Bitter Sweet Symphony
Jay Z and the Verve Lyrics

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If you feelin like a pimp nigga
Go and brush your shoulders off
Ladies is pimps too
go and brush your shoulders off
Niggas is crazy baby don't forget
That boy told you
Get, that, dirt off your shoulder

I probably owe it to y'all
Proud to be locked by the force
Tryin’ to hustle some things that
Go with the Porsche feelin’ no remorse
Feelin’ like my hand was forced
Middle finger to the law nigga
Grippin’ my balls
Said the ladies they love me
From the bleachers they screamin’
All the ballers is bouncin’ they like
The way I be leanin’
All the rappers be hatin’
Off the track that I'm makin’
But all the hustlers they love it
Just to see one of us make it
Came from the bottom the bottom
To the top of the pops nigga London
Japan and I'm straight off the block
Like a running back, get it man
I'm straight off the block
I can run it back nigga ‘cause
I'm straight with the Roc

'Cause it's a bittersweet…symphony this life
(If you feelin like a pimp nigga
Go and brush your shoulders off)
(Ladies is pimps too
Go and brush your shoulders off)
Trying to make ends meet
You’re a slave to money then you die

You gotta get, that, dirt off your shoulder

Your homey Hov' in position
In the kitchen with soda
I just whipped up a watch
Tryin’ to get me a Rover
Tryin’ to stretch out the
Coca, like a wrestler, yes sir
Keep the heckler close you know
Them smokers'll test ya, but like
Fifty-two cards when I'm
I'm through dealin’, now
Fifty-two bars come out, now you feel 'em
Now fifty-two cars roll out
Remove ceiling in case
Fifty-two broads come out, now you chillin’
With a boss bitch of course SC on the sleeve
At the 40 40 club, ESPN on the screen
I paid a grip for the jeans
Plus the slippers is clean
No chrome on the wheels
I'm a grown-up for real

You know I can’t change, I can't change
I can't change
But I'm here in my mold, I am here in my mold
But I'm a million different people from
One day to the next
I can't change my mold, no
No, no, no, no, no, no

Your boy back in the building
Brooklyn we back on the map
Me and my beautiful beeeeeeeitch in
The back of that 'Bach
I'm the realest that run it
I just happen to rap
I ain't gotta clap at 'em
Niggas scared of that black
I drop that Black…Album then I back…out it
As the best rapper alive, nigga ask about me
From Bricks to Billboards, grams to Grammy’s
The O's to opposite, Orphan Annie
You gotta pardon Jay
For sellin’ out the Garden in a day
I'm like a young Marvin in his hey'
I'm a hustler homey, you a customer crony
Got some, dirt on my shoulder
Could you brush it off for me?

You know I can’t change, I
Can't change, I can't change, i can't change
But I'm here in my mold, I am here in my mold
And I'm a million different people from

One day to the next
I can't change my mold, no, no, no, no, no

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jay Z and the Verve’s song Bittersweet Symphony are complex and multifaceted, tackling economic struggles, individual identity, spirituality, and the power of music. The refrain “’Cause it’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life/Tryin’ to make ends meet, you’re a slave to money then you die” speaks to the financial and emotional toll that capitalism can take on individuals, trapping them in a never-ending cycle of labor and debt. The singer acknowledges that life is full of both sweetness and bitterness, that we are all struggling to make our way in the world, and that ultimately death comes for us all.

The verses speak to a more internal struggle, of identity and individuality. “No change, I can change, but I'm here in my mold” suggests that while the singer recognizes the potential for change in his life, he also acknowledges that he has certain limitations and is constrained by his own identity. The lines “But I'm a million different people/ From one day to the next” illustrate the complexity of individual identity and how it can be multifaceted and ever-changing. The line “Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees” speaks to a spiritual struggle, where the singer reaches out for comfort and connection through music.

Line by Line Meaning

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life
Life is like a bitter sweet symphony, a mixture of good and bad moments.

Tryna make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die
Trying to make ends meet, you are forced to work for money and then you eventually die.

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
Let me show you the path I've been on, which leads to places where all struggles intersect.

No change, I can change I can change, I can change But I'm here in my mold I am here in my mold But I'm a million different people From one day to the next I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no (Have you ever been down?)
Even though I can change myself, I am who I am and constantly changing, yet unchanging. Have you ever experienced this?

Well, I've never prayed but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singin' to me now
Although I've never prayed before, I seek some form of recognition for my pain. Upon hearing the melody, I feel a sense of freedom, yet the airwaves are empty and the music has faded.

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, that's life Tryna make ends meet, tryna find somebody then you die I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down You know the one that takes you to the places where all the veins meet, yeah
Once again highlighting the ups and downs of life, struggling to find someone, and ultimately facing death. The same path that leads to the convergence of all struggles is the one I want to take you down.

You know I can change, I can change I can change, I can change But I'm here in my mold I am here in my mold And I'm a million different people From one day to the next I can't change my mold No, no, no, no, no
Even though I'm capable of change, I'm still limited by my own identity. I can be a million different people from one day to the next, yet, I can't change the fact that I am who I am.

It's just sex and violence, melody and silence It's just sex and violence, melody and silence I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down Been down Ever been down Ever been down Ever been down Ever been down Have you ever been down?
Life is composed of extreme contrasts such as sex and violence, melody and silence. Once again, I want to take you down the same path I've been on, inquiring if you ever had similar experiences?

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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