All That I Got Is You
Ghostface Killah Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What dey gives you blood?
Three months man
Whatchu doin in here anyway? You oughta be home with your momma
How old are you boy?
Thirteen
Thirteen? Damn, the bastards must be runnin outta niggas to arrest

This goes out
To all the families that went through the struggle
Yeah, from the heart
It was from the heart, everything was real

Yo, dwellin' in the past, flashbacks when I was young
Whoever thought that I'd have a baby girl and three sons
I'm goin' through this difficult stage I find it hard to believe
Why my old Earth had so many seeds
But she's an old woman, and due to me I respect that
I saw life for what it's really worth and took a step back
Family ain't family no more, we used to play ball
Eggs after school, eat grits cause we was poor
Grab the pliers for the channel, fix the hanger on the TV
Rockin' each others pants to school wasn't easy
We survived winters, snotty nosed with no coats
We kept it real, but the older brother still had jokes
Sadly, daddy left me at the age of six
I didn't know nothin' but mommy neatly packed his shit
She cried, and grandma held the family down
I guess mommy wasn't strong enough, she just went down
Check it, fifteen of us in a three bedroom apartment
Roaches everywhere, cousins and aunts was there
Four in the bed, two at the foot, two at the head
I didn't like to sleep with Jon-Jon he peed the bed
Seven o'clock, pluckin' roaches out the cereal box
Some shared the same spoon, watchi'n Saturday cartoons
Sugar water was our thing, every meal was no thrill
In the summer, free lunch held us down like steel
And there was days I had to go to Tex house with a note
Stating "Gloria can I borrow some food I'm dead broke"
So embarrasin' I couldn't stand to knock on they door
My friends might be laughin', I spent stamps in stores
Mommy where's the toilet paper, use the newspaper
Look Ms. Rose gave us a couch, she's the neighbor
Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats
Two brothers with muscular dystrophy, it killed me
But I remember this, mom's would lick her finger tips
To wipe the cold out my eye before school wit her spit
Case worker had her runnin' back to face to face
I caught a case, housin' tried to throw us out of our place
Sometimes I look up at the stars and analyze the sky
And ask myself was I meant to be here, why?
Yeah, yo

All that I got is you
And I'm so thankful I made it through
All that I got is you
And I'm so thankful I made it through
All that I got is you
And I'm so thankful I made it through
All that I got is you
And I'm so thankful I made it through

I sit and think about
All the times we did without, yeah
I always said I woudn't cry
When I saw tears in your eyes
I understand that daddy's not here now
But some way or somehow, I will always be around, yeah
All things that I did from this to them
Oh from drugs to being there
Being down and out and I love you always

Yeah, you see
You see the universe, which consists of the sun moon and star
And them planets, that exist in my space
Like man woman and child
You understand?
We got to keep it real, and what reality and reality will keep it real with us
I remember them good ol' days
Because see, that's the child I was
What made me the man I am today
See cause if you forget where you come from, heheh
You're never gonna make it where you're goin', aheh
Because you lost the reality of yourself
So take one stroll through your mind
And see what you will find
And you'll see a whole universe all over again




And again and again and again and again
Heheheh, yeah heheheheh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ghostface Killah's song "All That I Got Is You" featuring Mary J Blige is a heartfelt reflection of the artist's childhood and the struggles his family faced. The song starts with the artist being questioned in jail by another inmate who expresses surprise that a thirteen-year-old boy like him is behind bars. Ghostface then goes on to describe his upbringing, including the difficulties his family faced while living in a cramped and roach-infested apartment with fifteen people. The artist witnessed his mother's struggles and sacrifices, and despite all the difficulties, his love and respect for her never wavered.


The song's lyrics paint a vivid picture of the rough times his family went through, including the lack of basic necessities such as toilet paper, proper meals, and clothes. Ghostface narrates how they used to watch television using pliers instead of a remote control, and how his mother would wipe his face with her saliva before sending him to school. Despite the frequent challenges, the artist's family remained resilient and tightly knit.


The refrain, "All that I got is you" emphasizes the importance of family, especially during trying times. It's also a thank you message to his mother for everything she did to hold the family together. Ghostface's and Mary J Blige's soulful harmonies and emotional delivery perfectly capture the feelings of hardship, gratitude, and love expressed in the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

What dey gives you blood?
Asking the person why he is in jail for a period of just three months.


Whatchu doin in here anyway? You oughta be home with your momma
Questioning why the person is incarcerated and suggesting he should be living with his mother.


How old are you boy?
Asking how old the person is.


Thirteen
The person in question affirms that he is thirteen years old.


Thirteen? Damn, the bastards must be runnin outta niggas to arrest
Expressing surprise that the person is so young and indicating that the criminal system may be targeting youth.


Yo, dwellin' in the past, flashbacks when I was young
Reflecting on past experiences.


Whoever thought that I'd have a baby girl and three sons
Expressing gratitude for family.


I'm goin' through this difficult stage I find it hard to believe
Struggling to come to grips with difficult circumstances.


Why my old Earth had so many seeds
Questioning why his mother had so many children.


But she's an old woman, and due to me I respect that
Respecting that his mother is getting older and has cared for him for a long time.


I saw life for what it's really worth and took a step back
Reflecting on the value of life and appreciativeness.


Family ain't family no more, we used to play ball
Acknowledging that family relationships are not as strong anymore.


Eggs after school, eat grits cause we was poor
Recalling the family's poverty and need to eat cheap food.


Grab the pliers for the channel, fix the hanger on the TV
Recalling the need to manually fix a TV channel with pliers.


Rockin' each others pants to school wasn't easy
Recalling the difficulties of sharing clothing.


We survived winters, snotty nosed with no coats
Describing how the family was able to survive despite the lack of warm clothing in the winter.


We kept it real, but the older brother still had jokes
Despite the difficult circumstances, the family tried to maintain a sense of authenticity and humor.


Sadly, daddy left me at the age of six
Reflecting sadly on the absence of a father figure since early childhood.


I didn't know nothin' but mommy neatly packed his shit
Recognizing the mother's responsibility to pack the father's belongings after he left.


She cried, and grandma held the family down
Remembering how the grandmother provided emotional support after the father left.


I guess mommy wasn't strong enough, she just went down
Acknowledging his mother's emotional struggles after the father's departure.


Check it, fifteen of us in a three bedroom apartment
Describing how so many family members lived together in a small space.


Roaches everywhere, cousins and aunts was there
Describing how the extended family lived together with unsanitary conditions in the house.


Four in the bed, two at the foot, two at the head
Describing how sleeping arrangements were tightly packed with many people sharing limited space.


I didn't like to sleep with Jon-Jon he peed the bed
Expressing dislike for sleeping with someone who wet the bed.


Seven o'clock, pluckin' roaches out the cereal box
Recalling having to deal with pests while preparing breakfast.


Some shared the same spoon, watchi'n Saturday cartoons
Recalling sharing eating utensils and enjoying TV together.


Sugar water was our thing, every meal was no thrill
Describing how sugar water was used to flavor drinks due to lack of variety in meal options.


In the summer, free lunch held us down like steel
Acknowledging the necessity of receiving free lunches during summer months.


And there was days I had to go to Tex house with a note
Recalling the need to borrow food from a friend because of financial difficulties.


Stating "Gloria can I borrow some food I'm dead broke"
Requesting to borrow food due to financial instability.


So embarrasin' I couldn't stand to knock on they door
Feeling shame about needing to ask for help.


My friends might be laughin', I spent stamps in stores
Feeling embarrassed about using government assistance stamps.


Mommy where's the toilet paper, use the newspaper
Recalling the family's inability to afford toilet paper and resorting to using newspaper.


Look Ms. Rose gave us a couch, she's the neighbor
Grateful for a neighbor providing a couch for the family to use.


Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats
Reflecting on the difficulties and struggles experienced throughout childhood.


Two brothers with muscular dystrophy, it killed me
Expressing sadness about the physical afflictions experienced by two brothers.


But I remember this, mom's would lick her finger tips
Recalling how his mother would lick her finger tips to wipe away eye crust before school.


To wipe the cold out my eye before school wit her spit
Describing how his mother would use her spit to help clean eye crust.


Case worker had her runnin' back to face to face
Recalling his mother's interactions with a case worker.


I caught a case, housin' tried to throw us out of our place
Recalling legal issues and housing struggles.


Sometimes I look up at the stars and analyze the sky
Contemplating life's mysteries and deeper meanings.


And ask myself was I meant to be here, why?
Questioning existence and the purpose of life.


I sit and think about
Reflecting on memories and experiences.


All the times we did without, yeah
Recalling times of hardship and struggle.


I always said I woudn't cry
Trying to remain strong despite emotional pain.


When I saw tears in your eyes
Feeling emotional after seeing his mother cry.


I understand that daddy's not here now
Recognizing the absence of a father figure.


But some way or somehow, I will always be around, yeah
Committing to always being there for his family.


All things that I did from this to them
Reflecting on all the actions he has taken for his family.


Oh from drugs to being there
Acknowledging past mistakes and how he has tried to be there for his family.


Being down and out and I love you always
Expressing love and commitment to his family despite struggles.


You see the universe, which consists of the sun moon and star
Reflecting on the vastness of the universe.


And them planets, that exist in my space
Acknowledging the planets and how they exist in connection with the broader universe.


Like man woman and child
Comparing humanity to celestial bodies by suggesting that people too exist in connection with the broader universe.


We got to keep it real, and what reality and reality will keep it real with us
Urging people to stay grounded in reality and authentic.


I remember them good ol' days
Recalling memories from the past.


Because see, that's the child I was
Reflecting on how he has changed since childhood.


What made me the man I am today
Contemplating how his past experiences have shaped him into the person he is today.


See cause if you forget where you come from, heheh
Warning that forgetting one's past can be detrimental.


You're never gonna make it where you're goin', aheh
Suggesting that losing sight of one's roots can harm future progress.


Because you lost the reality of yourself
Suggesting that losing touch with one's past can lead to a loss of personal identity.


So take one stroll through your mind
Urging the listener to reflect on their past.


And see what you will find
Encouraging the listener to contemplate what they discover in their reflections.


And you'll see a whole universe all over again
Suggesting that by reflecting on the past, one can rediscover the complexity and vastness of life.


And again and again and again and again
Emphasizing the importance of repeatedly reflecting on one's past experiences.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: Mary J Blige, Dennis Coles, Robert F Diggs, Berry Jr Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr, Dennis Lussier, Alphonso Mizell, Alphonso J Mizell, Freddie Perren, Deke Richards

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@nyfanatik

I don’t care how big, grown or tough u are , if your childhood was rough but your family held it down this songs hits hard.. or I’m i wrong ?

@averyprice9422

Facts

@ej8755

Facts bro

@NJPUNISHER10

FACTS

@alexmosley1513

Dead a$$! 💯✊🏾

@JoseTorres-rs7kj

Factual

313 More Replies...

@TonyChase

At 54 as of yesterday.....I VIVIDLY remember this very struggle....choked up.... holding back these tears....SALUTE to all who went through this and are still out here....ONE...!!

@nolankaine

happy belated yo. bless you.
peace god!

@toyaking1750

This song is so deep, I know people who knew the struggle

@mercedesharrison5550

Don’t hold back those tears let ‘‘em flow and recover bc we all need that.

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