18 With a Bullet
Dimestore Hoods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of this rundown town of L.A.
Seen three of my homeboys,
Shot dead... 1-8-7,
Time in the nuthouse,
Medicate my brain,
Mind of a lunatic,
18 with a bullet,
Invincible,
18 with a bullet,
Live my life like a criminal,
18 with a bullet,
On the track,
18 with a bullet,
Maniac!
When I turned 18,
I bought my first machine,
AK-47... psychotic dream,
It's just too bad,
It turned out this way,
A victim of the streets,
On the hope, the pray,
18 with a bullet,
Invincible,
18 with a bullet,
Live my life like a criminal,
18 with a bullet,
On the track,
18 with a bullet,
Maniac!
People die on the streets of L.A. constantly,
Man blames society...
For the insight into my reality,
I'll be sure to get you...
Before you get me...!
Hit it!
18 with a bullet,
Invincible,
18 with a bullet,
Live my life like a...
The Dimestore Hoods' "18 With a Bullet" is a song about a young man who grew up on the streets of Los Angeles, witnessed the murder of three of his friends, and eventually became a hardened criminal himself. The song is charged with aggression and rebellion, expressing an attitude of defiance towards a society that has failed him.
The first two lines of the song, "I was raised in the streets, of this rundown town of L.A." set the tone for the rest of the lyrics. The singer of the song did not have an easy childhood, growing up in a poor and dangerous environment. The next line, "seen three of my homeboys, shot dead...1-8-7," refers to the police code for murder. The young man has already been exposed to extreme violence at a very young age, and it has left a lasting mark on him.
The chorus of the song is an ode to the singer's sense of invincibility. He believes that he is unbeatable and untouchable, suggesting that his violent lifestyle has left him feeling indestructible. However, the final verse of the song implies that his bravado is nothing more than a superficial facade. The line, "It turned out this way, a victim of the streets, on the hope, the pray," suggests that he is not as invincible as he would like to believe. He is vulnerable to the same dangers as those he once witnessed firsthand, and his future is uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
I was raised in the streets,
I grew up in the rough neighborhoods on the streets of Los Angeles.
Of this rundown town of L.A.
This town is dilapidated and run-down with a lot of problems.
Seen three of my homeboys,
I've witnessed three of my close friends be killed.
Shot dead... 1-8-7,
They were killed, short for the police code for murder.
Time in the nuthouse,
I've spent time in a psychiatric institution.
Medicate my brain,
I'm prescribed medication to help stabilize my mental state.
Mind of a lunatic,
I'm perceived as having a mind that is erratic and unstable.
Diagnosed insane,
I've been deemed to be mentally ill by medical professionals.
18 with a bullet,
I'm 18 years old with a lot of power.
Invincible,
I feel untouchable and unstoppable.
Live my life like a criminal,
I act recklessly and don't obey the law.
On the track,
I'm moving forward with determination.
Maniac!
I'm wild, unpredictable, and dangerous.
When I turned 18,
Once I reached the age of 18.
I bought my first machine,
I purchased my first gun.
AK-47... psychotic dream,
It was my dream to own an AK-47, even though it's a sign of sociopathic tendencies.
It's just too bad,
Unfortunately.
It turned out this way,
It ended up being like this.
A victim of the streets,
I'm one of many who have fallen victim to the harsh reality of the streets.
On the hope, the pray,
With the wish and expectation of something better.
People die on the streets of L.A. constantly,
The reality of the streets is that people are dying regularly.
Man blames society...
Individuals tend to blame their environment for the problems they face.
For the insight into my reality,
For the understanding of my situation.
I'll be sure to get you...
I'll make sure to retaliate against any perceived threat.
Before you get me...!
Before you're able to harm me in any way.
Hit it!
Let's go!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES ANTHONY KORTHE, TODD DEGUCHI, TOM MCNERNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jason Bossardt
I had this CD in 97. Found it in a new & used CD store. I bought it cuz I liked the cover. Great Album!
ol skoo
Jason Bossardt I found it at a blockbuster in the reduced bin.loved it since.best 3 bucks ever spent
BenDrinkin1
Jason Bossardt rip Jim Korthe
Dustin
I've bought many great albums just off cover art
Make Videos
This album is responsible for some of the best times I had as teenager in the 90s.
MrBodojunx
That’s rad! I found it in a dollar bin...best value ever!!!! Such a good album..we are the fortunate few!!
Megan Hunt
This band needs way more recognition. Some labeled them godsmack Linkin Park etc and got so many views. Thats hownI found this band funny enough but they do need to be known for who they really are
Timothy Vera
I still remember when my dad blasted the whole album when he got it. Best memories I've had came from these guys
Miguel
Como es posible que una canción te traiga tantos recuerdos... Old school.
Michael Jacobson
I fuckin love this song