Graves to Dig
Everlast Lyrics

They go one for the Prophet, two for Islam
The song begins by acknowledging the religion of the artist and his respect for the Prophet Muhammad and the religion of Islam.

Three for the Khutba from the Imam
The Khutba is a religious speech given by the Imam during the Friday prayer. The artist is acknowledging the importance of this religious tradition in his song.

Four for the mother that birthed my frame
The artist is showing gratitude toward his mother for giving him birth and bringing him into this world.

Five for the father 'cause he taught me game
The artist is appreciating his father for teaching him valuable life lessons and strategies that he incorporates into his persona in music.

Been 'round the world, songs are all the same
Even though the artist may have traveled around the world, the songs he hears everywhere seem to carry the same message and/or sound.

Sometimes when I'm asleep I still call your name
The artist is still emotionally attached to someone from his past that he may not be with anymore, and thinks of them even when sleeping.

Back when I was young I used to dream of fame
The artist recalls as a child dreaming of fame and success in his career as a musician.

Now they all point they fingers saying who's to blame
As a result of gaining fame and success, a lot of attention and scrutiny falls on the artist in the public eye, and people are quick to blame him for various things.

Mothers put their girls into pigtail curls
Mothers have been dressing and styling their daughters in this particular hairdo for some time now.

Fathers teach their sons how to shoot their guns
Fathers have been teaching their sons how to use guns, and the traditional roles of masculinity still continue to be imparted upon the younger generation.

They say, "Boy don't never cry control your emotions
Boys are told to control their emotions and not to cry, which presents an unrealistic and mentally unhealthy expectation for their emotional health.

Just take it like a man, make your stand"
Boys are raised to be tough and resilient, which includes being able to take hardships and tough situations, which is viewed as a positive trait in this context.

They say, "Sex and violence go hand in hand"
Our society has an unfortunate tendency to link violence with sex, which can lead to unhealthy gender dynamics and relationships.

For every man blessed there got to be ten damned
For every success, there are many failures, and not everyone is given the same opportunities or advantages in life.

Expand through the depths of space and time
The artist wants his work to impact people, communities, and cultures throughout the world and for many generations beyond his time.

Standing three eyes blind on the firing line
The artist feels like he is in a dangerous or life-threatening situation, and he is ill-equipped in some way to handle it.

Word to my man divine, come too far
The artist is giving a shoutout to someone he admires greatly and commenting on how much progress he himself has made thus far.

Singing la ilaha il allah
This is a phrase from Arabic that expresses the artist's universal and inclusive perspective in regards to religious and personal belief.

Twelve rakahs short on my full day's prayer
The artist is acknowledging that he has not been able to fulfill his religious obligations.

Just hoping that the lord got some mercy to spare
The artist is hoping that God will be merciful and forgiving toward him despite his shortcomings.

They go one for the ummah, two for the deen
The 'ummah' refers to the universal community of Muslims while 'deen' refers to the Islamic way of life. The artist is acknowledging that these two things are highly important in Islamic traditions.

Three for the angels, four for the alamin
In Islamic beliefs, angels are an important creation of Allah (God), and alamin refers to the material and spiritual worlds created by God.

Somewhere between totally obscene
The artist is saying that his music may contain explicit and vulgar language that is not appropriate for all audiences.

And perfectly clean, got a Babylon feeling'
The artist's music carries vibes of ancient Babylon, a complex and highly important historical city of Mesopotamia.

Wounds that need healing', truth need revealing'
The artist feels that some tangible and important issues need to be addressed in our society that collective wishful thinking cannot heal.

Hands need washing' from all the dirty dealing'
The artist feels that society is full of corruption and dishonesty that damaging our community and should be addressed and fixed.

From the floor to the ceiling', from the stage to the door
The artist's music and message permeates every inch of our daily life, from the floor of your home to the stage performances and even beyond the door to the outside world.

From the kings and the queens and the slaves and the whores
The artist and his message are intended for everyone, including important leaders and figures, enslaved individuals, and even sex workers in society.

For every lost cause where the martyrs are found
The artist acknowledges and respects the individuals who have perished to different causes throughout our history and the world, and expresses sympathy towards them.

That funky little sound, that make you want to get down
The artist's music is designed to be upbeat and catchy, with an infectious rhythm that lifts the listener's mood and makes them want to move to the beat.

Somebody told me once, love makes the world go round
The artist believes that love is a powerful and positive force that can make the world better and peaceful.

Now kids they carry pistols out on the playground
The artist recognizes the dark and complex reality of many vulnerable children and youth, who carry guns and other weapons within their communities.

That profound, gone too far.
The artist considers the level of weapons and violence among our society to be deeply disturbing and frightful, and something needs to be done.

Praying to the light from a burned out star
The artist is expressing religious and philosophical beliefs in his music, and here he is referring to the idea that human beings pray and seek guidance from something that is already dead or extinct in the universe.

Put your lights on, put down your crosses
The artist is telling his audience to stop behaving in violent, divisive, or destructive ways, and instead to lead towards a path of unity and forgiveness.

It's time to tally up your wins and your losses
The artist is reminding his listeners that it is important to reflect on your actions and decisions, and to remember the successes and failures that shaped your personhood and learning growth experiences.

They go one for Scott La Rock
Scott La Rock was a hip hop musician and activist who was shot and killed in 1987. This song honors him and his contributions to the genre.

Two for Pac and B.I.G.
Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. are two of the greatest and most influential hip hop musicians of all time. This song pays tribute to their legacies.

And three for all the mothers who got graves to dig
This line acknowledges that mothers who have lost their children to violence or other tragedies are the ones who suffer the most and have to bury their sons/daughters. It is a tribute to them.

For all the mothers who got graves to dig
This line restates the previous line and emphasizes the sentiment of paying homage and respect in some way to mothers who have lost their child.