The One and Only
Prodigy Lyrics


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Papa Johnson!
My name miss Fieldmore, Danny's mother
Ma'am.
I wish more black could men would stand up
And fight for their home
Th way you're doing it
I heard you killed three of his men
Like the Lord swooped in on Sodom and Gomore
You swung your mighty cypher in 'em heathen's heads
Rolled on the pavement
You're a killing machine
You, papa Johnson, you fuck mess, you just a killa
But I'm telling you
Thank er'body
Papa Johnson, mr. Johnson, you know what?
I've been singing for you a long time
I've been tryna get a job down at the cotton court
For six months.
Now look here! Come down to the Bamville, see my man
Calvin. He's a clean head man, he's down, he does all the hiring
Excuse me, please? Calvin, yes.
Is he gon' take care of me?
He gon' take care of you
()
Don P, Colonel 16's
Captain Bars, man, you can call me
Whatever the F you feel best
Just as long as you spell my name right on the checks
I'mma, keep doin' what I do so well
Truth be told, without money I would still spill
All of my thoughts onto the beats
This is my passion, my baby, I breathe
Eat sleep and shit soul music
Watch how my song touch you, it's spiritually movin'
You might wanna cry
He got a problem with P? He might wanna die
While I'm, so lovable and so humble
That if you cross me, then you deserve to stumble
And fall on a Rambo knife
Look homey, you obviously don't know me, I'm
The one and only, Infamous, notorious
()
I'm Bandana P, the fantastic one
Reptile, I spit acid, they kyan't done
I die harder than your average die hardheaded nigga
I don't learn 'til it's too late, and it's early, nigga
I don't take orders, fold, or break under pressure
I don't take kindly to strangers or new faces
It might be the police
Maybe the D.A. brothers, come to get me
I've got a dark sense of humor
Gotta calm down a lot, I, got a hot temper
I'm tryin' to change
But these people out here push me to engage
in all types of fuckery, jealous and they envious
Misery love company they don't really love me !
I had to sever our ties
Sit back in my jacuzzi watchin' pelicans fly
Thinkin' back how we used to be on the same page
I realize now, that you nothin like me, I'm
()
My reign at the top don't stop, it's endless
Watch me crush so-called competition, man, listen
There is no threat to my position
These niggaz is harmless, there's no comparison,
To rap's top shotter, best sellin' author
In non-fiction, you better pray I go easy
and thank me for not exposin' your bumba claat
I could go in on you, but I'm not
Success is the best revenge
And I'm fit to show you people how to do this here
intelligent, smooth criminal music
You never lived this life, you can't relate to it
I'm the chief of all chiefs, the Don of all dons
The boss of all bosses, the fuckin warlord




The grand wizard of bars
When I die, my tombstone'll read "He was..."

Overall Meaning

In the song The One and Only by Prodigy, the lyrics are divided into three parts that talk about different things. The first part is about Papa Johnson, a man who has fought for his home and killed three of his enemies. The singer admires his courage and strength, but also acknowledges that he's a killing machine. The second part is about Prodigy himself, who talks about his passion for music and his determination to keep making it even without money. He also mentions his tough side and how he doesn't take kindly to strangers.


The last part is a continuation of the second part, where Prodigy talks about being at the top of the rap game and having no competition. He warns others not to mess with him and claims that he's the boss of all bosses. The lyrics in this song portray a sense of power and self-confidence. It's evident that Prodigy feels like he's the best at what he does, and he has no intention of letting anyone take that away from him.


Line by Line Meaning

Papa Johnson!
Addressing Papa Johnson with enthusiasm.


My name miss Fieldmore, Danny's mother
Introducing herself as Danny's mother and Mrs. Fieldmore.


Ma'am.
Saying madam courteously.


I wish more black could men would stand up
Expressing the desire for more black men to defend their homes.


And fight for their home
Encouraging black men to fight for their homes.


Th way you're doing it
Commending Papa Johnson for his way of defending his home.


I heard you killed three of his men
Acknowledging the rumor of Papa Johnson killing three men.


Like the Lord swooped in on Sodom and Gomore
Drawing a comparison of Papa Johnson's actions to God's punishment on Sodom and Gomore.


You swung your mighty cypher in 'em heathen's heads
Describing Papa Johnson's attack on his enemies using a cypher, or a circular beatbox groove, as a weapon.


Rolled on the pavement
Illustrating the brutality of Papa Johnson's attack, resulting in his enemies falling on the pavement.


You're a killing machine
Referring to Papa Johnson's ability to kill with ease and efficiency.


You, papa Johnson, you fuck mess, you just a killa
Addressing Papa Johnson as a mess and a killer.


But I'm telling you
Emphasizing the following remark.


Thank er'body
Expressing gratitude towards everyone.


Papa Johnson, mr. Johnson, you know what?
Addressing Papa Johnson with different names.


I've been singing for you a long time
Saying that she has been advocating for Papa Johnson for a long time.


I've been tryna get a job down at the cotton court
Mentioning her previous efforts to get a job at the cotton court.


For six months.
Giving a time frame for her attempts to secure employment.


Now look here! Come down to the Bamville, see my man
Inviting Papa Johnson to come to Bamville to meet her acquaintance who could help him out.


Calvin. He's a clean head man, he's down, he does all the hiring
Describing Calvin as a clean head man and someone who does all the hiring.


Excuse me, please? Calvin, yes.
Asking for Calvin's name again for confirmation.


Is he gon' take care of me?
Asking about whether Calvin will take care of her if she secures a job interview.


He gon' take care of you
Assuring her that Calvin will take care of her needs.


()
Indicating a pause in the lyrics.


Don P, Colonel 16's
Mentioning Don P and Colonel 16's as aliases.


Captain Bars, man, you can call me
Describing himself as Captain Bars and inviting others to call him by that name.


Whatever the F you feel best
Allowing others to call him whatever they please.


Just as long as you spell my name right on the checks
Stressing the importance of correctly spelling his name on the checks to be received.


I'mma, keep doin' what I do so well
Saying that he will continue doing what he does best.


Truth be told, without money I would still spill
Saying that he would still create music, even without money as motivation.


All of my thoughts onto the beats
Expressing that he pours his thoughts and emotions into his musical creations.


This is my passion, my baby, I breathe
Comparing his affection for music to the love of a parent for their child and stating that he breathes music.


Eat sleep and shit soul music
Indicating that music is the primary focus of his life.


Watch how my song touch you, it's spiritually movin'
Saying that his songs can spiritually move and affect the listener.


You might wanna cry
Saying that listeners may feel emotional upon hearing his music.


He got a problem with P? He might wanna die
Warning those who have a problem with him, saying they may face dire consequences.


While I'm, so lovable and so humble
Describing himself as humble and likable.


That if you cross me, then you deserve to stumble
Saying that those who betray him or become his enemies will face hardships.


And fall on a Rambo knife
Indicating the severity of the consequences, comparing them to a Rambo knife.


Look homey, you obviously don't know me, I'm
Saying that others don't know him as well as they might think.


The one and only, Infamous, notorious
Describing himself as one and only, and famed for his notoriety.


()
Indicating a pause in the lyrics.


I'm Bandana P, the fantastic one
Introducing himself as Bandana P and describing himself as fantastic.


Reptile, I spit acid, they kyan't done
Comparing himself to a reptile and saying that he spits acid and cannot be stopped.


I die harder than your average die hardheaded nigga
Saying that he fights harder than the average person with a stubborn attitude.


I don't learn 'til it's too late, and it's early, nigga
Acknowledging that he learns from his mistakes a bit too late, which could be considered early in life.


I don't take orders, fold, or break under pressure
Asserting that he does not follow orders and cannot be broken down under pressure.


I don't take kindly to strangers or new faces
Saying that he is not welcoming to new people who he does not know.


It might be the police
Suspicious of strangers, even if they might be the police.


Maybe the D.A. brothers, come to get me
Speculating that strangers might be brothers from the district attorney coming to arrest him.


I've got a dark sense of humor
Acknowledge that he has an unusual sense of humor that some may not understand.


Gotta calm down a lot, I, got a hot temper
Admitting that he has a hot temper and needs to calm down often.


I'm tryin' to change
Saying that he's trying to improve himself.


But these people out here push me to engage
Explaining that outsiders' actions often frustrate him and push him to engage in negative behavior.


in all types of fuckery, jealous and they envious
Referring to those engaging in negative actions as envious and jealous of his success.


Misery love company they don't really love me !
Saying that people only join in on negative actions because they are unhappy and do not truly care about him.


I had to sever our ties
Saying that he had to end relationships with certain people for his own wellbeing.


Sit back in my jacuzzi watchin' pelicans fly
Relaxing in a jacuzzi and observing the peaceful flight of pelicans.


Thinkin' back how we used to be on the same page
Reflecting on how he used to be in agreement with certain people.


I realize now, that you nothin like me, I'm
Having a realization that he is nothing like certain people he used to associate with.


()
Indicating a pause in the lyrics.


My reign at the top don't stop, it's endless
Asserting his dominance at the top and that he will continue to reign.


Watch me crush so-called competition, man, listen
Saying that he will defeat any competition that rises up against him.


There is no threat to my position
Asserting that he is not threatened by other people's attempts to surpass him.


These niggaz is harmless, there's no comparison,
Saying that his competition is not worth comparing to and poses no threat.


To rap's top shotter, best sellin' author
Referring to himself as the best selling author and top shotter in rap.


In non-fiction, you better pray I go easy
Challenging others to pray that he does not destroy them in the competition.


and thank me for not exposin' your bumba claat
Saying that others should be grateful that he has not exposed any embarrassing information about them.


I could go in on you, but I'm not
Saying that he could attack his competitors but he chooses not to.


Success is the best revenge
Implying that his success will serve as revenge against those who doubted him.


And I'm fit to show you people how to do this here
Asserting that he is capable of teaching others how to achieve success in his field.


intelligent, smooth criminal music
Describing his music as intelligent, smooth and criminal-like.


You never lived this life, you can't relate to it
Saying that others cannot relate to his experiences or his music about it.


I'm the chief of all chiefs, the Don of all dons
Comparing himself to a chief and a Don, which suggest power and authority.


The boss of all bosses, the fuckin warlord
Describing himself as the boss of all bosses and someone who can rule over others with force.


The grand wizard of bars
Describing himself as a master of lyrical ability.


When I die, my tombstone'll read "He was..."
Imagining what will be written on his tombstone, signifying his end as a legend.




Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Trent Yates

Happy 46th birthday to the late gr8t Prodigy 🎂🎉🎉. You will always be a legend P, and can't nobody take yo crown away. You will always be one of my favorite MCs ever. Mobb4life!!!

orwizzle24

Always manifested the art of hip hop... rip legend

Christopher Rodriguez

RIP to a legend!

BlackPill Monk

Yeah this my generation right here. Clear understandable hip hop.

Michael Wagner

R.I.P., Sad to lose another Original Gangsta

Sterling D

R.I.P A REAL LEGEND so far ahead, the generation of mumble rap listeners couldnt understand him... the irony. Sickening what raps becoming i was looking forward to more music for the P... An absolute treasure to the rap culture... R.I.P SOLDIER SALUTE

james mccray

What is the caled6 at the en6

daniel mak

prodigy said so much with so little.. purest form of a emcee

Erik magana

Especially in his later years 05- and up

Dark Sion

‘The Infamous’ will always be my favorite album!!!#ripprodigy

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