Phonte (b. Phonte Coleman) is a Grammy nominated American rapper, singer a… Read Full Bio ↴Phonte (b. Phonte Coleman) is a Grammy nominated American rapper, singer and songwriter. Phonte is one-half of the duo The Foreign Exchange, with Dutch producer Nicolay, and former member of the acclaimed North Carolina trio Little Brother, with Rapper Big Pooh & 9th Wonder. His rhymes tend to be no-frills tales of working-class life. He has also recorded a parody-like R&B EP under his alter ego Percy Miracles.

Phonte has guested on numerous records by other artists, often as a vocalist on songs by the Justus League collective. He made a guest appearance on the song "Beats N' Rhymes" by Kev Brown's album I Do What I Do, and has also recorded tracks with producer Oddisee, both members of the Washington D.C (DMV)-based Low Budget Crew. In 2006, he was featured on producer DJ Shadow's The Outsider album. In the following year he contributed vocals to rap group Playaz Circle's "Paper Chaser", from their album Supply & Demand.
Rapper/Singer/Producer Phonte Lyshod Coleman hails from Durham, North Carolina (born December 29, 1978). Co-founder of the now defunct hip hop group Little Brother and hip hop/R&B group The Foreign Exchange.

He has also recorded R&B-flavored output as a singer (often under the pseudonym Percy Miracles). His rhymes tend to be no-frills perspectives on working-class life.

Ball And Chain
Phonte Lyrics

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She holds me down
She holds me up
She licks my wounds
Then cuts me deep
She tells me stay
Then plans to leave
She is my cure
And my disease

And it's so complicated
'Cause I hate myself for feeling this way
These walls used to protect me
Now they're closing in, yeah

She keeps me so secure
Until I can't escape
So unpredictable that it's all the same
So many night I wish
I knew the moment when
Your anchor turned into a ball and chain

Brings me to tears
Then wipes them dry
Asks me for truths
Then tells me lies
And it's oh so plain
As clear as eyes can see
The greatest happiness
This side of misery

And it's so complicated
'Cause I hate myself for feeling this way
These walls used to protect me
Now they're closing in, yeah

She keeps me so secure
Until I can't escape
So unpredictable that it's all the same
So many night I wish
I knew the moment when
Your anchor turned into a ball and chain

Ain't nothing wrong with having both feet on the ground
Until you look around and realize that you are bound
Realize that you have drowned in a sea of security
That leads to complacency now tell me how that sound
You tell me how you found your way back to the turnout
When your love flames burn out now your house looking smoky
Like the teardrops of a clown, just wanna live in peace
But can't show too many teeth cuz she'll take shots at your crown
POW, another shot another man down
So I'm back on my Moe Dee shit, how you like me now
Back on my public speak shit, talking to the crowd
Standing tall, front and center when I'm finished take a bow
Holla

And it's so complicated
'Cause I hate myself for feeling this way
These walls used to protect me
Now they're closing in, yeah

She keeps me so secure
Until I can't escape
So unpredictable that it's all the same
So many night I wish

I knew the moment when
Your anchor turned into a ball and chain

Overall Meaning

Phonte's "Ball and Chain" is a song that dives into the complicated, love-hate relationship that the singer has with his partner. The lyrics depict a relationship that serves as both a cure and a disease for him. His partner holds him down and up, licks his wounds but also cuts him deep, and asks for the truth but tells him lies. Despite these contradictions, the singer is unable to escape the relationship, feeling secure yet also trapped. The chorus expresses the confusion and frustration that comes with this kind of relationship, wanting to be free but also unable to let go.

The verses also touch on the theme of complacency, the fear of losing oneself in a comfortable yet stifling relationship. The singer warns against becoming too secure and losing sight of oneself, comparing it to drowning in a sea of security. He ultimately asserts his independence and stands tall, despite the challenges he faces.

Overall, "Ball and Chain" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of relationships and the struggle to balance security and freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

She holds me down
She keeps me grounded and rooted in reality

She holds me up
She supports me and lifts me up when I am down

She licks my wounds Then cuts me deep
She is both a source of comfort and a cause of pain and hurt

She tells me stay Then plans to leave
She sends mixed signals and is indecisive about the future of the relationship

She is my cure And my disease
She can be both the problem and the solution, simultaneously healing and causing harm

And it's so complicated 'Cause I hate myself for feeling this way These walls used to protect me Now they're closing in, yeah
The complexity of the relationship is overwhelming, and the singer feels trapped and suffocated

She keeps me so secure Until I can't escape So unpredictable that it's all the same
She provides safety and stability but also makes it impossible to leave, causing a feeling of sameness and stagnation

So many night I wish I knew the moment when Your anchor turned into a ball and chain
The artist wishes they could pinpoint the exact moment when the relationship went from secure to suffocating and restrictive

Ain't nothing wrong with having both feet on the ground Until you look around and realize that you are bound Realize that you have drowned in a sea of security That leads to complacency now tell me how that sound
Having a stable relationship is good until it becomes suffocating and leads to complacency, leaving the artist feeling stuck

You tell me how you found your way back to the turnout When your love flames burn out now your house looking smoky Like the teardrops of a clown, just wanna live in peace But can't show too many teeth cuz she'll take shots at your crown POW, another shot another man down
The artist questions how to navigate a relationship that is both comforting and damaging, causing them to feel trapped and ultimately defeated

So I'm back on my Moe Dee shit, how you like me now Back on my public speak shit, talking to the crowd Standing tall, front and center when I'm finished take a bow Holla
The singer has resolved to stand up for themselves and express their feelings, not allowing themselves to be held back by the relationship any longer

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: Phonte Lyshod Coleman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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