
Wake up
Wake up!
I see the sunshine gazing through the window pane (yeah)
Blazin' like indo flame, it's to wake up! Come to yo' senses manye
Cartridges surround you, but you ain't playin' Nintendo games!
Load 'em up and fill 'em up, to the top before you cock and aim
Tryna get from the bottom to the top like the stock exchange
Shower, shit and shave and hit the corner for a block exchange
Amazing what my people'll do for some pocket change
But maybe this ain't the life that you chose (chose)
This is the life where you stay strapped and pack a knife or end up with a blooded nose
Street survivor or survivor of the streets! (streets!)
And only the strong survive, there's no survival for the weak! (weak!)
Catch a sneak peak of death if you ain't on ya P's and Q's
They carry banana clips and niggas'll peel you for ya shoes
It's the blues, but not on Hill Street, you could call it "kill or be killed" street
"Lost a pint of blood, let it spill" street
Stop and wake up!
Wake up
They say my folks'll do whatever for the fortune and the fame
And it'll take a fortune to get rid of all the pain, but I'm sayin'
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
You say the only family that you got is in a gang
And the only way to make it is by sellin cocaine, but I'm sayin'
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
I've been in his ear since we were drinkin' beers
Years we've spent together, used to break up get-togethers
With a fight every night gettin' cheddar, movin white
Our thang, so we had to "Do it Right" like Spike
Holdin 40s, gettin' green on acres, these broads were our mules
That's when we used to serve in front of Com'wealth School
Fuel for cars and jewels, chains and tools
It was organized crime but we remained confused
Mom in the pews, singin', "Lord, protect 'em"
You might not a-gree with our views, but you had to respect 'em
Diamonds in the rough, but were we reflectin'
A system that's abrupt, the streets under pressure
One morning in the mirror, I seen my reflection
A young man with good spirits but needed direction
I guess my man's death was my resurrection
'Cause now I hear him sayin' from heaven, "Wake up!
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!"
They say my folks'll do whatever for the fortune and the fame
And it'll take a fortune to get rid of all the pain, but I'm sayin'
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
You say the only family that you got is in a gang
And the only way to make it is by sellin cocaine, but I'm sayin'
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
I woke up this morning and got a call
My partner said he had news about a girl named Baby Doll
She got four baby daddies, four kids by four different men
And she just found out she's pregnant, I said, "No, not again!"
Man, when she gonna learn she don't wanna spend her life in court?
Lookin' for back payments and fightin' for that child supports
Chasin' checks, chasin' her ounce of respect, chasin paper
Chasin' entertainers or rappers and ballplayers
Not carin about a condom, I say, "Help her Lord, please"
'Fore she stuck wit mo' babies or ends up fightin some disease
You know that you a momma, and, mommas, we can't lose ya (no!)
Treat yourself better, you carry seeds to the future (who!)
And the future looks dim if we don't get ourselves together
We gotta sacrifice, some do whatver for the cheddar
So make the right decisions 'til you ready to give birth
And know that you the most precious gift we have on this earth
Babies, stop and wake up
Wake up
They say my folks'll do whatever for the fortune and the fame
And it'll take a fortune to get rid of all the pain, but I'm sayin'
Use your brain baby, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Use your brain baby, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
You say the only family but it's hard without a man
And the only way to make it get him for his chains but I'm sayin'
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
Wake up, wake up
It's a new day! Come on brothers, wake up
Come on sisters, wake up
ATL, wake up, wake up, baby
Chi-Town, wake up wake up
Brooklyn's in the house!
Wake up, Brooklyn!
Ludacris! Common Sense and ME, Spike Lee!
Always do the right thing
I got it, I'm gone
"Do the Right Thing" by Common and Ludacris is a social commentary that addresses the issue of street violence, gang culture, and urges the youth to make better decisions for themselves and their communities. The opening lines, "Hip hop nation, this is Spiz-ike Lee, been sleeping for too long, wake up," demonstrate the urgency of the message.
In the first verse, Common raps about the dangers of street life, where survival is dependent on being strong and carrying a weapon. He urges listeners to wake up and realize that there are other ways to succeed in life, besides selling drugs and resorting to violence. He speaks about how his friend's death was a wake-up call for him, and from then on, he decided to make a change and encourages others to do the same.
Ludacris talks about a woman named Baby Doll, who has four kids and is pregnant again. He points out how making the right decisions is crucial, especially for women who bear the responsibility of raising future generations. He also tells his listeners to make the right decision, not just for themselves, but for their families and communities as well.
In summary, "Do the Right Thing" urges its listeners to take responsibility for their lives and the choices they make, reminding them that they are part of a larger society that also bears the consequences of their actions. The song encourages them to make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Introduction to the song
Hip hop nation, this is Spiz-ike Lee
The song is introducing itself as a hip hop song produced by Spike Lee
Been sleepin' for too long, wake up
Wake up
Wake up!
The song is calling for people to wake up and be aware of their surroundings
I see the sunshine gazing through the window pane (yeah)
Blazin' like indo flame, it's to wake up! Come to yo' senses manye
Snow is all around you, but you don't play in the winter games!
The song is comparing the bright, energizing sunshine to waking up from being unaware of surroundings, while pointing out that despite the cold outside, people refuse to stay inside and play it safe
Cartridges surround you, but you ain't playin' Nintendo games!
Load 'em up and fill 'em up, to the top before you cock and aim
Tryna get from the bottom to the top like the stock exchange
Shower, shit and shave and hit the corner for a block exchange
Amazing what my people'll do for some pocket change
The song is criticizing the violence in the community and the desperation people feel that causes them to take violent actions just to make ends meet
But maybe this ain't the life that you chose (chose)
This is the life where you stay strapped and pack a knife or end up with a blooded nose
Street survivor or survivor of the streets! (streets!)
And only the strong survive, there's no survival for the weak! (weak!)
The song is acknowledging that some people didn't choose the life they live, but must adapt and be aware to survive.
Catch a sneak peak of death if you ain't on ya P's and Q's
They carry banana clips and niggas'll peel you for ya shoes
It's the blues, but not on Hill Street, you could call it "kill or be killed" street
"Lost a pint of blood, let it spill" street
Stop and wake up!
The song is warning people about the violent nature of the streets and how they must stay vigilant to survive
They say my folks'll do whatever for the fortune and the fame
And it'll take a fortune to get rid of all the pain, but I'm sayin'
Use your brain homie, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
The song is calling out the pressure of society and the media and highlighting that the best way to handle difficult situations is by using logic and doing what is right
You say the only family that you got is in a gang
And the only way to make it is by sellin cocaine, but I'm sayin'
The song is criticizing the destructive effects of gangs and drug culture, emphasizing that there are always alternatives to these negative influences
I woke up this morning and got a call
My partner said he had news about a girl named Baby Doll
She got four baby daddies, four kids by four different men
And she just found out she's pregnant, I said, "No, not again!"
The song is pointing out the sad reality of single mothers having to raise children alone and the cyclical nature of that problem
Man, when she gonna learn she don't wanna spend her life in court?
Lookin' for back payments and fightin' for that child supports
Chasin' checks, chasin' her ounce of respect, chasin paper
Chasin' entertainers or rappers and ballplayers
The song is criticizing the culture that drives women to chase after men who only bring more problems in their lives, such as chasing after men who treat them poorly or not paying enough child support
And the future looks dim if we don't get ourselves together
We gotta sacrifice, some do whatver for the cheddar
The song is emphasizing the need for people to come together and work towards a brighter future and that this requires sacrifices that people are often unwilling to make
So make the right decisions 'til you ready to give birth
And know that you the most precious gift we have on this earth
Babies, stop and wake up
Use your brain baby, do the right thang! (Lemme talk to 'em)
The song is urging expectant mothers to be careful and make responsible decisions for themselves and their unborn children
It's a new day! Come on brothers, wake up
Come on sisters, wake up
ATL, wake up, wake up, baby
Chi-Town, wake up wake up
Brooklyn's in the house!
Wake up, Brooklyn!
Ludacris! Common Sense and ME, Spike Lee!
Always do the right thing
The song is concluding with a call to action for everyone to wake up and be aware, and to do the right thing regardless of what is popular or trendy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Christopher Bridges, Patrick Douthit, Lonnie Rashid(common) Lynn, Arthur Verocai
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind