Do Better
Lakeith Stanfield & Git Lyrics
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I can′t help nobody else
Lift a hand nail in palm
I can't even help myself
Staring at the ceiling
I Got a bad feeling
Its another dead day
Wish these walls would waste away
I got nothing on my mind
Pictures broken on the Flo
Blank dreams, lookin blind
Nigga swimming down below
Really think im bout to die
I got nothing else to say
Im too high
Do better
I won′t my waste my time trying to
Survive in the White Man's World tonight
No baby
I just want to die High drive by, I don't like my kind tonight
Brown baby born in the morgue
End of story
Im so hungry Im so bored
I forgot, praise the lord
Max capacity my storage
This the voice I can′t ignore it
Fill my prison with the poor
Grilling nigglets, eat the porridge
Feasting on my feet enjoying it
Favorite drink is Poisonous
Daddy left his boys 2 men
That tarred me, burned me, feathered chicken
Tethered to an anchor
Mississsippi river
Come up missing, really dripping
Bloody cripple feel me?
Red at anal blister
So angry!
So vicious
Don′t text me
Im distant
My breath stink
My dick sick
Im hopeless
666
Ill choke this black broke bitch
On the ropes don't approach me
I can′t focus paranoid like a dope fiend
Nervous nosebleed not a choice
I became born as the wrong thing
I won't my waste my time trying to
Survive in the White Man World tonight
No more
I just want to die High drive by, I don′t like my kind Do Better
Missing all the advantages
Sticking to plans again
Stiffer than mannequins
When high off of alcohol + the cannibus
Under new management
My plan to stick to positivity
Sticking with possibility
Rig your scales if your feeling me
Hit the cells if youre feeling me
There's no thing left to say
We bring the ice to sage
We take the life from age
Charred the Bible page
In idle (Idol) state
Rival to my bio
Player
Fucked around with life
Now you′re in di(r)e straits
I don't want to be Black no mo'
Black man gangsta culture
I′ve been represented time is over
Ruffles on my shoulder
If I kill them all
Finally get the chance to ball
And be a gangsta soldier
Rolling in my very own rover
The lyrics of Lakeith Stanfield & Git's song "Do Better" express a sense of hopelessness, anger, and frustration towards the world's unjust systems and the self-destructive behavior that results from it. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer states that they cannot help anyone else because they cannot even help themselves. The singer continues to lament their current state, mentioning broken pictures and blank dreams, and feeling like they are drowning. The song touches on themes of systemic racism, poverty, and violence, with lines such as "Grilling nigglets, eat the porridge" and "If I kill them all, finally get the chance to ball and be a gangsta soldier". However, amidst this bleak outlook, there are hints of resilience and a desire for change. For example, the chorus states "Do better", and the singer highlights their plan to stick to positivity and possibility.
The song seems to be a commentary on the hardship and oppression faced by Black people in America. The line "Survive in the White Man's World tonight" speaks to the struggle of navigating societal systems that were not designed with Black people in mind. The lyrics also touch on issues of generational trauma, with the lines "Daddy left his boys 2 men, that tarred me, burned me, feathered chicken" suggesting a lineage of abuse and neglect. The repeated line "I just want to die high" speaks to the pain and desire for escape felt by many people facing harsh realities.
Overall, "Do Better" is a powerful commentary on the challenges faced by Black people in America. The lyrics express a deep sense of pain and frustration, but also point towards the possibility of change and resilience in the face of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
Fuck the world
I am not able to help anyone, including myself, and I have given up on the world.
I can′t help nobody else
I am unable to help anyone else because I am in need of help myself.
Lift a hand nail in palm
I am unable to do even the simplest of tasks.
I can't even help myself
I am so consumed with my own issues and problems that I cannot focus on helping myself, let alone others.
Staring at the ceiling
I am experiencing a feeling of hopelessness and emptiness.
I Got a bad feeling
I am experiencing a sensation of discomfort, anxiety, and worry.
Its another dead day
My day is uneventful, monotonous, and lacking in purpose.
Wish these walls would waste away
I am dissatisfied with my current situation and wish for a change.
Im so used to doing time
I am accustomed to a mundane and uneventful life.
I got nothing on my mind
I am devoid of thoughts and feelings.
Pictures broken on the Flo
I have experienced trauma and my surroundings reflect my inner turmoil.
Blank dreams, lookin blind
My dreams and aspirations are vague and unclear, and I feel lost.
Nigga swimming down below
I feel like I am drowning in my problems and struggles.
Really think im bout to die
I am overwhelmed and feel like I am on the verge of collapse.
I got nothing else to say
I am speechless and have nothing left to express.
Im too high
I am under the influence of drugs and unable to think clearly or logically.
Do better
I am encouraging myself to improve my situation and make better choices.
I won′t my waste my time trying to
I am no longer willing to expend energy on fruitless endeavors.
Survive in the White Man's World tonight
I am rejecting the societal norms and expectations placed upon me by the dominant culture.
No baby
I refuse to continue conforming to a system that perpetuates my oppression.
I just want to die High drive by, I don't like my kind tonight
I am considering self-destructive behavior as a way out of my current situation, and I feel disconnected from my community.
Brown baby born in the morgue
I was born into a harsh and unfavorable environment.
End of story
My situation seems hopeless and final, with no possibility of change.
Im so hungry Im so bored
I am deprived of basic necessities and have nothing to stimulate me mentally or physically.
I forgot, praise the lord
I have lost my faith and have no reason to be grateful or praise a higher power.
Max capacity my storage
I am unable to cope with my emotional burdens and feel overwhelmed.
This the voice I can′t ignore it
I am listening to and acknowledging my inner voice, even if it is unpleasant or uncomfortable.
Fill my prison with the poor
The system is designed to trap and oppress impoverished individuals.
Grilling nigglets, eat the porridge
I am being subjected to racist and degrading treatment by those in power.
Feasting on my feet enjoying it
My oppressors are thriving off of my pain and suffering.
Favorite drink is Poisonous
The things that I ingest or indulge in are ultimately harmful to me.
Daddy left his boys 2 men
My father figure abandoned me and left me without support or guidance.
That tarred me, burned me, feathered chicken
I have been subjected to extreme humiliation and abuse.
Tethered to an anchor
I feel stuck and unable to move on from my past experiences.
Mississippi river
Location reference
Come up missing, really dripping
People like me are often victims of violent crimes and justice is not always served.
Bloody cripple feel me?
I am physically and emotionally wounded and need empathy and understanding.
Red at anal blister
I am in excruciating physical pain.
So angry!
I am filled with rage and fury at my oppressors.
So vicious
I am capable of inflicting harm on others as a result of my own pain and trauma.
Don′t text me
I am withdrawing from social interactions and do not want to be contacted.
Im distant
I am emotionally unavailable and distant from others.
My breath stink
I am physically and emotionally unwell, and my body reflects this.
My dick sick
My sexuality and intimacy have been damaged and corrupted.
Im hopeless
I feel a sense of despair and hopelessness.
666
A reference to the devil and all that is evil.
Ill choke this black broke bitch
I am full of anger and hatred for myself and others like me.
On the ropes don't approach me
I am vulnerable and easily provoked, and do not want to engage with others.
I can′t focus paranoid like a dope fiend
I am unable to concentrate or make rational decisions due to my emotional state and drug use.
Nervous nosebleed not a choice
I am experiencing intense physical and emotional stress that is beyond my control.
I became born as the wrong thing
I feel that my identity, whether it be my race, gender, sexuality, or other aspect, is not accepted or valued by society.
Missing all the advantages
I have been denied opportunities and privileges that others may take for granted.
Sticking to plans again
I am attempting to take control of my life and make positive changes.
Stiffer than mannequins
I am rigid and unyielding in my ways, which may make it difficult to adapt to new situations.
When high off of alcohol + the cannibus
I am using substances to cope with my emotional pain, which may ultimately cause more harm than good.
Under new management
I am undergoing a transformation or shift in perspective.
My plan to stick to positivity
I am determined to remain optimistic and hopeful, despite my circumstances.
Sticking with possibility
I am keeping an open mind and exploring all potential avenues for growth and improvement.
Rig your scales if your feeling me
Those in power may manipulate the system to maintain their dominance, and I am aware of this fact.
Hit the cells if youre feeling me
I am expressing solidarity with those who have been unjustly imprisoned or oppressed.
There's no thing left to say
I have conveyed all of my thoughts and feelings on the matter and feel that I have nothing else to express.
We bring the ice to sage
We are attempting to purify and cleanse ourselves of our negative emotions and actions.
We take the life from age
We embrace the cycle of life and death, and seek to live fully in the present moment.
Charred the Bible page
I am challenging and rejecting traditional religious beliefs and practices.
In idle (Idol) state
I am worshipping false idols or ideas that ultimately harm me.
Rival to my bio
I am in conflict with my own identity and sense of self.
Player
Location reference
Fucked around with life
I have made choices that have negatively impacted my life and well-being.
Now you′re in di(r)e straits
I am experiencing severe difficulties and challenges as a result of my past mistakes.
I don't want to be Black no mo'
I am rejecting and rebelling against the societal expectations and norms placed upon me based on my race.
Black man gangsta culture
I am rejecting and rebelling against the stereotypes and expectations associated with my race and gender.
I′ve been represented time is over
I no longer want to be defined by societal labels and expectations.
Ruffles on my shoulder
I am proud of and identifying with my unique qualities, rather than conforming to societal norms and standards.
If I kill them all
I am expressing my anger and fantasizing about violent acts as a way to cope with my pain and frustration.
Finally get the chance to ball
I dream of achieving financial success as a way to escape my current situation.
And be a gangsta soldier
I am rejecting traditional markers of success and instead valuing toughness and resilience.
Writer(s): Kourosh Poursalehi, Lakeith Stanfield
Contributed by Hannah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.