Life
Royce da 5'9" Lyrics


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Come here Royce

(Come over here, sit down, let me talk to you)
(Right here, over here)
(Sit on daddy's lap)
(I want to tell you something)

[Chorus: Amerie (Royce)]
Life is a moment in space
When the dream is gone, it's a lonelier place
(This is life)
Life is a moment in space
When the dream is gone, it's a lonelier place

[Royce]
Listen, yo
Little Royce Nickel Nine, eyes wide with sight
With a future as bright as the light in the eyes of Christ
Ready to take on the world and whatever is in it
Proof read, sign, and seal whatever you finish
I can only lead you while you're on your quest for knowledge
I'ma teach you to have sense and to respect the dollar
Hope for the best, and you'll see, your world will be solid
I'ma teach you the truth, even behind worldly logic
This is life, cut and dry, days is bright, nights is dark
Fights get sparked, it's almost like to get ahead
You got to be twice as smart, the realities of life is harsh
Just know that God's keeping you level
He'll even speak through the ghetto to reach you
Just to teach you that the streets is the devil
Everybody's dishonest, different
Which means that we're dying by livin'
Oblivious to the time that we're given
So you don't prepare for the death, you live for the life
And live right like, do right by your kids and your wife
Have fun as a child, yo them years is precious
The future brings fear and stresses as the year progresses
You're gonna turn a lot of them down, you're gonna feel rejection
You're gonna tell a lot of lies and you're gonna hear confessions
It's a two way street when you deal in his presence
Only your life can show that everything is real in this message
This is life

[Chorus]

[Royce]
Yo, the whole world is upon you, the pressure is on
And you can probably sum your life up the best when you're gone
Upon the creation of all men, destiny's born
For us to reproduce, so you can keep the legacy goin'
I know you think I'm Superman, but I got weaknesses too
I keep a firm leash on things by believing in you
And after I'm gone I live on breathing through you
And anything I had in this life, I leave it to you
Aim for the sky and fly till you come back down
I had you the baton and you run, till you come back 'round
Let your heart tell your temper, "Put that gun back down!"
Dry your tears up and turn that frown upside-down
It'd be plenty to cry for, think life, not death
You got much more to live for than to die for
But you got to stay humble
Cause just as hard as your work to get it
There's people working harder to take it from you
Cause life, something that people take for granted
As time passes, you're gonna want something back
But you won't get it cause history is made every second
So you crave every lesson and save every blessin'
No matter how you view the world yo, you never will get it
The world will be the world through the eyes of whoever is in it
But things ain't gonna always go right
Look at it like, yo this ain't your day, but this your life, and live
Life

[Chorus]

[Amerie]
There will be trials and tribulations
But don't let them, don't let them, don't let them bring you down
I said you better keep going to your destination
After your darkest hour the sun will come around

This is life
Yo I don't care, I don't care if this song don't sell one copy
That's not even what it's for
It's for you, my boy
This is life

(You gotta keep going on, you gotta keep moving on)




(Be strong, be strong, be strong)
(Cause this is life)

Overall Meaning

In Royce da 5'9"’s song “Life,” he addresses his son, Royce Nickel Nine, and imparts words of wisdom about life. The song's chorus speaks on the fleeting nature of life, as well as the loneliness that arises when one loses their dreams. Royce, the elder, advises his son to be smart, respect money, and hope for the best outcomes in life. He also speaks to the harsh realities of life, such as the dishonesty of others, the inevitability of death, and the necessity of living in the moment.


Royce emphasizes the importance of God and faith, while also warning of the devil’s presence in the streets. His words of encouragement highlight the need to stay humble, especially when equity is concerned. There will be trials and tribulations, but resilience and optimism should lead Royce to his destination. Though the future brings stress and fear, Royce urges his son not to take life for granted and to cherish every important moment.


Line by Line Meaning

Listen, yo
Pay attention, I have something significant to tell you


Little Royce Nickel Nine, eyes wide with sight
You are a young and curious boy, full of life and hope


With a future as bright as the light in the eyes of Christ
You have immense potential to achieve great things in life, beyond imagination


Ready to take on the world and whatever is in it
You are capable of facing any challenge or obstacle that comes your way


Proof read, sign, and seal whatever you finish
Ensure that you complete your task accurately, and take ownership of your work


I'ma teach you to have sense and to respect the dollar
I will impart important life skills, such as financial management and responsible decision-making


Hope for the best, and you'll see, your world will be solid
Hold onto optimism and positivity, and your life will become more stable and secure


I'ma teach you the truth, even behind worldly logic
I will show you the reality of life, that goes beyond mere logical explanations


This is life, cut and dry, days is bright, nights is dark
Life is a simple concept, with bright and dark moments just like day and night cycle


Fights get sparked, it's almost like to get ahead
Conflicts may arise in your pursuit of success


You got to be twice as smart, the realities of life is harsh
Be prepared to work extra hard for achieving success since failures are widespread in life


Just know that God's keeping you level
Have faith in God who will save you from the challenges of life


He'll even speak through the ghetto to reach you
God can guide you even in the tough times, disorienting places like the ghetto


Everybody's dishonest, different
People have various personalities, and not all of them will be honest with you


Which means that we're dying by livin'
Living in such a world can lead us to some harm or danger


Oblivious to the time that we're given
We may not realize the value of the time we have in our lives


So you don't prepare for the death, you live for the life
Instead of worrying about the end of life, focus on living every moment of life


And live right like, do right by your kids and your wife
Lead a life that serves your family and loved ones, one of compassion and righteousness


Have fun as a child, yo them years is precious
Cherish the childhood years, they are the most wonderful and memorable times in life


The future brings fear and stresses as the year progresses
Growing up, responsibilities and anxieties may increase as time passes


You're gonna turn a lot of them down, you're gonna feel rejection
Rejection and disappointments may come your way, but it's okay, everyone goes through it


You're gonna tell a lot of lies and you're gonna hear confessions
You will have to bear secrets that others share with you, and sometimes you may even lie to hide something


It's a two way street when you deal in his presence
When you work with God or have faith in Him, your efforts are rewarded, and you are expected to act in his presence


Only your life can show that everything is real in this message
The only way to understand the true meaning of life is to experience it firsthand and learn from the lessons it teaches us


Yo, the whole world is upon you, the pressure is on
You may feel that the entire world is upon you and the pressure to succeed is immense


And you can probably sum your life up the best when you're gone
After you depart from this world, the legacy you leave behind can set an example for others to follow


For us to reproduce, so you can keep the legacy goin'
The whole purpose of life is to reproduce and continue the legacy of our ancestors


I know you think I'm Superman, but I got weaknesses too
I may seem to be an invincible figure to you, but just like you, I have my own weaknesses and vulnerabilities


I keep a firm leash on things by believing in you
I rely on you to keep me grounded, and your belief in me gives me strength


And after I'm gone I live on breathing through you
Even after my demise, my spirit and teachings will be passed on to you for generations to come


And anything I had in this life, I leave it to you
I will pass on all my possessions and riches to you as a token of my love and appreciation


Aim for the sky and fly till you come back down
Dream big, work hard and soar high until you reach your goal, only to achieve more significant things going forward


I had you the baton and you run, till you come back 'round
I am handing over the baton of life to you, and you must run the relay until the cycle comes back to you


Let your heart tell your temper, 'Put that gun back down!'
When you are emotional, control your anger and do not resort to violence, listen to your heart and reason


Dry your tears up and turn that frown upside-down
Don't be sad, turn your negativities into positivity by looking at things from a different perspective


'Cause just as hard as your work to get it
Whatever you aim for, there will be people who will contest and work harder than you to achieve the same


There's people working harder to take it from you
Be aware of others who might try to steal or sabotage your efforts in life


Cause life, something that people take for granted
People often overlook the value of life and the time they have in it


As time passes, you're gonna want something back
As you grow older, you will realize the significance of things that you have lost or wasted in life


But you won't get it 'cause history is made every second
You cannot turn back time and change the past, as with every second that passes, the history of the world is made


So you crave every lesson and save every blessin'
Learn from every experience that life throws at you, and cherish every blessing that you receive


No matter how you view the world yo, you never will get it
No matter how you perceive the world, you may never fully comprehend it complexity and mysteries


The world will be the world through the eyes of whoever is in it
Everyone views the world with their unique perspective, and it influences their decisions and experiences


'Cause things ain't gonna always go right
Don't expect smooth sailing in life, setbacks, and failures are inevitable


Look at it like, yo this ain't your day, but this your life, and live
Accept defeat as a part of your life journey, don't let it hinder your progress, continue to move forward


There will be trials and tribulations
Difficult experiences, challenges and hardships will come your way in life


But don't let them, don't let them, don't let them bring you down
Don't be demotivated or broken by the struggles you face in life, be strong and keep going


I said you better keep going to your destination
Continue to pursue your life goals and reach your ultimate destination


After your darkest hour the sun will come around
Even after experiencing the toughest times, the sun will eventually shine again with a new dawn


Yo I don't care, I don't care if this song don't sell one copy
I don't care about commercial success or popularity, this song is meant to be personal and meaningful to you


That's not even what it's for
Its purpose is deeper and more profound than just selling records


It's for you, my boy
This song is dedicated to you, my son, to guide and inspire you in life


This is life
A simple yet profound statement, reminding us that life is an experience that we ought to cherish while we have it




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MAURICE ERNEST GIBB, ROBIN HUGH GIBB, BARRY ALAN GIBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Ayatollah Beats

And I Produced It.👍🎶Ayatollah.

detroitMC313

Niceee. I just went to Wikipedia and glanced at your discography. I love Styles P - My Life AKA The Life, Inspectah Deck - Who Got It, and of course Mos Def - Ms. Fat Booty. All amazing work. Funny,, I wrote a verse to Ms. Fat Booty back when I first started rapping and that was one of the first verses I ever recorded. 👍👍

mrjmorson

Bragging rights well earned dear sir!

MrDcFh

Can we get the instrumental too, amazing work by the way I wanna hear the beats on its own

Rob Payne

Sample during the verses is beautiful with those hard drums. Bought the best out of Royce

I am Phoenix

@detroitMC313 brother you the man, between this and Secutiry easily the best of Royce.

13 More Replies...

Chris Lotierzo

I was 14 years old when this came out. . . im 34 and this song still hits me the same way it did when i was little makes more sense now

ArcyK

Yeah, same man

detroitMC313

Same. I'm 33... Funny story. Me and a friend of mine who is now 34 -- we didn't know each other in high school but he was in one of my classes and the first time we spoke to each other was about rap. I think he let me borrow this CD and I ripped it into my computer. We ended up being close friends since then.

Music brings people together. Also the type of music someone listens to will show you where their mind is at. What movies/TV shows someone watches and what music they listen to tell you a lot about a person.

Jamario Hewins

I was 17 when I heard this…I’m 37 now and man this song is so relatable now.

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