EL TORO COMBO MEAL
Earl Sweatshirt Lyrics

Man
The singer is addressing the listeners.

Lost my dawg in the staircase, took the highest spot on the podium
The singer lost a friend in a dangerous situation but succeeded and achieved great success.

Ghost niggas probably smokin' to the thought of knowin' us
People who were not supportive of the singer are probably now regretting not being on their side.

They lost a part of growin' up
Those who didn't support the artist missed out on the growth and success that came.

Smartest, learned I had to keep a wedge to get out of the rough
The artist learned that it's important to cut off negative influences to succeed.

Use the clips, ain't used to disrespect, 'cause we carried enough
The singer doesn't tolerate disrespect because they've already been through enough hardship.

I promise I buried the grudge, preparing and carrying grub
The singer has let go of any grudges and is now focused on working hard and providing for themselves.

Larry Hoops, I was lost in the alley, in the air, but now I sunk
The artist used to be lost and unsure of their direction, but they've now found their way.

I spun to the loss of my grandmama, buried the dunk
The artist overcame the loss of their grandmother by focusing on their success and burying the past.

Say 'bout a prayer a month, through the above
The artist honors their grandmother's memory and legacy through prayer.

Niggas moody but they view at the funk
The singer observes that some people are in a bad mood but still enjoy the music (funk).

Ain't shit to do, they play with food
Some people have no purpose or ambition, so they waste time by playing with their food.

They rhyme and Rubik's for fun
Others pass the time by rhyming or solving Rubik's cubes for entertainment.

But I do what I want, ayy
The singer is self-determined and makes their own decisions.

And I rue what it was later, allude it as such
The singer regrets some decisions they've made in the past.

Confusedly up with paper, I'm shootin' ones with the judges
Despite being confused, the artist still makes money and achieves success.

The same as my brother been with a muzzle, that's from the cradle
The artist's brother has been silenced from birth, suggesting that the oppression and struggle run deep in their family.

So we goin' to the grave with this shit
The singer and their brother will continue to fight for their rights and speak out against oppression until they die.

If we join the second line of ancestors
When the singer and their brother die, they will join the group of their ancestors and become part of history.

And hand us a drum, loaded, a second time
The ancestors might guide and help the artist and their brother from beyond the grave.

Somethin' scary 'bout airin' out the shit I compress
Speaking out about the personal struggles the artist hides inside can be frightening.

The fair game, the fair now, the cost is
In the game of life, the playing field should be level, but sometimes it's not.

An arm, leg, an arm, leg, and a head
The cost of achieving success and fighting oppression can be high and even deadly.

And all bread to conquest it takes, I'm pawning the rest
The artist doesn't need material possessions, as they're willing to give everything up for their cause.

My partner, my partner spawned with don in the red
The singer's partner may have started out in a life of crime and now owes money to a higher-up (Don).

I'm all on they neck, 'til my car parks, pardon it, fresh
The singer is fully committed to helping their partner and won't stop until they've succeeded.

Spar with a few niggas, sparkin' that large percentages
The singer will fight anyone and anything that stands in the way of their goals.

All to the wind, the losses come as often as wins
The artist accepts that there will be losses and setbacks on their journey.

And impossibly thick
The obstacles and challenges ahead might seem impossible to overcome.

Don't got a job, I only ball off pick-six
The singer doesn't need a regular job as they make money through other means (football term 'pick-six').

I ball with fresh niggas, Lowry had shit lit, it's Christmas
The singer hangs out with successful, cool people and they have a lot of fun together, similar to the excitement of Christmas.

Honest but since niggas been lyin', but we ain't gon' mention
People are dishonest and lie, but the artist won't give them attention.

Who in the stu' and started sweating', told 'em, "It's the kitchen"
Someone panicked in the studio and the artist reassured them that everything is under control.

You know the rules, and we know how to shoot the loopholes
The artist and their allies know how to bend the rules to their advantage.

Who go boop-a-loop
The singer is asking who's having fun and enjoying themselves.

and my kid n' them got the kin
The artist's children and their friends are close and consider themselves family.

And you gon' juug a boogaloo
The singer is teasing someone for being silly and doing something fun.

I been spittin' to rhyme the answer non-definitive, I just cramped it
The singer has been rapping and trying to find answers in their music, but it's not always clear.

I was gifted with words, feel damned, I took my lungs, my bruises, bruise
The singer is a talented wordsmith but has also been through injury and pain.

What the fuck are you to do?
The artist is asking what others would do if they were in their shoes.

Every time a nigga didn't spot me
The artist has been overlooked and underestimated in the past.

I had to figure out my own thing
The singer had to carve out their own path to success.

Now we at the precipice droppin'
The singer and their allies are on the brink of achieving something great.

Harry Potter with the Dub-D's
The artist feels like they have magical powers, like Harry Potter, when wearing their expensive Dub-D sneakers.

Magic hands, nigga, want cheese
The artist's 'magic hands' can earn them money.

Had a chance, then it crushed me
The artist had an opportunity but it didn't work out.

We gon' get it by all means
The singer is determined to succeed, no matter what.

Rest in piece to my Ras G
The artist is paying tribute to Ras G, a friend who has passed away.

Raw Fruit in the box, seeds
The singer is referencing Ras G's music and leaving behind a legacy, like raw fruit that grows into something new.

Let go, then I got wings
The singer has let go of something and feels free to fly and pursue their dreams.

I'm seein' red, I'ma charge
The singer is ready to take aggressive action.

You seein' red 'cause you salty
The opponent is becoming angry and aggressive because they're losing.

I keep the tears out my mind, reach
The artist hides their emotions and stays focused on their goals.

I put my fears in a box
The singer compartmentalizes their fears and doesn't let them consume them.

Like a prayer that you won't read
The singer's fears are private, like a prayer that's meant to be invisible.

Spirited Away, the whole thing
The artist may feel like they're in a surreal world, like in the movie Spirited Away.

Peerin' away, I won't leave
The artist is constantly observing and won't give up until they've achieved their goals.

See you starin' into old beefs
The opponent is looking back at old disagreements, suggesting they're not ready to move on.

Ticket booths, where they told me
The singer has been denied entry to places because of their skin color or socioeconomic status.

Thickest thorns on the roses
The artist has been through struggles and hardships, like thorns on the flower.

Pistons roarin' like I'm Rasheed
The singer feels empowered and unstoppable, like former NBA player Rasheed Wallace.

Pistons roarin' like I'm Ben Wallace
The singer is referencing another former NBA player, Ben Wallace, known for his aggressive defense and career with the Detroit Pistons.

Pistons roarin' like Chauncey
The singer is referencing another former Detroit Pistons player, Chauncey Billups, who was instrumental in the team's success.

Billups, somethin', 'cause I been drivin'
The artist may be referencing Chauncey Billups' nickname, Mr. Big Shot, and suggests that they too are driving towards their goals.

Every time a nigga didn't spot me
The artist again references being overlooked and underestimated in the past.

I had to figure out my own thing
The singer again emphasizes the importance of carving their own path to success.

Now we at the precipice droppin'
The singer and their allies are on the verge of achieving something great.