Heard This One Before
Phonte Lyrics


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Oh, oh, oh, oh (yeah)
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Why honey, is it that you felt?
Is it real?
Give or take your shit down
Pray you will
If I never tell you in my life, you say
That I been here to work to me (yeah)
Boy, you said things you really don't think (yeah)
Pretend like we in a movie screen

Tell me if you heard this one before
Tell me if you heard this one before
Tell me if you heard this one before
Tell me if you heard this one before (yeah)
Tell me if you heard this one

I'm a even if I take a loss ass nigga
I'ma still lay up in the sunshine
You just a tell 'em 'bout that gun line, boss ass nigga
We been animals
'Cause life's a B when your E-Y-E's can't seize the intangibles
It's like stumbling and tumbling through a drum machine
So kids, read the lil' manual
Miranda Rights, no plans tonight
Now picture this
Made a lil' money, thought it made me poppin'
It didn't make me happy but it gave me options
Like trips to the Moulin Rouge
Or more cheese on my cordon bleu
But see that's all on you
Just a little insight
Into the war of your desires and your dislikes
I shoot first and set the tone like a pitch pipe
Ain't anybody blockin' my happiness in this life
Champagne for my real friends, nigga, sing it

Tell me if you heard this one before
Tell me if you heard this one before (yeah)
Tell me if you heard this one before (yeah)
Tell me if you heard this one before (yeah)
Tell me if you heard this one before (yeah)
Tell me if you heard this one before
Tell me if you heard this one before (yeah)
Tell me if you heard this one

Yo, this is artificial
Intergalactic funkateers
It's a song that won't be long
T minus five, we disappear
Your permission is submission
Moving on with new veneers




Hyperactive and attractive
Radioactive to your ear

Overall Meaning

“Tell me if you heard this one before” by Phonte is a contemplative song that seems to explore different themes, including relationships and self-exploration. The song starts with an intro that establishes the melody and sets the scene. Phonte starts the verse by asking his partner why she feels the way she does and follows up by questioning the authenticity of her emotions. He then talks about pretending like they are in a movie screen, which could mean they are living a life more artificial than real.


The pre-chorus of the song has Phonte acknowledging his loss as an ass nigga but maintains his self-esteem by saying he will still lay under the sunshine. He then mocks those who brag about their gun lines. In the chorus, Phonte asks his partner if she has heard the same lies from him before, which means he cannot trust himself anymore. The second verse of the song has Phonte talking about the complexities of life, such as not being able to seize the intangible things. He highlights how money has given him options but hasn’t made him happy. The verse ends with Phonte saying he will shoot first and set the tone for his life.


Overall, the song appears to speak to the struggles of self-exploration, trusting others, and moving through life's complexities.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, oh, oh, oh (yeah)
The song starts with an instrumental intro


Why honey, is it that you felt?
The singer asks why the person he is referring to feels a certain way


Is it real?
He wants to know if the person's feelings are genuine


Give or take your shit down
The singer wants the person to calm down and not be so dramatic


Pray you will
He hopes that the person will listen to his advice and not overreact


If I never tell you in my life, you say
If he never told the person anything, they would still talk to him


That I been here to work to me (yeah)
He has been working on himself and growing


Boy, you said things you really don't think (yeah)
The person has said things without thinking first


Pretend like we in a movie screen
He wants the person to act as if they are in a movie and not take things so seriously


Tell me if you heard this one before
The singer wants to know if the person has heard his advice before


I'm a even if I take a loss ass nigga
He will still be himself even if he fails


I'ma still lay up in the sunshine
He will enjoy the good things in life regardless of his current situation


You just a tell 'em 'bout that gun line, boss ass nigga
The person he refers to only talks about their toughness and uses violent language


We been animals
They have acted like wild animals instead of humans


Cause life's a B when your E-Y-E's can't seize the intangibles
Life is difficult when one cannot appreciate the intangible things in life


It's like stumbling and tumbling through a drum machine
Life can be chaotic and unpredictable like a drum machine


So kids, read the lil' manual
He advises people to educate themselves and learn how to navigate life


Miranda Rights, no plans tonight
He references police warnings and implies that he has no plans


Now picture this
He prompts the listener to imagine something


Made a lil' money, thought it made me poppin'
He earned some money and thought he was successful


It didn't make me happy but it gave me options
Having money gave him options but did not bring him happiness


Like trips to the Moulin Rouge
He could afford to go to fancy places like the Moulin Rouge in Paris


Or more cheese on my cordon bleu
He could afford more expensive food like cordon bleu with extra cheese


But see that's all on you
The choices people make with their resources are up to them


Just a little insight
He is sharing some personal experience and advice


Into the war of your desires and your dislikes
People struggle between what they want and what they do not want


I shoot first and set the tone like a pitch pipe
He wants to take control of situations and sets a tone for others


Ain't anybody blockin' my happiness in this life
No one can block the singer from being happy


Champagne for my real friends, nigga, sing it
He wants to celebrate with his genuine friends


Yo, this is artificial
He introduces the following verses and warns that they may not be completely authentic


Intergalactic funkateers
He creates a space-themed image and describes funky people


It's a song that won't be long
He hints at the song being short


T minus five, we disappear
He creates a space themed countdown and implies that something is going to happen soon


Your permission is submission
He implies that following someone else's rules equals submission


Moving on with new veneers
Change is coming and people are hiding behind new masks


Hyperactive and attractive
People are energetic and attractive


Radioactive to your ear
The singer or the music may be overwhelming or influential to the listener




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Brittany Michelle Bosco, Kevin Celestin, Phonte Lyshod Coleman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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