Down in da Water
Nelly Lyrics

Diamond and heavy metal rocker, eight-tray hopper
The singer describes themself as a person who likes both flashy things like diamonds and hard-hitting music like heavy metal. They also like lowrider cars.

"Silkk" headliner, ain't No Limit to how I +Shock+ ya
The singer references rapper Silkk the Shocker and braggs about their ability to surprise people in some way. Maybe this is with their music or their personality.

All chrome dated, they suburb when I drop her
The singer has a car with all chrome detailing and people in the suburbs are impressed when they see it.

All these haters, they suburb when I cock the
The artist has haters but when they are ready to fight (or 'cock' a gun) the haters are afraid and back down.

Nah I ain't goin' tell ya (uh-uh) I keep that to myself
The artist has a secret and doesn't want to share it.

But you goin' see it if you don't let me keep it to myself
Even though the singer didn't want to share their secret, if people don't respect their privacy they will end up finding out anyways.

Don't make me start man, I'm from the heartland
The singer is from the United States' heartland states and doesn't want to be provoked into responding to someone's negative energy.

Where they might shoot you up (oh) it's not your heart laying
The artist warns that in their hometown people can be violent and may shoot someone (not necessarily in the heart).

Way down in the water
The artist is referring to their home near or on the Mississippi river, which is lower than where they are currently.

Man look here homie, I'm from the "Show Me"
The artist is from Missouri, the 'show me' state.

And uh, you need to show me what you talking about
The singer wants someone to explain their words or ideas because they are skeptical or unsure about them.

What all that gawkin about, or you just running your mouth
The artist questions whether someone is actually doing something or just talking about it.

I'm off the banks of that M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I
The singer is referring to Mississippi, which has two 'crooked letters' in its name.

The hump back girls with thighs
The singer is attracted to women with curvy bodies, specifically 'hump back' women with thick thighs.

Where they be built like bricks, praised for being thick
In the singer's hometown, women who are thick and curvy are appreciated and admired.

Or maybe skinny like a stick, but they fine as shit
Even if a woman is thin, the artist still finds her attractive as long as she is 'fine as shit.'

We stay way down in the water, yeah
The artist is reminding the listener of their home on or near the Mississippi river.

Off the banks of the muddy Mississippi ready to put that ass in order
The singer implies that they are tough or intimidating because they come from the muddy Mississippi and are ready to take charge if needed.

Yo, check, yo
The singer is signaling that they are about to start rapping.

You getting close to me when you hit them rocks on the banks
The artist is warning others to be careful when they approach them or their territory because there may be dangerous obstacles (like rocks) nearby.

So grab your flippers, goggles and oxygen tank
The artist is referencing scuba diving gear and implying that people need to come prepared if they want to approach them on the banks of the Mississippi river.

Go grab a wet suit, check your regulator soon
The artist continues to give advice about what gear people will need if they want to explore the murky waters near their home.

Cause we pack spear guns and give niggas harpoons
The singer is saying that they carry weapons and will defend themselves if necessary. They reference harpoons, which are often used to catch large fish or sea creatures.

Then we - flood the streets, oh how they, loving me
The artist is describing the effect they have on people and how popular they are.

Come through in the Buick sitting so - lovely
The singer drives a Buick and describes it as looking beautiful or 'lovely.'

We like some catfish lobsters, ghetto-fied mobstas
The singer compares themself and their crew to catfish and lobsters - tough, gritty creatures. They describe their group as being from the ghetto and having a 'mobsta' (gangster) vibe.

Dress sharp, smile in your face and still rob (ho)
The singer explains that even if they dress nicely and seem friendly, they are still capable of robbing someone. They call the person they would steal from a derogatory term, 'ho.'

I'm natural wit it (wit it) Supreme actual factual wit it (with it)
The artist says that they have natural talent or skill and are very good at what they do.

I got them gats you got to get it, you and them cats got to get it
The artist is saying that they have guns or weapons that other people need to be afraid of. The 'cats' they reference may be other gangsters or people who are trying to harm them.

Yo, I'm from the land of kick do's
The singer is from a place where people often kick down doors (or 'kick do's') to commit crimes or intimidate others.

Where niggas come through your window with pistols
The singer is saying that people in their hometown are willing to break into someone's house through a window, armed with a gun.

Like Bruh Man off the fifth flo'
The artist references a character from the TV show 'Martin' who always came in through the window (Bruh Man).

See the way the wrist glow, sick flow
The artist is saying that their jewelry looks impressive ('wrist glow') and their rapping skills or flow are sick (meaning good).

Better yet, turn off the lights, I'll turn this bitch into a disco
The artist is saying that they can make the room bright with their jewelry or their dance moves, turning it into a disco.

Hood crime highly infested
The singer is describing their hometown as having a lot of crime.

Check your rap, rock and pop stations; Gube Thug, highly requested
The artist is saying that their music is very popular and in demand, across different radio stations and genres.

And my gun like Chris, you know I'm gon' "Tucker"
The singer references comedian Chris Tucker and implies that if they have to use their gun, they will do it in an exaggerated, comedic way - like Tucker does in his movies.

In a Spider Modena, the color of Apple Pucker
The singer describes their flashy sports car ('Spider Modena') and notes that it is a bright green color ('Apple Pucker').

And the game from the veterans, righteous bars
The singer is saying that they learned the rules of the game (probably referring to the music industry) from the veterans and that their rapping is righteous or honest.

I'm in it for longevity, stripes and stars
The artist is saying that they want to have a long career in music and that they are striving for success (represented by stripes and stars).

And the world might change if ever I quit blessing it
The artist is saying that their music is so important that the world would be different if they stopped making it.

Just use my illest verse to throw in the New Testament
The singer is saying that their rapping is so good that it should be added to the Bible's New Testament.

I got a need for speed like Jeff Gordon
The singer is referencing race car driver Jeff Gordon and saying that they also like to go fast in some way.

Shot hoops in size 10, it's just Jordan
The artist is referencing basketball player Michael Jordan, who famously wore size 10 shoes. They are saying that they also play basketball and are just as good as Jordan in some way.

Plus, I should be a warden the way I lock cells
The artist is saying that they are good at keeping people in line or imprisoning them, like a warden would do.

Might, catch me hopping outta the truck, blowing the L
The artist is saying that they might be seen getting out of their truck and smoking a joint or 'L'.

We yelling
The song ends abruptly, without any additional lyrics or explanation.