p u n c h i n ' . t h e . c l o c k
J. Cole Lyrics

It ain't nothing I want more
There's nothing I want more than success.

Ain't nothing I want more
I am absolutely determined to succeed.

I ain't c-
I am not afraid of putting in the hard work.

I told you, when I first came here, I said, "I ain't come here to waste my time"
From the start, I have always been focused on making the most of my opportunities.

I came here
I am here to do everything I can to succeed.

They gave us a chance to get in, like we asked for
We have been given an opportunity to succeed, just as we hoped for.

And that's, that's what we here to do
Our goal is to make the most of this opportunity and achieve success.

(Yeah, nigga, 26)
I am 26 years old and ready to take on the world.

The job still ain't done
I have achieved a lot, but there is still more work to be done.

(Straight up)
I'm being honest and straightforward about my goals.

But I, I said, "You, you know what I'm here for"
I am here to succeed and make a name for myself in this industry.

Back on top, punchin' the clock, clutchin' sanity
I am back on top of my game, working hard and trying to keep my sanity intact.

I got more cribs than Habitat for Humanity
I have become quite successful, owning more properties than the well-known housing charity.

Shit profound, we propagating more profanity
Our music is powerful and meaningful, even though it includes explicit lyrics.

Paid off collections from recollections of calamity (oh shit, look, that nigga gonna shoot)
I've been able to pay off my debts through my painful memories of past tragedies. (Suddenly, someone is about to open fire.)

The shit pop off, I learned to duck under the canopy (oh shit, run, nigga, run)
When things get dangerous, I've learned to take cover quickly. (Again, someone tries to shoot.)

'Til it cool off, they murked a nigga right in front of me
I had to wait until the danger had passed, but unfortunately someone was killed right in front of me in the meantime.

Told him to come off his chain for tryna floss
The person was killed just because he was wearing jewelry and trying to show off.

Died over a cross just like the start of Christianity
The victim was killed over a simple piece of jewelry, just as Jesus was crucified for a religious symbol.

When I was a boy, the teacher often reprimanded me (Jermaine)
As a child, I was often told off by teachers for being difficult. (Jermaine is the artist's real name.)

Thought it was toys, it was a Glock this nigga handed me
I thought I was being given toys to play with, but in reality, I was handed a gun.

I busted the trees, was barely strong enough to squeeze
I fired the gun, but I was so young that I could hardly grip it tightly enough.

Bullets traveled through leaves, it probably killed somebody randomly
The bullet I fired may have hit someone unknown to me, with fatal consequences.

Ran in the crib and played it off amongst the family
I ran back home and pretended that nothing had happened, keeping the incident a secret from my family.

Nightmare scenes, the police finally apprehended me
I had nightmares about the incident for a long time, and eventually the police caught up with me.

Woke up screamin', seen a demon had his hand on me
I still have nightmares about the incident, imagining a demon holding me responsible.

Still sport the scar on my arm from where he branded me
I have a permanent scar from a mark that was burned into my arm, perhaps as a form of punishment.

Like a Que Dog, my niggas burnin' with the mute off
Just like members of the fraternity the Omega Psi Phi, my friends and colleagues are passionate and expressive.

Loud pack smoke through the cracks, I catch a contact
Smoke from nearby marijuana use seeps into my space, affecting me even though I don't partake.

Triggerin' a paranoid mindset, now I'm back
The drugs and paranoia that come with fame have affected my mindset lately.

Teeterin' between enlightened and insanity
I'm experiencing a mental struggle between feeling wise and being on the verge of losing my mind.

Now that I'm rich, I feel nobody understandin' me
I have become wealthy, but I feel like nobody really knows or understands me anymore.

All I can do is cut the mic on, holler at you
The only way I can express myself is through my music, speaking directly to my listeners.

Can't let the fame scare me off from speaking candidly
Even though I feel isolated by my fame, I have to keep speaking honestly and truthfully through my music.

All them niggas is so Kane, they started singin' like Danity
Other famous people have become so mainstream and commercial that they have lost their edge and authenticity.

Now I'm left here, paid like I planned to be, damn
Despite everything, I have achieved success and wealth, just like I always intended.