Cold War
GZA/Genius Lyrics

I had a bad dream
The singer had a nightmare.

Don't be afraid, bad dreams are only dreams
The singer reassures the listener that the dream was not real and not to be afraid.

What a time you chose to be born in...
The singer comments on how the world is a difficult place to live in.

It was the night before new year's, and all through the fuckin projects
The artist sets the scene of the story, taking place in the projects on New Year's Eve.

Not a handgun was silent, not even a tec
Every gun was being fired, with no moment of silence.

Outside as I'm stuck, by enemies who put fear
The singer is outside, trapped by people who want to scare him.

And blasted on the spot before the pigs were dere
The singer was shot before the police arrived on the scene.

You know hoods robbers snipers new in sight fuck blue and white
People don't care about the police and will rob, rob, and shoot anyone regardless of their affiliation.

They escape before them flash the fuckin lights
The criminals are able to get away before the cops come with their flashing lights.

Gunshots, shatter first floor window panes
Gunshots are fired, breaking the windows on the first floor of a building.

Shells hit the ground and blood stained the dice game
Bullets hit the ground and blood got on the game of dice being played.

Whether broke callisthetic, any style you set it
People are willing to do anything to survive, whether they are broke or in shape.

Beat niggaz toothless, physically cut up like gooses
People are willing to fight and hurt others, knocking out their teeth and physically injuring them.

But with iron on the sides thugs took no excuses
Criminals had guns and weren't willing to accept any excuses from their victims.

Therefore, your fifty-two handblocks was useless
The singer is saying that his enemy's fighting style did not work in reality.

Links was snatched off necks, scars on throats
People had their chains stolen and were physically hurt.

Jackets took, after bullet rips through coats
People's jackets were stolen after being shot and ripped with bullets.

Against those who felt the cold from the steel made em fold
Those who felt the cold metal of a gun were intimidated and gave up.

And squeal, once the metal hit the temple of his grill
The person shot would scream once the bullet hit their face/head.

Destruction worker, who was caught for his bomber
The artist is talking about a person who was caught for his involvement in the construction of a bomb.

No time to swing the hammer that was hangin from his farmer's
The person was caught and did not have time to use the hammer he had hanging from his tool belt.

And it's bugged how some niggaz catch slugs
The artist is surprised at how some people end up getting killed.

And pockets dug from everything except check stubs
People will search through the pockets of the deceased looking for anything valuable except for check stubs.

And it does, sound ill like wars in brownsville
The artist is commenting on how the violence they are experiencing is similar to wars in Brownsville, NY.

Or fatal robberies in red hook where feds look
The singer is saying that there are fatal robberies in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where the FBI looks for fugitives.

For fugitives to shoot cops, niggaz layin on roof tops
Fugitives hide on rooftops and are willing to shoot any cops who come after them, while people are dying on the roof.

For his cream he stashed in a shoebox
The singer is talking about someone who hid their money in a shoebox.

But he was hot, and the strip was filled with young killers
The person was caught and the area was filled with young people who would kill others.

You don't suspect, so cops creep like caterpillars
The artist is saying that the police will sneak around unnoticed because people aren't suspicious of them.

And born thieves stay hooded with extra bullets
Criminals always wear hoodies and carry extra bullets.

Those who try to flee they hit the vertebrae, increase the murder rate
If someone tries to run away, they will be shot in the spine, which leads to an increase in the murder rate.

Similar to hit men who pull out tecs and then
Hitmen pull out guns and then shoot their targets.

Drop those who act like thai flows from mexican
They will shoot anyone who seems unprepared or weak, as if they were a Thai boxer against a weaker opponent.

Rabbit, like recipients cashin checks again
People are quick to spend their money as soon as they get it, like rabbits who spend their energy quickly before going back to resting.

Back to the motherfuckin spot on lexington
The singer is returning to an unspecified location on Lexington Avenue.

We be runnin from the cops, bustin off shots
People are running away from the police and firing their guns.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
The situation is intense and the listener feels trapped by their surroundings.

In this cold, cold world...
The world is harsh and unforgiving.

No time to freeze, undercovers ease up in grand prixs
The criminals don't have time to pause or be still because the undercover police are driving Grand Prix cars towards them.

And seize packages and pocket the currency
The police are taking the illegal packages and keeping the money that was inside them.

Clicks control strips full clips are sprayed
Groups of criminals control parts of the city and are firing full clips of ammunition.

Yellow tape barricades sidewalks where bodies lay
The police are blocking off areas where dead bodies are lying on the sidewalk.

Madness strikes at twelve o'clock midnight
The chaos and violence peak at midnight.

Stick up kids on the ground broke the staircase light
People trying to rob others were caught and broke the light on the staircase in the process.

And I stays harassed, scramblin for petty cash
The artist is constantly bothered by the police and is struggling to find any amount of money.

Jakes on my ass young bucks is learnin fast
The police are targeting the artist and young people are learning how to evade the authorities.

357's and 44's
Different types of guns are being used, such as 357 and 44 caliber guns.

Bought inside corner stores, their fire sparks the wars
Guns are being sold in corner stores and lead to more conflict and violence.

Hospital floors surrounded by the law
The hospital is being guarded by police, due to the amount of violence happening nearby.

Homicide questioning while the jakes guard the door
Police are questioning people about homicides while other officers guard the door to the area.

My hood stay tense, loyalty puts strength in my team
The people in the singer's neighborhood are tense and loyalty is what keeps them strong as a group.

Cause niggaz main concern is cream
People in the neighborhood are mostly concerned with making money.

Some niggaz in the jet black gallant
Some people in the area are driving a jet black Cadillac.

Shot up the chinese resteraunt, for this kid named lamont
These people shot up a Chinese restaurant, aiming for someone named Lamont.

I thought he was dead but instead he missed a kid
The singer assumed that Lamont had died, but instead he had missed his target and hit a child instead.

And hit a twelve year old girl in the head and then fled
Lamont hit a twelve-year-old girl in the head and left the scene.

Tactical narcotic, task force, back off fast
Special police forces creating drug-related tactics are retreating quickly.

Cause the crime boss is passin off cash
The criminal leader is giving away money to others for protection or information.

Extortions, for portions of streets, causes beef
The criminals are extorting people and creating conflict over territory.

Havin followers of indians trying to play chief
People in the neighborhood are trying to appear more powerful than they actually are.

You witness the saga, casualties and drama
People are watching the violence and its consequences like a play or movie.

Life is a script, I'm not a actor but the author
The singer is saying that he doesn't feel like he's a character in his own life, but rather the person who wrote the script.

Of a modern day opera, where the main character
The singer is comparing his life to an opera, where the singer has many struggles.

Is presidential paper, the dominant, factor
Money and power are the most important things in life.

Babies crying brothers dying and brothers getting knocked
There is constant sadness and violence in the artist's community.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
The situation is overwhelming and the listener can't escape or move on.

In this cold, cold world...
The world is harsh and unforgiving, with no warmth or compassion.

We be runnin from the cops, bustin off shots
People are participating in criminal acts and trying to escape from the police.

Shit is deep on the block and you got me locked down
The situation is intense and the listener feels trapped by their surroundings.

In this cold, cold world...
The world is harsh and unforgiving.