On “Bad Intentions”—a raw but smoldering R&B ballad whose lyric video shot to more than a million views soon after its January 2014 release, largely on the strength of her staggering social-media presence—Niykee’s near-lifelong devotion to sharpening her songwriting is more than evident. “I realized early on that the only way to make my voice heard and say what I wanted to was through music,” says Niykee, whose older sister Rachel battled cancer for most of her life and died when Niykee was 12. “It was less like a hobby for me and more like a lifesaver,” she adds. Since her family couldn’t financially support her musical education, Niykee gave herself vocal training by singing along to a Diana Ross greatest-hits CD, and learned to play guitar by holing up in her room with an acoustic handed down to her by a family friend. And when it came to her songwriting, Niykee relied on a natural sense of rhythm she attributes both to her South African roots and passion for hip-hop, yet also drew a great deal of inspiration from the bare-bones authenticity of singer/songwriters like Bob Dylan and Tom Waits (two artists beloved by her sister and older brother).
In her early teens, Niykee began posting pop covers on YouTube while continuing to cultivate her songwriting. “On Friday and Saturday nights when all the other kids were going out, I was staying home and writing songs or, when I got a little older, driving hours to some broke-down bar and begging them to let me get up and play,” says Niykee, who struggled with bullying throughout her school years. “I was doing everything I could to move my music along, but nothing was working out at all.” Having promised her sister that she’d make an impact with her songs, Niykee told her parents that she’d put songwriting aside and go to college if her music career hadn’t made any major strides by the time she turned 18. Then, the day before her 18th birthday—and shortly after she’d ditched the pop covers and started posting her acoustic takes on tracks by hip-hop artists like Chief Keef, A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne, and Pusha T—Niykee wound up on WorldstarHipHop and found herself fielding interest from a flood of record labels. Instead of aligning herself with a label right away, she graduated high school six months early and self-financed the recording of a host of her own songs, eventually signing with Steve Rifkind and Russell Simmons’ All Def Music and setting to work on her debut EP.
With her personal highlights so far including getting hand-picked by Snoop Dogg to accompany him onstage at the YouTube Brandcast in May 2013, Niykee has kept up a steady songwriting routine despite the whirlwind of recent years. Now a magnet for up-and-coming producers, she constantly combs through beats sent her way and finds that many end up sparking song ideas. “I’ll know if a beat’s good after the first five seconds, and then I’ll get a song in my head and start writing immediately,” she says. “I go out to my back porch with my guitar and the words just come, and usually it’s all done in under 30 minutes.” As she continues develop as a lyricist, Niykee notes that the pain of her past serves as an endless source of unlikely inspiration. “Even when I’m not writing literally about things that have happened to me, all the pain of my childhood and losing my sister ends up getting pushed into my music,” she says. “It shapes my songs and builds this deeper meaning under everything, which is one the most important things to me—I need to know that I could listen to any of my songs 20 years from now, and still be proud of what I had to say.”
Devil
Niykee Heaton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One finger on the trigger
I might pull it once I feel the liquor
Put your bets on the table
Got you praying, call the bishop
Feel the bass when I hit it, pick up
They see us walking
There ain't no stopping us now
Call the bishop
Save me 'cause the Lord ain't listening now
We're the talk of the town
Call me what you want
I'm a rebel 'til the devil go down
I'm a rebel, I'm a rebel 'til the devil, 'til the devil go down
(Pop pop) it was nice to knew ya
Feel the scream on your lips, that's the hallelujah
Got the fear in your eyes when I'm here for the fight
Thank your girl for last night (ask her how she doing)
They see us walking
We're the talk of the town
There ain't no stopping us now
Call the bishop
Save me 'cause the Lord ain't listening now
We're the talk of the town
Call me what you want
I'm a rebel 'til the devil go down
I'm a rebel, I'm a rebel 'til the devil, 'til the devil go down
I'm calling shotgun
I'll call it 20 more times like I forgot something
You're fucking with the wrong one
'Cause the devil won't die and a rebel don't run
Call the bishop
Save me 'cause the Lord ain't listening now
We're the talk of the town
Call me what you want
I'm a rebel 'til the devil go down
I'm a rebel, I'm a rebel 'til the devil, 'til the devil go down
The song "Devil" by Niykee Heaton talks about a rebellious attitude, a non-conformist mindset, and a devil-may-care philosophy about living. The first set of lyrics, "Left hand, got the gun/One finger on the trigger/I might pull it once I feel the liquor," hints towards reckless living and making risky decisions. The gun could signify the harmful things people do to themselves when they are not in their right mind, and this could lead to consequences that they are not prepared for.
The next few lines, "Put your bets on the table/Got you praying, call the bishop/Feel the bass when I hit it, pick up," suggests that the author is open to taking risks because she is confident in herself and what she can achieve. She also acknowledges that her actions might have a religious or spiritual implication, which she is not blind to. However, she embraces it, and her rebellious spirit seems to be amplified when people try to put her down or question her choices.
The chorus, "Call me what you want/I'm a rebel 'til the devil go down," solidifies the artist's non-conformist outlook on life. She does not care what people think of her and is content in being an outcast. She acknowledges that she might be going against societal norms, but it does not deter her from her path.
In the bridge, the lyrics "I'm calling shotgun/I'll call it 20 more times like I forgot something/You're fucking with the wrong one/'Cause the devil won't die, and a rebel don't run" imply that the artist is fearless when it comes to living her life the way she wants. She will not back down or be intimidated, and this attitude probably fuels her disruptive mentality.
Overall, "Devil" showcases an artist who is unapologetic about the way she chooses to live her life. She embraces the dark side of things and is confident in herself. She also acknowledges that sometimes her actions could lead to negative consequences, but that does not sway her from her non-conformist philosophy.
Line by Line Meaning
Left hand, got the gun
I am armed with a gun in my left hand
One finger on the trigger
I am ready to shoot with one finger on the trigger
I might pull it once I feel the liquor
I am considering shooting after having some alcohol
Put your bets on the table
Make your wagers and take your chances
Got you praying, call the bishop
You are praying for help and calling for a bishop
Feel the bass when I hit it, pick up
I can feel the rhythm and move accordingly
They see us walking
People are watching us as we walk
We're the talk of the town
We are the topic of conversation in this city
There ain't no stopping us now
We are unstoppable
Call the bishop
Get help from a bishop
Save me 'cause the Lord ain't listening now
I need help because I feel the Lord is not listening
Call me what you want
I don't care what you call me
I'm a rebel 'til the devil go down
I'm a rebellious person until the devil is defeated
I'm a rebel, I'm a rebel 'til the devil, 'til the devil go down
I am a determined rebel until the devil is defeated
(Pop pop) it was nice to knew ya
I shot you, it was nice to have met you
Feel the scream on your lips, that's the hallelujah
You scream in pain, that's your hallelujah
Got the fear in your eyes when I'm here for the fight
You are scared when I come to fight
Thank your girl for last night (ask her how she doing)
Thank your girl for spending the night with me (ask her how she's doing)
I'm calling shotgun
I want the front passenger seat in a car
I'll call it 20 more times like I forgot something
I'll keep asking for it as if I forgot something
You're fucking with the wrong one
You are messing with the wrong person
'Cause the devil won't die and a rebel don't run
I won't give up, I'm a rebel and the devil won't die
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: NICOLET ALETA HEATON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bluewolfbloodyt2334
Generally I do not listen to such music but this girl has an incredible voice .
@sarahblair8054
Þt I
@lovelyheaven9723
I can’t wait until this song blows up and becomes super super super famous 🙏🏼♥️ I played it at my club hoping it’ll be more known
@kaayeee
THIS NEEDS TO BE IN LUCIFER SEASON 5
@Lucifergirl369
I love this comment 🌹
@arnofontas3107
Excellent morceau, et très bonne chorégraphie , une merveille . Arnaud Fontas .
@corlyn3735
the best one yet!!😍😍
@misterx5144
No wolds - I love the beat!
@gokhanayten4190
The great songgggg❤️
@breckinmorgan4747
Better than most country out today