American Dream
Nelly and the St. Lunatics Lyrics


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[Chorus]
Yo we be out man, fukin it up for erbody
I can't lie man, they thought I was just getting started
Keep the tie man, its the amerrican dream
I'm just participating, my participation is game

Yo we be out man, fukin it up for erbody
I can't lie man, they thought I was just getting started
Keep the pie man, its the amerrican dream
I'm just participating, my participation is game

[Nelly]
I'm in this one one for the hotel, motel holidae inn
Super A red and the rits call tins
All my niggaz who tryin to ball, my niggaz ballin
All my sodiers and generals errbody faillin

Stop stallin, pick up the phone and call in
Tell your boss you ain't gon make it to work in the mornin'
And why you explainin' go ahead and throw a coffin
And kindly explain that this won't happen often

But I'm lost and I'm amazed I'm be willing ingaige
I'll rage that niggaz think that derrty don't need a cage
I should be put on display for the display i displayin
Half you niggaz is dyin and all the rest are decaying

I'm doin tracks in motels, steady rockin girls bells
Kinda like a young elvis, I ain't in nellyville
I never squeal, not the type to kiss and tell
But if I catch you in the shower I might kiss your tell

[Chorus]

[Ali]
Now as I blast off, Kweezie writtin movies rollin took that nass off
Mostly leader will be a numba runnas, ass off
I had every with deerty even, got a nascar
And you know we fucked up at it boss

Aiyo my radar read, maps in japanese
Clap at gs smack em back on there E's
Drop on wacks, simple facts that rap needs
And its awlays kris I miss and rap trees

And I got my game, I said I got my game
From the og's, smokin reefer moonshine
Poppin oldies, but the whole plane change
Yo you know me, shipped in from cali got it home

Cops and goldies, then we smash some ass
Free autotericoop call nasa to do the numbers
All the freshman from the vocals started firin? the booth
Got more whips and chains, then I'm a start in roots

[Kyjuan]
Ali I'm sick of ballin, unnecessary phone callin
Man down pimp in distress, I think I'm fallin
For anything but the okie doke, I'm old school
Like her and bonz and nukee ropes I can't stand them groupie folks

They want me to turn around like this is hokie poke
They want to break me down like erv before I choke
I'm not a jack at all I'm quick draw mcgraw
And number 20 on the lakers couldn't hold me yahl

I'm climbin over yahl I'm still scorin
85 percent of yahl awake but still snoring
Got knowledge yourself and now my style is much older now
We derrty ent we all we got we hold it down

I'm feelin cooler than cool, my wrist colder wow
If there's a fashion king then I deserve the crown
I'm you city, you dressin up I'm dresisn down
And you keep messin up, me and your girl gon be messin around

[Chorus]

[Murphy Lee]
A-iyo I'm fresh out the gate, from the Lou with a grammy in my rezzie
Nelly bought me a prezzie with a diamond in the bezzie
Chicks taugh me how to walk, so when I run I'll be ready
Females fans sayin that I'm there baby daddy WHOA

More attention then Justin and Janet
How I Midwest swing and how St Louis ram it
Deerty ent dammit, got more bread than a sandwich
And my writst got more nuggets than Carmello and Camby

Look, I'm from the Lou and I'm important like the arts
So tours look for me like an important part
Find your talent use your talent get your money
Or don?t find your talent and don't use it and stay bummy

But that don't owe me cause I built it from scratch
My next shit is a house with a house in the back
Man I'm been while since middle school
I was that little dude that been round more waist lines than hoola hoops





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nelly and the St. Lunatics' song "American Dream" revolve around their rise to fame and success, which is referred to as living the American Dream. The chorus emphasizes their disruptive and influential role in the music industry and their ambition to continue participating and pushing boundaries. Nelly's verse touches on his unconventional approach to creating music, such as recording tracks in motels, and his attitude towards critics who believe he needs to be contained, claiming he can't be caged. Ali's verse highlights his experiences with fame and success, including purchasing a NASCAR and using his game to create music that impacts the industry. Kyjuan's verse discusses various societal issues such as groupie culture and the pressure to conform to norms, but also acknowledges that Derrty Ent is a self-made group that holds its own. Murphy Lee's verse continues with their theme of success and fame, as he highlights his accomplishments and the attention he receives from fans.


The song is an anthem to the group's success and reflects their ambition and drive to create music that challenges expectations. It also addresses the issues and pressures that come with fame in the music industry, such as critics trying to contain their creativity and groupie culture's impact on their personal lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Yo we be out man, fukin it up for erbody
We're out here causing a frenzy, getting everyone hyped up.


I can't lie man, they thought I was just getting started
People didn't think we were capable of achieving success, but we've proven them wrong.


Keep the tie man, its the amerrican dream
To me, the American Dream means being able to succeed and have a good life by working hard.


I'm just participating, my participation is game
I'm just doing my part and it's making a big impact.


I'm in this one one for the hotel, motel holidae inn
I'm in this for the long haul and I'm not going anywhere.


All my niggaz who tryin to ball, my niggaz ballin
I'm surrounded by people who are striving for success and achieving it.


All my sodiers and generals errbody faillin
Even the strongest and most powerful people can fall sometimes.


Stop stallin, pick up the phone and call in
Stop procrastinating and take control of your life.


Tell your boss you ain't gon make it to work in the mornin'
Be honest and upfront about your intentions and plans.


And why you explainin' go ahead and throw a coffin
Don't worry about being judged or criticized, just keep doing what you need to do.


And kindly explain that this won't happen often
Be respectful and considerate, but make sure people know your boundaries.


But I'm lost and I'm amazed I'm be willing ingaige
I'm still figuring things out, but I'm excited to see where life takes me.


I'll rage that niggaz think that derrty don't need a cage
People underestimate our strength and ability to succeed.


I should be put on display for the display i displayin
I deserve recognition for the hard work and accomplishments I've achieved.


Half you niggaz is dyin and all the rest are decaying
A lot of people are stuck in cycles of failure and aren't making any progress.


I'm doin tracks in motels, steady rockin girls bells
I'm always working, even in unexpected or unconventional places.


Kinda like a young elvis, I ain't in nellyville
I'm not following the crowds or trends, I'm doing things my own way.


I never squeal, not the type to kiss and tell
I'm trustworthy and keep people's secrets safe.


But if I catch you in the shower I might kiss your tell
I might be a little bit of a flirt, but I'm always respectful.


Now as I blast off, Kweezie writtin movies rollin took that nass off
As I succeed and achieve my goals, I'm still staying grounded and humble.


Mostly leader will be a numba runnas, ass off
The most successful people are often the ones who are most dedicated and work the hardest.


I had every with deerty even, got a nascar
I've achieved a lot of success and recognition, even in unexpected areas.


And you know we fucked up at it boss
We're not perfect, but we're always striving to learn and improve.


Aiyo my radar read, maps in japanese
I have a sharp sense of intuition and can navigate difficult situations with ease.


Clap at gs smack em back on there E's
I'm not intimidated by anyone and I'm not afraid to stand up for myself or others.


Drop on wacks, simple facts that rap needs
I'm committed to making quality music that resonates with people.


And its awlays kris I miss and rap trees
I'm nostalgic for the early days of hip hop and want to preserve its essence.


And I got my game, I said I got my game
I'm confident in my abilities and know that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.


From the og's, smokin reefer moonshine
I come from a long line of greats in the music industry and am proud of my heritage.


Poppin oldies, but the whole plane change
Even though the times and styles change, I'm committed to keeping classic music alive.


Cops and goldies, then we smash some ass
I'm living my best life and taking advantage of all the opportunities that come my way.


Free autotericoop call nasa to do the numbers
We're making so much money that we could afford to fund scientific research.


All the freshman from the vocals started firin? the booth
There's a lot of up-and-coming talent in the music industry that's worth paying attention to.


Got more whips and chains, then I'm a start in roots
I have everything I need and am not lacking in any material possessions.


Ali I'm sick of ballin, unnecessary phone callin
I'm tired of constantly working and always being available to others.


Man down pimp in distress, I think I'm fallin
I'm feeling overwhelmed and need a break from the stress and pressure of my lifestyle.


For anything but the okie doke, I'm old school
I'm not interested in modern trends or gimmicks, I'm committed to keeping things authentic.


Like her and bonz and nukee ropes I can't stand them groupie folks
I'm not interested in superficial relationships or people who only care about my success.


They want me to turn around like this is hokie poke
People are constantly trying to distract me or get me off track, but I'm not easily swayed.


They want to break me down like erv before I choke
People are envious of my success and are always trying to bring me down.


I'm not a jack at all I'm quick draw mcgraw
I'm a natural-born leader and have a lot of talent and skill in many areas.


And number 20 on the lakers couldn't hold me yahl
I'm unstoppable and no one can stand in my way.


I'm climbin over yahl I'm still scorin
I'm continually achieving new levels of success and improving my skills.


85 percent of yahl awake but still snoring
Most people are sleepwalking through life and not living up to their full potential.


Got knowledge yourself and now my style is much older now
I've grown and matured a lot over the years and am constantly improving myself.


We derrty ent we all we got we hold it down
We're a close-knit group and support each other no matter what.


I'm feelin cooler than cool, my wrist colder wow
I'm confident and self-assured, and I'm always raising the bar when it comes to success.


If there's a fashion king then I deserve the crown
I'm a trendsetter and have a unique sense of style that sets me apart from everyone else.


I'm you city, you dressin up I'm dresisn down
I'm embracing my roots and my city, and I'm not afraid to be authentic and true to myself.


And you keep messin up, me and your girl gon be messin around
If you're not careful, I might swoop in and steal your girl.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERNARD EDWARDS, NILE RODGERS, WINSTON RODGERS, PHALON ALEXANDER, CORNELL HAYNES, ROBERT KY JUAN CLEVELAND, ALI K JONES, MURPHY LEE

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