Ring Ring
De La Soul/Dres/Shortie No Mass Lyrics
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Sorry ya can't get through
Why don't you leave your name
And your number
And I'll get back to you
Hey how are ya doin'
Sorry ya can't get through
But leave your name (uh)
And I'll get back to you
Once again it's another rap bandit
Fiending at I and I can't stand it
Wanna be down with the Day-Glo
Knocking on my door, saying, "a yo yo"
Knocking on my door, saying, "a yo yo"
"I got a funky new tune with a fly banjo"
I can't understand what the problem is
I find it hard enough dealing with my own biz
How'd they get my name and number
Then I stop to think and wonder
Bout a plan, yo man, I gotta step out town
You wanna call me up? Take my number down
It's 222-2222
I got an answering machine that can talk to you
It goes
Hey how ya doin'
Sorry ya can't get through
But leave your name and your number
And I'll get back to you
Yo, check it, exit the old style, enter's the new
But nothing's new 'bout being hawked by a crew
Or should I say flock cause around every block
There's Harry, Dick, and Tom, with a demo in his palm
Now I'm with helping those who want to help themselves
And flaunt a nut that's doggy as in dope
But it's not the mood to hear
The tales of limousines and pails
Of money they'll make like a pro
I be like, "Yo black, just play me the tape"
But at the show the time to spare I just make
But the songs created in they shacks
Are so wick-wick-wack, situations like this
And now I hate they give me smiles Kool-Aid wide and ask
"Was it def?"
And with the straighest face I be like, "Hell yes"
I slip them the digits to Papa Prince Paul
So I don't go AWOL but yet I know when they call
They get
Hey how ya doing
Sorry ya can't get through
Why don't you leave your name
And your number
And I'll get back to you
Hey how are ya doin
Sorry you can't get through
Why don't you leave your name and your number
And I'll get back to you
Check it out
Party at the dug-out on Diction Ave
Haven't been to the jam in quite a while
Figure I'll catch up on the latest styles
'Stead piles and piles of demo tapes bi-da miles
All I wanna do is cut on the decks wild
But edition up here bi-da miles to the center
Reliever of duty, Plug One mosies in
And I be like, "Yo G, Pos does all the producing"
Now woe is me to the third degree
Mase pulls the funny so I make like a bunny
Jettin'
But I'm getting used to this demo abuse
Getting raped and giving birth to a tape
Cause there's no escape from the clutches of a hawker
Attached to my success, sent like a stalker
Make way to my radius playin fly guy
Try to get on my back they force like Luke Sky
Me Myself and I go through this act daily
And rarely do I not
No matter how I dodge some jackal always nails me
No matter what the plot
And even out on tour they be like
"Yo I got a tape to play you back at the hotel"
I be like "Oh swell"
Unveil the numeric code to dial my room
And tell them to call me at noon
But of course there's no answering machine in my room
But a pretty young adorer
Who I swung on tour
And if it rings while we're alone
She'll answer the phone
And with the quickness she'll recite like a poem
"Hey, you done did the right thing, dial up my ring ring
Now you're waiting on the beep
Say, I would love if you'd sing
The tune to Tru instead of fronting on the speak"
So no problemo, just play the demo
And at the end it's break out time
Please oh please don't press rewind
Cause I'll just lay it down the line
Hey how ya doing
Sorry ya can't get through
Why don't you leave your name and your number
And I'll get back to you
Hey how ya doing
Sorry ya can't get through
Why don't you leave your name and your number
And we'll get back to you peace
The song "Ring Ring Ring" by De La Soul is a satirical take on the difficulties of being a successful musician. The first verse is a voicemail greeting that the artist can't pick up because they are busy. The second verse tackles the problem of rapper hopefuls trying to show off their new material to established artists. The artist describes feeling overwhelmed by the number of demos they receive from people trying to break into the business. They give out their contact info to try and be helpful, but they know they won't have time to listen to everything sent their way. The final verse is about being on tour and the lack of privacy and interruption from people trying to get their attention.
De La Soul is known for sampling various songs in their music, and "Ring Ring Ring" is no exception. The song samples "Can't You See" by The Marshall Tucker Band and "Last Bongo in Belgium" by The Incredible Bongo Band, which are both music classics.
The song was released in 1991 on their album "De La Soul Is Dead." It became their first top ten hit in the UK, reaching no. 6 on the charts, and it also was successful in the US.
"Ring Ring Ring" was the first De La Soul single released after they left their initial record label, Tommy Boy Records, and signed with Elektra Records.
The track was produced by Prince Paul, who also did most of the production on "De La Soul Is Dead."
The song's hook has been used in various hip-hop songs since its release, including "Soul Flower" by The Pharcyde and "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" by Das EFX.
The video for "Ring Ring Ring" features the group trying to fend off the constant barrage of people trying to get their attention.
"Ring Ring Ring" was used for a video game called "Donkey Konga 2" for Nintendo Gamecube.
A remix of the song was included on the band's 2004 greatest hits compilation "The Grind Date."
The group performed "Ring Ring Ring" on Nickelodeon's "All That" in 1991.
Chords: The song uses a simple four-chord progression of A-G-F#-E in the verses and chorus, and then switches to A-F#-G-E in the bridge section.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey how ya doin'
The singer greets the caller.
Sorry ya can't get through
The singer apologizes for not being able to answer the call.
Why don't you leave your name
The singer suggests leaving a name for future correspondence.
And your number
The artist suggests leaving a contact number for future correspondence.
And I'll get back to you
The artist promises to return the call in due time.
Once again it's another rap bandit
The singer introduces themselves as a rap artist.
Fiending at I and I can't stand it
The singer expresses frustration with being constantly bothered by aspiring musicians.
Wanna be down with the Day-Glo
The aspiring musicians want to be part of the artist's music group, Day-Glo.
Knocking on my door, saying, 'a yo yo'
The aspiring musicians are persistent in trying to get the artist's attention.
I got a funky new tune with a fly banjo
The aspiring musicians are attempting to entice the artist with their new music.
I can't understand what the problem is
The singer is confused as to why the aspiring musicians are bothering them.
I find it hard enough dealing with my own biz
The artist is busy with their own music production and doesn't have time to deal with others.
How'd they get my name and number
The singer is wondering how the aspiring musicians got their contact information.
Then I stop to think and wonder
The singer takes a moment to reflect on the situation and come up with a plan.
Bout a plan, yo man, I gotta step out town
The singer decides to leave town to avoid the aspiring musicians.
You wanna call me up? Take my number down
The artist gives out their contact number to the aspiring musicians to avoid future unannounced visits.
It's 222-2222
The artist gives the aspiring musicians a fake phone number.
I got an answering machine that can talk to you
The singer has an answering machine to screen calls.
Party at the dug-out on Diction Ave
The singer is excited about a party they will attend later.
Haven't been to the jam in quite a while
The artist hasn't been to a music show in a long time.
Figure I'll catch up on the latest styles
The artist wants to keep up with the newest music trends.
'Stead piles and piles of demo tapes bi-da miles
The artist is overwhelmed with demo tapes from aspiring musicians.
All I wanna do is cut on the decks wild
The singer wants to DJ and mix music at the party.
But it's not the mood to hear
The party atmosphere is not suitable for playing new demo tapes.
The tales of limousines and pails
The singer is uninterested in hearing about the success stories of other musicians.
Of money they'll make like a pro
The singer doesn't want to hear about how much money other musicians are making.
No matter how I dodge some jackal always nails me
The singer can't seem to avoid being approached by aspiring musicians trying to promote their music.
Please oh please don't press rewind
The artist is asking the partygoers not to rewind the demo tape they played.
Cause I'll just lay it down the line
The artist is confident in their ability to perform well and doesn't want others to second-guess them.
And we'll get back to you peace
The singer ends the song with another promise to get back to callers.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLENN FRANCIS SKINNER, JULIAN BROOKHOUSE, MICHAEL DRUMMOND, PAUL E. HUSTON, DAVID JOLICOEUR, VINCENT MASON, MICHAEL JOHN MCEVOY, KELVIN MERCER, NICHOLAS THORP, MARTIN VOLPELIERE PIERROT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brockbridge
In my opinion when it comes to creativity, this was De La Soul's best album. Got a little bit of EVERYTHING on it and I love it. I was lucky to still have all their cassettes so this is one of the songs I had on serious repeat over the years. Now I can play it in the car since their music is finally on the streaming apps. R.I.P. Dave aka Dove..
@cflores1889
This album is nuts
@davepsy
dave is SO weird on this one i love it!
@datonedude152
Man, the production on this album is amazing.
@marcgunn2014
Such an unsung hero of an album.
@qrock639
One of the illest break ever starts at...@1:43 and ends at "uhh uhh uhh uhhh"..... De La!!!
@Fleezy81
This one is different....
@neiel1
Pure genius on all levels.
@neiel1
Somewhere down the line (after Stakes Is High) they should’ve done at least 1 more full album with Prince Paul. They had really all hit their stride together on Balooney. Risky move doing Stakes next w/o him, but it def worked. Two of the best consecutive albums of their era.
@TapeWormOfficial
Amazing how bananas that track is even after all these years 🔥💣💥🤦🏾♂️