Ghostface Killah is critically acclaimed for his loud, fast-paced flow, and his stream-of-consciousness narratives containing cryptic slang and non-sequiturs.
Ghostface Killah was raised in the Stapleton housing projects in Staten Island, New York. In his autobiographical song "All That I Got Is You", Ghost tells the story of his childhood. He raps about how he grew up in a three bedroom apartment without his father, who left him at the age of six. Apparently, his mother had nine children.
His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film Mystery of Chessboxing.
He was also a close friend of the three founding members of Wu-tang clan
Josephine
Ghostface Killah Lyrics
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God's woman... what's going on?
I know things seem messed up sometime
You stressed out and you can't handle the situation
Sometime it feels like you lacking the guidance
And you don't know what to do... but stay strong
And keep in mind that he always loves you...
It's what it is... that's right sugar love
[Chorus: Willie Cottrell]
Josephine, the times are getting tough
Seems to me... you just won't get enough
The rain, won't wash away, your sins...
You'll be here, to do them all over again...
[Ghostface Killah]
Yo, I know this chick from the hood named Courtney Cox
And her brain is easy to pick like faulty locks
She's awfully hot, asshole burning like tobasco
She used to be thick, it's like where the hell her ass go
Started smoking weed and graduated to the pipe
Thought that she could quit but her calculations wasn't right
Infactuated with the life of dope fiends and crack pushers
Prostituting for old pimps who mack hookers
Putting dope in the cook, searching for her vein
Tracks all over her arms, she never felt the pain
The monkey on her back is now a gorilla
Fiending for a hit knowing one day it's gon' kill her
The clinic didn't help (nope) she just another young black woman
Destroying her pretty image and her health
Got me thinking to myself, damn, how could this happen?
I seen her on the corner, nodding off, sniffin' and scratching
[Chorus]
[Trife Da God]
She wakes up, with an urge to get high
Everyday, the same routine, needing the mood of fix to get by
So she reaches for her purse, grab the bag and the needle
Tie a sock her arm and start shooting up the diesel
Had a flesh back, screwing some dude up in his hashback
The night before, body still sore, holding her ass crack
A regular John, she met her through Tom
She passed out with the syringe still stuck in her arm
Dying a slow death, oh, she losing her dear mind
From the troubles of the world, feeling cursed by mankind
Uh, caught up in a desperate rage, was blessed with AIDS
Lost her appetite, hardly slept in days
Now it's too late, praying to Jesus, she fucked around
With the wrong penis, contaminated with diseases
Two months pregnant, carrying around her fetus
But they found her on Broad, in the dumpster, behind the cleaners
[Chorus]
[Interlude: Ghostface Killah]
Josephine, what's wrong, baby?
Come on...
[Ghostface Killah]
Yo, what your momma gonna think of you girl?
Her little baby's all doped up, strung out on the world
Try'nna make some quick cash for a hit of that stash
Listen, baby, you growing up much too fast
Uh, this goes out to every project and every ghetto
For those getting high, using drugs on every level
Living your life, day and night, getting stoned
You better leave those drugs alone, feel me?
[Willie Cottrell]
Up all night, under the party lights
Same old popping and party hopping
All of your so called friends, are leading you down the wrong road
Leading you back to crack, it's a known fact
It is time, that you need me, I'll be there, to help ya
I'll be your leaning pole when you're falling down
I'll be there, when you falling down (sooner or later)
The song "Josephine" by Ghostface Killah ft. Trife Da God & The Willie Cottrell Band is a poignant tale of a woman named Josephine who falls into drug addiction and prostitution. The song starts with an introduction by Ghostface Killah, who talks about how sometimes life can get difficult and stressful, leading people to lose their way. The chorus, sung by Willie Cottrell, describes how tough times are for Josephine and how she seems unable to break the cycle of addiction and bad choices. Ghostface and Trife Da God then rap about the struggles and tragic end of Josephine's life, as she becomes a victim of drug abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and violence. Ghostface laments the loss of her innocence and the waste of her potential, asking what her mother would think of her. The song ends with a message of hope and support, as Willie Cottrell's vocals promise to be there for Josephine and help her through the hard times.
Line by Line Meaning
God's woman... what's going on?
Addressing a woman struggling with hardships
I know things seem messed up sometime
Acknowledging her struggle
You stressed out and you can't handle the situation
Recognizing the distress she's feeling
Sometime it feels like you lacking the guidance
Emphasizing the absence of guidance in her life
And you don't know what to do... but stay strong
Encouraging her to persevere
And keep in mind that he always loves you...
Reminding her of God's love
It's what it is... that's right sugar love
Encouraging her with affectionate words
Josephine, the times are getting tough
Referring to the woman as Josephine and acknowledging her difficult situation
Seems to me... you just won't get enough
Implying that she's struggling with addiction
The rain, won't wash away, your sins...
Suggesting that her actions have lasting consequences
You'll be here, to do them all over again...
Implying a cycle of destructive behavior
Yo, I know this chick from the hood named Courtney Cox
Introducing a character with addiction issues
And her brain is easy to pick like faulty locks
Suggesting that she's easily influenced and vulnerable
She's awfully hot, asshole burning like tobasco
Describing her physical appearance and drug use
She used to be thick, it's like where the hell her ass go
Observing that her appearance has changed due to drug use
Started smoking weed and graduated to the pipe
Describing her escalation of drug use
Thought that she could quit but her calculations wasn't right
Noting her misplaced confidence in quitting drugs
Infactuated with the life of dope fiends and crack pushers
Describing her attraction to the drug culture
Prostituting for old pimps who mack hookers
Implying that she's engaging in sex work for drugs
Putting dope in the cook, searching for her vein
Describing the act of injecting drugs
Tracks all over her arms, she never felt the pain
Noting that repeated drug use has numbed her to the physical pain of injection
The monkey on her back is now a gorilla
Describing the extent of her addiction
Fiending for a hit knowing one day it's gon' kill her
Acknowledging the dangerous nature of her addiction
The clinic didn't help (nope) she just another young black woman
Suggesting that traditional treatments have failed her
Destroying her pretty image and her health
Noting the toll drugs have taken on her appearance and well-being
Got me thinking to myself, damn, how could this happen?
Expressing disbelief at her situation
I seen her on the corner, nodding off, sniffin' and scratching
Observing her in public while high
She wakes up, with an urge to get high
Describing the cycle of addiction
Everyday, the same routine, needing the mood of fix to get by
Noting the necessity of drugs in her daily life
So she reaches for her purse, grab the bag and the needle
Describing the act of preparing and using drugs
Tie a sock her arm and start shooting up the diesel
Detailing the procedure of injection
Had a flesh back, screwing some dude up in his hashback
Recalling a past sexual encounter while high
The night before, body still sore, holding her ass crack
Describing the aftermath of the encounter
A regular John, she met her through Tom
Identifying the man from the previous night
She passed out with the syringe still stuck in her arm
Noting that she fell asleep while injecting drugs
Dying a slow death, oh, she losing her dear mind
Describing the toll that drugs have taken on her mental and physical health
From the troubles of the world, feeling cursed by mankind
Suggesting that her addiction is a consequence of her difficult life
Uh, caught up in a desperate rage, was blessed with AIDS
Describing the unfortunate outcome of her addiction
Lost her appetite, hardly slept in days
Noting the physical symptoms of her illness
Now it's too late, praying to Jesus, she fucked around
Implying that she regrets her actions too late
With the wrong penis, contaminated with diseases
Suggesting that she contracted AIDS through sexual contact
Two months pregnant, carrying around her fetus
Noting that she was pregnant at the time of her death
But they found her on Broad, in the dumpster, behind the cleaners
Revealing the gruesome discovery of her body
Yo, what your momma gonna think of you girl?
Asking what her mother would think of her behavior
Her little baby's all doped up, strung out on the world
Implying that she's a mother who is neglecting her child
Try'nna make some quick cash for a hit of that stash
Noting the motivation for her drug use
Listen, baby, you growing up much too fast
Addressing her with affection and concern
Uh, this goes out to every project and every ghetto
Addressing a wider audience beyond Josephine
For those getting high, using drugs on every level
Acknowledging the prevalence of drug use in certain communities
Living your life, day and night, getting stoned
Describing a lifestyle consumed by drugs
You better leave those drugs alone, feel me?
Encouraging listeners to avoid drugs
Up all night, under the party lights
Describing a party scene
Same old popping and party hopping
Noting the repetitive nature of partying
All of your so called friends, are leading you down the wrong road
Suggesting that friends are causing harm
Leading you back to crack, it's a known fact
Identifying crack as a harmful drug
It is time, that you need me, I'll be there, to help ya
Offering support to those in need
I'll be your leaning pole when you're falling down
Offering support during difficult times
I'll be there, when you falling down (sooner or later)
Assuring that help will be given when needed
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MATTHEW JOHN BAILEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind