Joell will release his street album called "The Brick (Bodega Chronicles)" April 24 on Koch Records. The album was recorded while Joell was trying to get signed and going through some tough times personally. Even though he is signed to Aftermath Entertainment, Dr.Dre allowed him to release the street album on Koch Records. The Brick will feature productions from DJ Premier, Showbiz, The Alchemist, Domingo, Ho Chi from Killahertz Productions, Lil' Fame of M.O.P., Novel, and Moss, among others. Guest spots will include Big Daddy Kane, Styles P, Big Noyd, M.O.P, Akon, Immortal Technique, Grafh, Ras Kass, Stimuli, and Novel.
He is currently part of the hip-hop supergroup Slaughterhouse
125 Pt. 1
Joell Ortiz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
There's a hole in my soul like a cavity
Seems the world is out to gather just by gravity
The wheel keeps turning the sky's rearranging
I'd like to feel that you could be free
Look up at the blue skies beneath a new tree
Sometime again you'll turn green and the sea turns red
My son I said the power of reflection's over my head
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
We sang about the sun and danced among the trees
And we listened to the whisper of the city on the breeze
Will you cry in the most in a lead-free zone
Down within the shadows where the factories drone?
On the surface of the wheel they build another town
And so the green come tumbling down
Yes close your eyes and hold me tight
And I'll show you sunset sometime again
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
As a child solemn pray my hope hides in disguise
While satellites and cameras watch from the skies
An acid drop of rain recycled from the sea
It washed away my shadow burnt a hole in me
And all the king's men
Cannot put it back again
But the ghetto sun will nurture life
And mend my soul sometime again
For the big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
For the big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
For the big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
The lyrics of Joell Ortiz's "125 Pt. 3" are about the cyclical nature of life and the struggles that come with it. The "big wheel" represents the constant rotation of life, with one man struggling while another relaxes. The earth continues to spin on its axis, while everything around us changes. One line emphasizes the belief that the world is against us, stating "Seems the world is out to gather just by gravity."
Ortiz reflects on the changing state of the world, pointing out that the weather is changing and the trees are turning green again. He wishes for his son to experience freedom and to see the blue skies beneath a new tree. However, he acknowledges that the power of reflection is over his head, and that the struggles of life are difficult to overcome.
Line by Line Meaning
The big wheel keeps on turning
Life and the world keep moving forward on a never-ending cycle.
On a simple line day by day
Each day passes by in a routine, unchanging pattern.
The earth spins on its axis
The planet rotates on its own axis, causing night and day.
One man struggles while another relaxes
Life is not equal and fair - some people have it harder while others have it easier.
There's a hole in my soul like a cavity
The artist is feeling an emptiness inside him that cannot be filled.
Seems the world is out to gather just by gravity
The world is filled with things that seem to pull people down or bring them together.
The wheel keeps turning the sky's rearranging
Life goes on and changes happen, whether we like it or not.
Look my son the weather is changing
The artist is passing on their observation of the changing world to their child.
I'd like to feel that you could be free
The artist wants their child to experience freedom and liberation in life.
Look up at the blue skies beneath a new tree
The artist wants their child to appreciate the beauty of nature.
Sometime again you'll turn green and the sea turns red
The world is unpredictable and things can change suddenly and without warning.
My son I said the power of reflection's over my head
The artist is admitting that they struggle to understand and reflect upon the complexities and nuances of life.
We sang about the sun and danced among the trees
The singer is reminiscing about a time when life was simpler and more carefree.
And we listened to the whisper of the city on the breeze
The singer remembers a time when they were more aware of the sounds of the environment around them.
Will you cry in the most in a lead-free zone
The singer is questioning whether their child will be able to cry without fear or worry in a safe, pollutant-free environment.
Down within the shadows where the factories drone?
The artist is concerned about the impact of industrialization and manufacturing on the environment.
On the surface of the wheel they build another town
Society and civilization are constantly expanding and growing.
And so the green come tumbling down
As society expands, the natural environment is destroyed and lost.
Yes close your eyes and hold me tight
The singer wants their child to feel safe and protected in their arms.
And I'll show you sunset sometime again
The artist promises to show their child the beauty of nature and the world again someday in the future.
As a child solemn pray my hope hides in disguise
As a child, the artist had hopes and dreams that they may have hidden or kept secret.
While satellites and cameras watch from the skies
In the modern world, technology is always watching and monitoring our actions.
An acid drop of rain recycled from the sea
Even the seemingly innocuous and natural things in the world can have negative effects on the environment.
It washed away my shadow burnt a hole in me
The negative effects of the environment and society can leave a lasting impact on a person's life and identity.
And all the king's men cannot put it back again
Once something is broken or damaged, it cannot always be fixed by those in positions of power.
But the ghetto sun will nurture life
Even in bleak, difficult circumstances, there is still hope and possibility for growth and life.
And mend my soul sometime again
Through the forces of the universe and the environment, it is possible to heal and recover from damage and trauma.
For the big wheel keeps on turning
The cycle of life and the world keeps moving forward.
On a simple line day by day
Each day is a simple, routine part of the larger cycle of life.
The earth spins on its axis
The planet continues to rotate and move through space as part of the larger universe.
One man struggles while another relaxes
Life is not equal and fair - some people have it harder while others have it easier.
Contributed by Isabelle N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.