Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
GZA/Genius Lyrics

Life is a test many quest the universe
Life is a challenge that many people search for answers to in the world

And through my research, I felt the joy and the hurt
Through research, the singer feels both positive and negative emotions

The first shall be last and the last shall be first
Those who are currently at the bottom may rise to the top and vice versa

The basic instructions before leaving earth
The important principles to follow before one dies

Knowledge this wisdom, this goes back when I was twelve
The artist has possessed knowledge and wisdom since the age of twelve

I loved doing right but I was trapped in hell
The singer tried to do the right thing but faced difficult circumstances

Had mad ideas, sad eyes and tears
The singer had many ideas and emotions

Years of fears, but yo my foes couldn't bear
The artist had many years of fear, but their enemies were unable to overcome them

I searched for the truth since my youth
The artist has looked for the truth since they were young

And went to church since birth, but it wasn't worth the loot
Although the artist attended church since birth, they don't believe it was worth the money they paid

That I was paying, plus the praying
The experience of attending church involved both paying money and praying

I didn't like staying cuz of busy-bodies and dizzy hotties
The artist didn't enjoy staying at church because of those who gossiped and acted frivolously

That the preacher had souped up with lies
The singer believes the preacher used lies to manipulate the congregation

Had me cooped up lookin at loot, butt, and thighs
The singer felt trapped and distracted by materialistic and sexual desires

Durin the service, he swallowed up the poor
During the church service, the preacher took advantage of the poor

And after they heard this, they wallowed on the floor
The poor reacted emotionally to the preacher's message

But I ignored, and explored my history that was untold
The artist chose to ignore the preacher and learn about their own untold history instead

And watched mysteries unfold
The singer discovered previously unknown information

And dropped a jewel like Solomon, but never followed men
The singer shared their newfound knowledge but didn't blindly follow others

Cause if you do your brain is more hollow than
Following others without questioning can make one's mind empty

Space oblivia, or the abyss
Becoming ignorant is similar to being lost in space

With no trace of trivia, left with the hiss
If one doesn't seek knowledge, they're left with nothing but useless noise

Does it pay to be deaf, dumb and blind?
Is there any benefit to being ignorant and unaware?

From a slave we was kept from the mind
Slaves were kept from education and knowledge

And from the caves he crept from behind
The singer's ancestors come from dark and difficult historical times

And what he gave, was the sect of the swine
The singer believes that what their ancestors received was sinful or negative

When the bible, it condemns the pig
The Bible considers pigs to be unclean animals

I don't mean to pull your hems or flip your wigs
The artist doesn't intend to upset or offend anyone

But we used to wear a turban, but now we're in the urban
In the past, the artist's ancestors wore turbans, but now they live in urban areas

No more wearing beanies and dress like a genie
The singer's ancestors don't wear certain clothing styles anymore

No hocus pocus cause I focus on the facts
The singer doesn't rely on magic or superstition but on facts and research

And put it on the tracks and brought it through the wax
The artist recorded and shared their knowledge through music

I speak on Jacob, it might take up some time
The artist is discussing a biblical figure named Jacob and it may take some time to explain

And too much knowledge, it might break up the rhyme
The artist is worried that too much knowledge may interfere with the rhyme or rhythm of the music

I did it anyway just to wake up the mind
The singer shared the knowledge to awaken people's minds and raise awareness

Of those who kiss stones or prays on the carpet
The artist is referring to people who engage in idol worship or perform religious practices on carpets

Those who sit home, or sell books by the market
The singer is referring to people who don't seek knowledge but instead stay home or sell books for profit

Need to chill and get their mind revived
These people need to relax and stimulate their minds

For years religion did nothing but divide
Religion caused division and conflicts for many years

I strolled through the books of Job to unfold
The artist studied the Book of Job to seek knowledge

And open bibles, instead of hoping on revivals
The artist turned to the Bible for knowledge instead of attending revival meetings

Calling on His name and screaming hallelujah
People claim to worship God but may not truly understand His teachings

When he hardly knew ya, that's how the devil's fooled ya
The singer believes that people are easily fooled by Satan into thinking they know God when they don't

See look into my eyes brethren, that's the lies of a Reverend
The artist believes that preachers sometimes deceive their congregation

Why should you die to go to heaven?
The artist questions why death is necessary to go to heaven

The Earth is already in space, the bible I embrace
The artist believes that Earth is already in space and finds guidance in the Bible

A difficult task I had to take
The singer encountered challenges in seeking knowledge

I studied till my eyes was swollen, and only arose when
The artist studied until they were physically exhausted and only stopped when

I found out that we were the chosen
The singer realized that their people were chosen for a specific purpose

I deal with the truth, and build with the youth
The singer deals with the truth and educates young people

And teach my son as he kneels on the stoop
The singer teaches their son while he sits on the steps outside their home

Son, life is a pool of sin, corrupted with foolish men
The artist cautions their son about the temptations of sin and the foolishness of others

And women with wicked minds, who build picket signs
The artist refers to women who engage in activism for negative causes

To legalize abortion, the evil eye distortion
The singer believes that abortion is evil and negatively distorts people's ideologies

I quiz Son with my wisdom
The singer tests their son's knowledge by sharing their wisdom

Before I converted, I was perverted, and knowledge was asserted
Before the artist learned the truth, their thoughts and actions were corrupt and knowledge was forced upon them

The study of wisdom, I preferred it
The artist learned to enjoy pursuing wisdom

The understanding, it gave me mental freedom
Knowledge and understanding gave the artist a sense of mental liberation

I even learned Caucasians were really the Tribe of Edom
The singer learned something unexpected about the origin of Caucasians

The white image, of Christ, is really Cesare Borgia
The artist believes that the commonly depicted white image of Jesus is actually a Renaissance figure named Cesare Borgia

And uhh, the second son of Pope Alexander
Cesare Borgia was the second son of Pope Alexander VI

The Sixth of Rome, and once the picture was shown
Cesare Borgia was the sixth duke of a certain Italian city, and a picture was then shown to back up the previous claims

That's how the devils tricked my dome
The singer believes that this is how Satan has deceived people

I prophesized to save a man, but no one gave a damn
The artist foresaw someone's fate and warned others, but was ignored

For my nation the seed of Abraham
The artist's nation is descendants of Abraham, a biblical figure

Blessed with the tongue of Hebrew
The singer believes that their nation has a special gift for the Hebrew language

Now we're strung on needles, and some are plungin evils
The singer believes that their people are currently struggling and some are committing sins

So study and be wise in these days of darkness
The artist encourages people to seek knowledge and wisdom during difficult times

Peace to my nephew Marcus
The artist sends their peace and blessings to their nephew Marcus