Jason DeFord grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, in the southside community of Antioch.
Jelly Roll's 2010 collaboration "Pop Another Pill" with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte reached over 6.3 millions YouTube views. This song led to the album Year Round by the hip-hop group SNO, released on the Hypnotize Minds label in April 2011 and produced by DJ Paul and Juicy J. SNO's song "Come Here White Girl" was named among "The 10 Most Memorable White Rapper Collaborations" by XXL.
Jelly Roll released many mixtapes including the Gamblin' on a Whiteboy series and the Therapeutic Music series. His independently released debut solo studio album The Big Sal Story was released on October 26, 2012. He released two collaborative albums with Haystak, two collaborative albums with Lil Wyte, four collaborative albums with Struggle Jennings and one album under the group SNO with Lil Wyte and BPZ.
Jelly Roll's 2013 mixtape Whiskey, Weed, & Women was originally named Whiskey, Weed, & Waffle House, but was later changed after the restaurant threatened legal action over the use of their name and logo on the cover. The replacement cover featured a "cease and desist" stamp in place of the Waffle House logo.
Same Asshole
Jelly Roll Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back-roadin' and thinking
Remember when the band played on while the ship sinking
No matter what I do there's no escaping my past
I do everything I can and it keeps chasing my ass
I know my karma is constant for all the hearts that I've broke
Knowing I'll never be forgiven that shit bothers my soul
When it's thrown up in my face man that shit fucks up my day
Even if the good outweighs it by a million to one
They still gon' hate me for the single fucking thing that I done
Even if the good outweighs it by a million to one
They still gon' hate me for the single fucking thing that I done
I try not to think of hard times
I try hard to let the past go
I thank God that I'm a changed man
But some days I'm that same asshole
The same old me the same back road
A couple of crosses and a black rose
Singing the same old sad song
I must admit I'm infatuated with sad clowns
I guess they help me better understand my dad now
Those that entertain at the expense of pain
Those that dance in the rain instead of just complain
My brother always said I was ahead of the game
Even before the fucking money hit, the jealousy came
Put it all on the line, there's no regrets in this shit
I admit, besides the blessings there was lessons in it
They say life is a marathon tighten up 'cause you gotta run
I know that the dollar spends as fast as the dollar comes
Why these other rap dudes in the strip club with a lot of ones
I'm just tryna buy a crib and start my kids a college fund, for real
I try not to think of hard times
I try hard to let the past go
I thank God that I'm a changed man
But some days I'm that same asshole
The same old me the same back road
A couple of crosses and a black rose
Singing the same old sad songs
Can I be real for a minute
Release this passion within
My fat ass gettin' bigger, I need to get back to the gym
I'm looking at myself like how the fuck this happen again
Baby mama got out of jail and she done relapsed again
I swear I'm tellin' y'all the truth, there's so much shit in the air
My father got leukemia, he just left critical care
Not to mention mama's got dementia, man, she's always feelin' sick
I try to help and pay the rent but she's unhappy as it gets
I cannot complain because my daughter's doing great
Plus this music shit's a dream, what the fuck you think it ain't?
But please make no mistake, baby after the show
I'm all alone on this road headin' back to my hole
I try not to think of hard times
I try hard to let the past go
I thank God that I'm a changed man
But some days I'm that same asshole
The same old me the same back road
A couple of crosses and a black rose
Singing the same old sad songs
The song Same Asshole by Jelly Roll is an introspective track about past mistakes and trying to move forward from them. The opening lines set the tone for the entire song, as Jelly Roll mentions drinking and reflecting. He takes stock of his past and seems to be haunted by it. He states that no matter what he does, he cannot escape his past and acknowledges the constant karma that follows him for breaking hearts. He regrets the pain he caused and expresses sadness that he will never be forgiven. The pain of his past mistakes weighs heavily on him and negatively affects his mood even when it's in the past.
Jelly Roll then acknowledges how hard it is to let go of the past and move forward. He thanks God for the person he is today, but admits that he still struggles with the same issues. He mentions being "infatuated with sad clowns" because they help him understand his father. He reflects on how some people use entertainment as a coping mechanism and how the search for happiness is often complicated by pain. Jelly Roll also touches on the jealousy and negativity that comes from success, but he has no regrets and acknowledges that he has learned many lessons.
He finishes the song by discussing the personal struggles he's facing in the present. Despite success in many aspects of his life, he still battles with personal issues like weight gain and familial health problems. He acknowledges that life is not always glamorous and recognizes that the downsides of success can be lonely. The song wraps up with the chorus repeating that Jelly Roll tries to forget about the past but sometimes feels like the same asshole everyone judged him for before.
Line by Line Meaning
Forgive me I've been drinking
I'm sorry if I'm not at my best right now, I've had a few drinks
Back-roadin' and thinking
I'm driving down a back road and reflecting on my life
Remember when the band played on while the ship sinking
I feel like my life is falling apart but I keep going, like the band playing on while the ship goes down
No matter what I do there's no escaping my past
I can't change the things I've done, they'll always be a part of me
I do everything I can and it keeps chasing my ass
Despite my best efforts, my past mistakes continue to haunt me
I know my karma is constant for all the hearts that I've broke
I realize that my actions have consequences and have hurt others
Knowing I'll never be forgiven that shit bothers my soul
It pains me to know that some people will never forgive me
When it's thrown up in my face man that shit fucks up my day
It really hurts when people bring up my past mistakes
No matter what I do I feel I'm only judged by mistakes
I often feel like people only see me for my past mistakes
Even if the good outweighs it by a million to one
Even if I've done a million good things, people still only focus on the one bad thing
They still gon' hate me for the single fucking thing that I done
People will still hate me for the one mistake I made, no matter how hard I try to change
I try not to think of hard times
I try to focus on the positive and not dwell on the past
I try hard to let the past go
I make a conscious effort to move past my mistakes and not let them define me
I thank God that I'm a changed man
I'm grateful for the progress I've made and the person I've become
But some days I'm that same asshole
Despite my progress, there are still times when I fall back into old habits
The same old me the same back road
I often find myself falling into familiar patterns and routines
A couple of crosses and a black rose
I carry reminders of my past mistakes and the pain they have caused
Singing the same old sad song
I'm stuck in a cycle of sadness and regret, replaying the same mistakes over and over
I must admit I'm infatuated with sad clowns
I'm drawn to people who use humor to cope with their pain, like sad clowns
I guess they help me better understand my dad now
I see similarities between the way my father coped with his pain and the way sad clowns do
Those that entertain at the expense of pain
I admire people who use their pain to make others happy, even if it comes at a personal cost
Those that dance in the rain instead of just complain
I respect people who have a positive attitude even in difficult circumstances
My brother always said I was ahead of the game
My brother believed in me before I even had success
Even before the fucking money hit, the jealousy came
People were jealous of me even before I became successful
Put it all on the line, there's no regrets in this shit
I've taken risks and put everything I have into this career, and I don't regret it
I admit, besides the blessings there was lessons in it
Despite the challenges I've faced, I've learned valuable lessons along the way
They say life is a marathon tighten up 'cause you gotta run
Life is a long journey and you have to be prepared for the challenges that come with it
I know that the dollar spends as fast as the dollar comes
Money can come and go quickly, so it's important to be responsible with it
Why these other rap dudes in the strip club with a lot of ones
Many rappers waste their money on frivolous things like strip clubs
I'm just tryna buy a crib and start my kids a college fund, for real
I'm focused on being responsible with my money and using it to provide for my family's future
Can I be real for a minute
Can I be honest for a moment
Release this passion within
Express my feelings and emotions openly
My fat ass gettin' bigger, I need to get back to the gym
I need to focus on taking care of myself and getting back in shape
I'm looking at myself like how the fuck this happen again
I'm frustrated with myself for falling back into bad habits
Baby mama got out of jail and she done relapsed again
My child's mother has struggled with addiction and has relapsed recently
I swear I'm tellin' y'all the truth, there's so much shit in the air
I'm being honest when I say that there are many difficult things happening in my life right now
My father got leukemia, he just left critical care
My father is very ill with leukemia and has just left intensive medical care
Not to mention mama's got dementia, man, she's always feelin' sick
In addition to my father's illness, my mother is struggling with her own health issues and has dementia
I try to help and pay the rent but she's unhappy as it gets
I'm doing my best to support my mother but she is still unhappy and struggling
I cannot complain because my daughter's doing great
Despite my own struggles, I'm grateful that my daughter is doing well
Plus this music shit's a dream, what the fuck you think it ain't?
I'm grateful to be pursuing my music career, even though it's not without its challenges
But please make no mistake, baby after the show
Just because I'm living my dream doesn't mean everything is perfect
I'm all alone on this road headin' back to my hole
At the end of the day, I'm still alone and have to deal with my personal struggles
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Jason DeFord, David Ray Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jelly Roll
I wrote this from a place of pain and reflection. This is for everyone who is struggling to change and giving it everything they got. This song was written for the underdogs , the ones who have always been considered losers . Those who have lost the person that means the most to them. I love you all- you sharing these videos have changed my life. I only pray I can have an impact on your life half as good as the impact you all have had on mine 🙏
Dillon Southers
I pray one day I will get to sit down and talk to you thanks for being you man!
NekroBroly
Sitting here in south bumfuck GA drinking thinking about my pops.
Mike Lee
I love your music I'm also a 64 Year old so has struggle with all the words that you say addictions of every time my family has turned their back on me the world is turning this back on me but God is always kept me in his heart just keep your head up and keep on doing what you're doing I love your words
Barabara Hegwood
I relate I have childhood ptsd that shit sucks! Some days I wish they’d killed me but I’m a fighter and I’m continue to get back up try again till get it right! I just have to learn to not pay attention to the ones who hate me for that one thing!
Dan H
I hope some day I can regain the confidence in my life you have
Casey Peterson
Man if you only knew how many lives you have REALLY saved by just making the songs you do. 🤟👏✌
Tina Shatters
@real g and to you, much love and support, and I hope you are keeping your head held high and knowing you're uplifting many lives, mine even one... inspiration, jelly roll. The one who receives, you. huge huge hugs and love
Tina Shatters
@real g you are as as real as it gets. Thank you. Much love and more from costal USA. You're amazing.
Tony Rich
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