One Time
Dice Raw Phonte The Roots Lyrics

Yo, the spirit in the sky scream homicide
The situation is tense and potentially dangerous.

But it was time to ride on some niggas funny talking
It was time to confront those who were speaking negatively.

If too much money talking
If they were being too boastful about their wealth.

We make em economize
We force them to save money.

Real rap, no tale spinning, such is the life of a Kam-I-Ka-Ze pilot
This is the reality of living life on the edge, like a kamikaze pilot.

We wilin' out of control until we all make the funny papers like Comic-Con
We are living recklessly and could end up in the newspapers.

Feared in all streets so, if you ever see me out in y’all streets, find another one to occupy
I am respected/feared and if you see me around, you should leave and find somewhere else to go.

I never hope for the best, I wish a nigga would
I don't have hope, I'm prepared for the worst and I dare someone to try me.

Turn around and walk away
My advice is for someone to back down from a confrontation.

Listen to my instincts and say fuck the rest
Trust your gut and forget everything else.

But once you’ve had the best better ain’t as good
Once you've experienced something great, everything else is inferior.

Weak heartedness cannot be involved
You can't be afraid or hesitant.

Stick to the script, nigga, fuck your improv
Stick to the plan, don't deviate or make things up on the spot.

Like the samurai
This is similar to the way of the samurai warrior code of honor.

The street’s Hammurabi Code
The street has its own laws.

Play your part, shut the fuck up, and do as I was told
Do your job, be quiet, and follow orders.

I was always late for the bus
The individual struggled with punctuality.

Just once can I be on time
The individual desires to be on time at least once.

Then I start to think what’s the rush
The individual questions the importance of being on time.

Who wants to be on time
The individual is suggesting that being on time isn't always necessary.

Feeling unlucky and if I ever got lucky it was one time
The individual believes that luck often doesn't go their way.

This is clearly a lesson learned for someone else
The individual has learned something and is sharing it with others.

Reach for the crown of thorns upon the shelf
The individual is going after something difficult, but worth it in the end.

Cross around my neck, I’ve been taught by stealth
The individual has religious influence and has learned something without realizing it.

Capture this moment in time, it’s a smash and grab
Take advantage of the moment and seize it before it's gone.

And where my party people y’all finna have a blast
The individual is encouraging others to have a good time.

You say goodbye, I say hello first and last
The individual doesn't want to miss out on anything and wants to make sure they experience everything.

Man, I guess if I was ever lucky it was one time
The individual doesn't often get lucky and only remembers one instance where they had good fortune.

Then I went missing looking for the sublime
The individual was searching for something greater than themselves.

A nigga stayed low, left the ladder unclimbed
The individual didn't pursue the traditional path to success.

The pendulum swinging my way, couldn’t be more blind
The individual believes that luck has finally turned in their favor, but they don't see everything coming.

Niggas talk to the cops? Not even one time
The individual doesn't associate with anyone who cooperates with law enforcement.

Cause we all going down just like the sub prime
Everyone around them is going to face the same consequences as them.

But hopping over gates to escape is sublime
Finding a way to escape is satisfying.

Then through the alley way and down to the sub line
The individual knows the escape route well.

To make it to the bottom, such a high climb
The journey to the bottom is difficult.

I wonder when you die do you hear harps and bagpipes
The individual is questioning life after death.

If you born on the other side of the crack pipe
The individual is acknowledging and addressing the societal issue of drug addiction.

Niggas learn math just to understand the crack price
The individual is commenting on the lengths people will go to in order to make a profit in drug trafficking.

Then drive in head first like the jack knife
The individual is describing the recklessness of drug dealers.

Cause out here, yo you niggas can’t belly flop
The individual is saying that failure isn't an option.

Being on the front line means ducking one time
Being at the forefront of a situation often means avoiding danger.

The pendulum swinging my way, couldn’t be more blind
The individual's luck has seemingly changed, but they don't know what's coming.

Time after time, verse blank, the line un-rhymed
The individual has been unsuccessful in their artistic pursuits.

I wonder when you die do you hear harps and bagpipes
The individual is still questioning life after death.

What’s the big deal, why do they feel the need to have us marching on line
The individual is questioning why conformity and order is so important to society.

Feeling unlucky and if I’d ever got lucky it was one time
The individual has a negative outlook on their chances of success.