Casket Pretty
NoName Lyrics


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All of my niggas is casket pretty
Ain't no one safe in this happy city
I hope you make it home
I hope to God that my tele' don't ring
Niggas is casket pretty
Ain't no one safe in this happy city
I hope you make it home
I hope to God that my tele' don't ring

I've been searching for God in the bottle he gave me
Ashes to Ashes, dearly departed, regarded as Holy
Dont hold me, dont hold me
When niggas is dying and dying
And I'm afraid of the dark
Blue and the white
Badges and pistols rejoice in the night
And we watch the news
And we see him die tonight
Tonight the night his baby said goodbye
Roses in the road, teddy bear outside
Bullet there on the right
Where's love when you need it
Too many babies in suits
Too many babies in suits
Back before the dawn
Ricochet the pawn
Bullet in the chest
You ain't mean no harm
Collecting your check mate
I know you in love with the power
It's flowers at every occasion
I need me a medicine man
Somebody heal me
Somebody take my hand

All of my niggas is casket pretty
Ain't no one safe in this happy city
I hope you make it home
I hope to God that my tele' don't ring
Niggas is casket pretty
Ain't no one safe in this happy city




I hope you make it home
I hope to God that my tele' don't ring

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to NoName's song Casket Pretty highlight the realities of gun violence, police brutality, and systemic racism in America. The line "All of my niggas is casket pretty" refers to the fact that many Black people in America are killed and end up in caskets due to these issues. The repetition of "Ain't no one safe in this happy city" emphasizes the pervasive fear that these issues create for Black communities.


The lyric "I've been searching for God in the bottle he gave me" touches on the common trope of alcohol being used as a coping mechanism. The following lines "Ashes to ashes, dearly departed, regarded as holy" refer to the phrase often used during funeral services, "ashes to ashes, dust to dust." The use of this phrase highlights the frequency of funerals and memorializing in Black communities due to gun violence and other causes of premature death.


The line "Where's love when you need it" speaks to the lack of support and love that Black communities often receive in the face of these issues. The repeated line "I hope you make it home, I hope to God that my tele' don't ring" is a heartbreaking reminder that simply making it through a day without a loved one being killed is a constant fear for many Black people.


Overall, NoName's Casket Pretty is a powerful commentary on the ongoing struggles faced by Black communities in America.


Line by Line Meaning

All of my niggas is casket pretty
All of my friends are dressed in their nicest clothes for their funerals


Ain't no one safe in this happy city
No one is safe in this city, despite its happy appearance


I hope you make it home
I hope you arrive safely at your destination


I hope to God that my tele' don't ring
I hope I don't get a call telling me that someone I care about has been hurt or killed


I've been searching for God in the bottle he gave me
I have been seeking comfort from alcohol as if it were a divine power


Ashes to Ashes, dearly departed, regarded as Holy
We consider those who have died to be holy and worthy of reverence


Dont hold me, dont hold me
Don't try to comfort me or hold me back from my grief and anger


When niggas is dying and dying
When people are being killed over and over again


And I'm afraid of the dark
I am afraid of the violence that surrounds me, both physically and emotionally


Blue and the white
Police officers, represented by their blue and white uniforms


Badges and pistols rejoice in the night
The symbols of law enforcement seem to celebrate and relish in the violence they cause


And we watch the news
We witness the violence and death that happens in our city through media outlets


And we see him die tonight
We witness a man's death as it is reported on the news


Tonight the night his baby said goodbye
Tonight is the night when a young child is left without a father


Roses in the road, teddy bear outside
Memorials and tributes left for someone who has died on the street


Bullet there on the right
A bullet sits on the street as evidence of the violence that occurred there


Where's love when you need it
Where is the compassion and care that we all need during times of grief and hardship?


Too many babies in suits
Too many young people are forced to wear funeral attire


Back before the dawn
Before the sun rises and another day of violence begins


Ricochet the pawn
Innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire of violent situations


Bullet in the chest
A bullet goes straight to its intended target


You ain't mean no harm
You did not intend to cause harm or violence


Collecting your check mate
The violent actions and consequences of others are viewed as just another move in a game of chess


I know you in love with the power
I understand that other people's violent actions are driven by their need for control and domination


It's flowers at every occasion
We see flowers being given and displayed at both celebrations and funerals


I need me a medicine man
I need someone to help heal and soothe the emotional wounds caused by this cycle of violence


Somebody heal me
I am in need of healing and comfort from the trauma I have experienced


Somebody take my hand
I need someone to support and guide me through this difficult time




Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Fatimah Warner, Michael Anthony Neil, Tahj Chandler

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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