My 1st Song
JAY-Z Lyrics


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Y'all wanna know why he don't stop
Y'all wanna know why he don't flop
Let me tell you people why
Came from the bottom of the block I
When I was born, it was sworn, I was never gon' be shit
Had to pull the opposite out this bitch
Had to get my ride on
Eyes on the prize, Shawn knew I had to
Had to had to get these chips
Had to make moves like Olajuwon
Started out selling dimes and nicks
Graduated to a brick
No exaggeration, my infatuation with the strip
Legendary like a schoolboy
Crushin' merely nearly every every chick
Heavy shit, that's how schoolboy got whipped
And got left on some, Just Me, Myself and I
On some Trugoy shit
Had to go to a place of
To a place of no return
Had to play with fire and get burned
Only way the boy ever gon' learn
Had to lay way in the cut, til I finally got my turn
Now I'm on top in the spot that I earned

It's my life
It's my pain and my struggle
The song that I sing to you it's my everything
Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first
And my thirst is the same as when I came
It's my joy and my tears and the laughter it brings to me
It's my everything

Like I never rode in a limo
Like I just dropped flows to a demo
Like it's ninety-two again and
And I got O's in the rental
Back in the stu' again
No prob' living was a whole lot simpler
When you think back, you thought that
You would never make it this far, then you
Take advantage of the luck you handed
Or the talent, you been given
Ain't no, half stepping, ain't no, no slipping
Ain't no different from a block that's hitting
Gotta get it while the getting's good
Gotta strike while the iron's hot, before you stop
Then you gotta bid it, good riddance
Goodbye, this is my second major breakup
My first was, with a pager
With a hooptie, a cookpot, and the 'caine
This one's with the stu, with the stage, with the fortune
Maybe not the fortune, but certainly the fame

It's my life
It's my pain and my struggle
The song that I sing to you it's my everything
Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first
And my thirst is the same as when I came
It's my joy and my tears and the laughter it brings to me
It's my everything




Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first
And my thirst is the same as when I came

Overall Meaning

In this song, Jay-Z talks about his journey from the bottom to the top. The first verse talks about how he started from the bottom, where people believed he would never be successful, he had to hustle and sell drugs to get by, he had to play with fire and get burned to learn as he says. He had to work hard to earn the spot he is in now. The second verse talks about the simplicity of his life back in the days when he used to drop hot flows on a demo and had O's in the rental, referring to his early days in the music industry. He goes on to talk about how he views his life and everything he has experienced. He considers it his pain, his struggle, his joy, his laughter, and everything that has happened to him that has made him into who he is today.


This song is a personal reflection of Jay-Z's life and his accomplishments. He is letting people know that he has come a long way, and he has experienced a lot, but through all of it, he has remained true to himself. He treats every moment as if it is his first or last, and he appreciates every experience he has had, whether good or bad.


This song showcases Jay-Z's raw lyrical talent, as he tells his story in a way that shows his vulnerability and his strength. It is inspiring to see how he has overcome adversity and has come out on top. It is a reminder to never give up on your dreams, no matter how tough things get.


Line by Line Meaning

Y'all wanna know why he don't stop
People want to know why Jay-Z doesn't stop making music


Y'all wanna know why he don't flop
People want to know why Jay-Z's music is successful


Let me tell you people why
Jay-Z is going to explain why he is successful


Came from the bottom of the block I
Jay-Z grew up in a tough neighborhood


When I was born, it was sworn, I was never gon' be shit
People didn't expect Jay-Z to become successful


Had to pull the opposite out this bitch
Jay-Z had to prove people wrong


Had to get my ride on
Jay-Z had to work hard to achieve his goals


Eyes on the prize, Shawn knew I had to
Jay-Z was focused on achieving success


Had to had to get these chips
Jay-Z had to make money


Had to make moves like Olajuwon
Jay-Z had to make strategic decisions like a basketball player making moves on the court


Started out selling dimes and nicks
Jay-Z started dealing drugs in his neighborhood


Graduated to a brick
Jay-Z started selling larger quantities of drugs


No exaggeration, my infatuation with the strip
Jay-Z was obsessed with making money on the streets


Legendary like a schoolboy
Jay-Z's success is remarkable and impressive


Crushin' merely nearly every every chick
Jay-Z was successful with women


Heavy shit, that's how schoolboy got whipped
Jay-Z faced struggles but overcame them


And got left on some, Just Me, Myself and I
Jay-Z was alone and had to rely on himself


On some Trugoy shit
Jay-Z faced struggles like the rapper Trugoy of De La Soul


Had to go to a place of
Jay-Z had to face difficult challenges


To a place of no return
Jay-Z had to make risky decisions


Had to play with fire and get burned
Jay-Z took risks and suffered consequences


Only way the boy ever gon' learn
Jay-Z learned from his mistakes


Had to lay way in the cut, til I finally got my turn
Jay-Z had to wait for his opportunity to succeed


Now I'm on top in the spot that I earned
Jay-Z is now successful and earned his position through hard work


It's my life
Jay-Z is telling his personal story


It's my pain and my struggle
Jay-Z is sharing his hardships


The song that I sing to you it's my everything
Jay-Z's music is his outlet to express himself


Treat my first like my last, and my last like my first
Jay-Z values every moment and opportunity


And my thirst is the same as when I came
Jay-Z's drive hasn't diminished despite his success


It's my joy and my tears and the laughter it brings to me
Jay-Z's music brings him happiness and emotions


Like I never rode in a limo
Jay-Z remembers his humble beginnings


Like I just dropped flows to a demo
Jay-Z remembers when he was starting out as a rapper


Like it's ninety-two again and
Jay-Z remembers a time in his life when he was up-and-coming


And I got O's in the rental
Jay-Z had money but wasn't yet successful


Back in the stu' again
Jay-Z is back in the studio recording music


No prob' living was a whole lot simpler
Jay-Z's life was easier before his success


When you think back, you thought that
Jay-Z remembers how people didn't believe in him


You would never make it this far, then you
Jay-Z proved people wrong


Take advantage of the luck you handed
Jay-Z recognizes the opportunities that came his way


Or the talent, you been given
Jay-Z recognizes his own abilities


Ain't no, half stepping, ain't no, no slipping
Jay-Z doesn't settle for anything less than his best


Ain't no different from a block that's hitting
Jay-Z's success is similar to a successful neighborhood


Gotta get it while the getting's good
Jay-Z knows he needs to take advantage of his opportunities


Gotta strike while the iron's hot, before you stop
Jay-Z knows that he has to act quickly before his success fades


Then you gotta bid it, good riddance
Jay-Z is willing to let go of something if it is no longer serving him


Goodbye, this is my second major breakup
Jay-Z has experienced another significant change in his life


My first was, with a pager
Jay-Z experienced his first significant change when he got rid of his pager


With a hooptie, a cookpot, and the 'caine
Jay-Z left behind his past in the drug game


This one's with the stu, with the stage, with the fortune
Jay-Z is leaving behind his past in music and transitioning to a new phase


Maybe not the fortune, but certainly the fame
Jay-Z is still famous but isn't focused solely on money anymore




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Oscar Germain De La Fuente, Shawn Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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