Hey DJ
O.B.A. Lyrics


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I could never sleep my way to the top
'Cause my alarm clock always wakes me right up
And since my options had been whittled away
I struck a bargain with my radio DJ
I said I'd like this song to be number one
He said "I'd really really like to help you my son"
And then I knew that I would have him to thank
Because he asked me how much I had in the bank

He said to think long term investment and
That all the others had forgiven themselves
He said the net reward would justify
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives

He said the record wouldn't have to be hot
And no one ever seemed to care if it's not
It would depend on something else that I've got
And that the other ones who'd given it a shot
Had seen a modest sum grow geometrically
And then they had forgiven themselves
Because the net reward had justified
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives

Hey Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal
I thought you said, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your record"
And I thought you said we had a deal

Well, I told you about the world (its address)
I wonder when they're gonna clean up the mess
You know the rabid child is still tuning in
Chess piece face's patience must be wearing thin
Because they haven't played this song on the air
Not that anyone but me even cared
And the Disk Jockey has moved out of town
The district courthouse says he's nowhere to be found

He said to think long term investment and
That all the others had forgiven themselves
He said the net reward would justify
The colossal mess they'd made of their lives

Hey Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal




I thought you said, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your record"
And I thought you said we had a deal

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to O.B.A.'s song "Hey DJ" tell a story of someone who is trying to make it to the top of the music industry. They can't sleep their way to the top and their options are limited, so they make a deal with a radio DJ to help make their song number one. The DJ advises them on long term investment and tells them that others who have made a mess of their lives have forgiven themselves because the net reward justifies it. However, the DJ eventually disappears, and the singer is left wondering what happened to their deal.


The song speaks to the challenges of making it in the music industry and the importance of making wise decisions in the process. It's a cautionary tale about making deals with others and trusting that they will follow through on their promises. The DJ represents the music industry itself and how it can be fickle and unreliable.


Overall, "Hey DJ" is a thought-provoking song that highlights the realities of the music industry and how difficult it can be to succeed. It's a reminder to stay true to oneself and to be cautious about who you make deals with.


Line by Line Meaning

I could never sleep my way to the top
I can't achieve success through shortcuts or by doing something immoral


'Cause my alarm clock always wakes me right up
I am determined and always wake up early to work towards my goals


And since my options had been whittled away
I have limited choices left to achieve success


I struck a bargain with my radio DJ
I made a deal with the DJ to promote my song and help me become successful


I said I'd like this song to be number one
I expressed my desire for my song to be at the top of the charts


He said "I'd really really like to help you my son"
The DJ agreed to help me achieve my goal


And then I knew that I would have him to thank
I felt grateful to the DJ for his help


Because he asked me how much I had in the bank
The DJ wanted to know if I had enough money to invest in my career long-term


He said to think long term investment and
The DJ advised me to invest in my career for long-term success


That all the others had forgiven themselves
Other musicians who made mistakes in their careers were able to forgive themselves


He said the net reward would justify
The DJ believed that the potential reward of my investment would make up for any mistakes made


The colossal mess they'd made of their lives
The mistakes musicians made in their careers had caused a huge mess in their personal lives


He said the record wouldn't have to be hot
The DJ assured me that my song didn't need to be extremely popular to be successful


And no one ever seemed to care if it's not
The popularity of the song didn't matter as much as other factors


It would depend on something else that I've got
The success of my song would depend on other factors such as my talent, perseverance, and investment


Had seen a modest sum grow geometrically
Other musicians had seen a little money grow into a lot over time


Hey Mr. DJ, I thought you said we had a deal
I questioned the DJ about our agreement


I thought you said, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your record"
I thought we had an agreement to help each other succeed


Well, I told you about the world (its address)
I shared my perspective on the world and its problems with the DJ


I wonder when they're gonna clean up the mess
I wonder when society will start fixing its problems


You know the rabid child is still tuning in
Even with all the problems in the world, people still listen to the radio


Chess piece face's patience must be wearing thin
The DJ's patience may be running out due to the demands of society and the music industry


Because they haven't played this song on the air
My song hasn't been played on the radio yet


Not that anyone but me even cared
No one else seems to care about my song or its promotion


And the Disk Jockey has moved out of town
The DJ has left the city or radio station


The district courthouse says he's nowhere to be found
I have no idea where the DJ is and can't find him




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOSEPH LEE WOOD, MICHAEL PAUL ROCHE, MITCHELL DEAN MARGOLIN, RONALD LEWIS EMORY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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