Enchanted
J. Cole Lyrics

Yeah, this is where the fathers ain't living
This is where fathers are not present in their children's lives

At least not with us
They are not living with their children

Might see em round the city and won't even say wassup
Even if they are seen in the city, they won't acknowledge their children

When niggas play tough, won't even smile in mirrors
People act tough and don't show vulnerability, even to themselves

And we learn to fuck hoes off trial and error
People learn from their mistakes when it comes to relationships

Just a small time nigga, big city hustle
The singer is not wealthy but is hustling in the big city

Glued to the TV, Jigga, Diddy, Russell
People idolize famous figures like Jay-Z, Diddy, and Russell Simmons

These were our heroes, strictly for them zero's
These people are looked up to because they have a lot of money

For that Robert Deniro, niggas reload on them kilo's
People sell drugs to make money, like Robert DeNiro's character in the movie 'Goodfellas'

Dodgin them people
Avoiding law enforcement

Mad at myself cause I done seen some things that I'd rather not tell
The singer is ashamed of things they have seen and experienced

Shawty smoke crack and her boyfriend too
A woman and her partner both struggle with addiction to crack cocaine

Sometimes he touch her daughter like them boyfriends do
The woman's boyfriend may be abusive to her daughter, like many boyfriends are

Pull up to the club where the boys went too
Arriving at a club where their friends are

See that yellow tape and the boys in blue
Police and caution tape are present, implying a crime scene

A nigga on a stretcher and though I never met ya
Someone has been injured and the artist doesn't know them personally

I'm thinking God Bless ya, they city try and get ya
The artist is acknowledging the dangers of living in their city

Man, don't let the city get ya
They caution against falling victim to their environment

Fuck the horoscopes, know the ropes lke a wrestler
They dismiss astrology and encourage understanding of the city's challenges

If them bullets wet ya bet ya momma need a tissue
If someone is shot and killed, their mother will be in mourning

Your face on the front of our shirts saying we miss ya
They will honor the memory of the deceased

Come with me
The artist is asking the listener to join them

Run quick see, what do we have here
They urge the listener to act quickly and pay attention to their surroundings

Now, do you wanna ride or die
They ask if the listener wants to join them on their journey

La dadada, la la la la
Repetitive phrase used for emphasis

Yea, let's see God
Acknowledging a higher power

I know you only do what's best for me
Trusting in a higher power's actions

But is it cool if we negotiate my destiny
Asking for some agency and control in their life

They always tellin' me it's temporary
People tell them that certain situations are only temporary

Than why it's feeling like a cemetery
Despite being temporary, certain situations feel like death

My dreams ain't got no obituaries
Their dreams can't die like a person

My city hurting and none of us were equipped here
Their city is in pain and its residents are struggling

You heard me say I was ballin'
They have talked about being successful

I probably make tears
Their success may make other people jealous and emotional

I'm trying to get clear
They are seeking clarity in their life

I'm tryna quit fear
They are trying to overcome their fear

Who wrote the scripts here
Questioning who has control over their life

These kids live there whole life just killing time
Young people are wasting their lives without purpose

Running the race with no finish line
Living life without a clear goal or end point

They tryna noose us with they ropes
Society is trying to trap them

But I'm tryna climb
They are trying to rise above their challenges

I think my foolish pride might become my suicide
They acknowledge that their pride could lead to their downfall

But I ain't tryna go, no baby
They don't want to give up or quit

And through these lines and quotes you gotta find some hope
The artist's words may bring hope to others

'Cause I ain't dying
They won't give up easily

My words gon' last forever
Their words will live on through their music

You can hold the treasure
Their words are valuable

Look inside you can see a diamond in my mind
Their mind holds great value and worth

I'm tired of seeing dope fiends, wiping they nose clean
They are tired of seeing people struggle with addiction

Is my neighbourhood just a smoke screen
They question if their community is hiding bigger problems

I think I'm in the Dungeon Fam, I see lo green
They feel like they are surrounded by people in difficult situations, like the rap group Dungeon Family

Sons raised by bo queens but there's no kings
Society raises men without showing them how to become leaders

It seems like niggas either feel ya or they try and kill ya
People either support you or work against you

I face the sky and hope to God ain't acting unfamiliar
They look to a higher power for guidance and protection

You play whatever cards he deal no matter how peculiar
Accepting what life gives them, even if it's strange

They tell me that it's God's will, I'm asking God will ya
Asking for clarification and guidance from a higher power

Heal a nigga from all this pain, momma smoking cocaine as it rains out
Asking for healing, while acknowledging the pain and struggles in their community

Am I to blame, try to stay sane so I came out-side
They wonder if they are responsible for the problems around them, while trying to stay mentally stable

Where they rock with them thangs out
Going to a place where people are armed with weapons

But will it change, it's like niggas is free but our minds still in the chains
Society has progressed, but individuals are still trapped mentally

Brothers killing eachother, the blood spill it's a shame
They are saddened by the violence between family members

Will it ever slow up
They wonder if the violence will ever cease

A lot of niggas getting older but they never grow up
People are getting older, but are not maturing in the ways they should

And do they son's like they fathers did and never show up
Fathers abandon their sons, just as their fathers did before them

Don't even cry about it, just another episode of life
They see the sadness and loss as a normal part of life

Watch the season nigga no re-runs
They are experiencing life in real time

The devil buying soul's nigga no refunds
The singer acknowledges the danger of temptation and sin

Another day, another song, a mother prays
A mother's daily routine includes prayer for her child

Another gone
Someone else has been lost or killed

But still we play like ain't nothing wrong
Despite the pain and struggle, people try to maintain a sense of normalcy

Cause ain't nothing wrong
They believe everything will be ok

I'm not as fast, I'm not as tall
They acknowledge their flaws

But before I pass
Before they die

I gotta ball
They have to be successful or achieve their goals

Nigga I gotta ball
They are determined to be successful