What Would You Do
Royce da 5'9 Lyrics
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[Royce Da 5'9"]
As the clock ticks, we knock off the block quick
Chip off the ol' block of the sixty Steve's our pops
We ? will stick you for your cheese to receive our props (yeah)
Believe it or not, we not evil, we fiending to stop
We ? we crying out to the dire amounts of survival
Beneath the ? dirt for every stem in the grass
Memories pass, I keep 'em working, a vile stem in the hash
He will ? kill a killer feeling like he's killing himself (uh)
He's feeling himself but not that killer but he's that killer himself (yeah)
He's spending his last, fiending looking to turn this cash raw
It's like, Felix Trinidad turning a glass jaw
No, please! You're not that broke thief
I used to approach you like you would've approached me (why?)
Cause you was just like me.
[Chorus:]
What would you do if you knew what he knew?
If you went through, what he been through
If you get him will he come back to get you?
Would you lose, would he lose?
What would you do if he as real as me and you now?
As me and you now, now see it through
Deep in your heart you like to snake and probably fool
But, we in the streets so ? no no no
[Royce Da 5'9"]
Yo, panic and both of us stiff as mannequins, we speak
We ? both got rules to the streets we keep if you cross and we creep
We ? we even cold in the coffin with sheets
We ? was taught in the streets what we fought, our thoughts and beliefs
We ? front on we actors; we love the next nigga
'bout as much as we love our guns and we'll ditch our guns if we have to
Our religion is we niggas that's living
We believe in the Lord, while we unsure 'bout the way it was written
We ? focus on what niggas focus on us
The beam or scope is on us, we teens that just hope to grow up
Uh, I know the shit I said it hundreds of times
Would this bun or this .9 switch with the hands of a one-of-a-kind?
Hell naw!
[Chorus]
In this song, Royce da 5'9" talks about the harsh realities of life in the streets and the difficult choices that one has to make in order to survive. He talks about how he and others in his community resort to violence and crime in order to make ends meet, but they are not inherently evil. Rather, they are simply trying to stop their dire situations from spiraling out of control. He uses powerful metaphors, such as comparing memories to stems in the grass and a killer feeling like he's killing himself, to convey the gravity of these situations.
The chorus poses a hypothetical question to the listeners: What would you do if you were in the same situation as Royce and had to make these tough decisions? Would you risk your life and freedom for money and respect? The chorus serves as a reminder that often times in life, we are quick to judge others without fully understanding their circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
As the clock ticks, we knock off the block quick
We move fast and efficiently in the streets, always keeping an eye on time and trying to get ahead
Chip off the ol' block of the sixty Steve's our pops
We come from a long line of street-savvy individuals and carry on the legacy of our forefathers
We ? will stick you for your cheese to receive our props (yeah)
We're not afraid to resort to violence and robbery to gain respect and admiration in our community
Believe it or not, we not evil, we fiending to stop
Despite our actions, we don't see ourselves as inherently evil, but rather feel compelled to do what we need to survive
We ? we crying out to the dire amounts of survival
We're struggling to survive and are desperate for any means to make it in the world
We not desired to beef, just inspired the spiral
We don't actively seek out conflicts or violence, but it often spirals out of control due to the nature of our lifestyle
Beneath the ? dirt for every stem in the grass
Underneath the surface of the streets lies a tangled web of secrets and hidden agendas
Memories pass, I keep 'em working, a vile stem in the hash
We hold onto memories of our past lives and experiences, using them to inform our current actions
He will ? kill a killer feeling like he's killing himself (uh)
Sometimes we feel like we're taking on the same darkness and negativity as those we hurt and kill
He's feeling himself but not that killer but he's that killer himself (yeah)
We may have a perceived sense of self and identity, but the life we lead as killers makes us who we are, for better or worse
He's spending his last, fiending looking to turn this cash raw
We're always looking for ways to make money, even if it means taking great risks or using illegal means
It's like, Felix Trinidad turning a glass jaw
When we find our prey, it's like a boxer aiming for the weak spot in their opponent's defense
No, please! You're not that broke thief
We don't want to be seen as desperate or weak, even if we resort to theft or violence to make ends meet
I used to approach you like you would've approached me (why?)
Once upon a time, we may have seen ourselves in the people we hurt or rob, but now we see them as lesser than us
Cause you was just like me.
We recognize the similarities between ourselves and those we harm, but we choose to ignore them for our own gain
What would you do if you knew what he knew?
If you were in our shoes and knew the harsh realities of street life, what would you do to survive?
If you went through, what he been through
If you experienced the same struggles, traumas, and dangers as us, how would it affect you?
If you get him will he come back to get you?
If we turn on someone or hurt them, will they retaliate and put us in danger?
Would you lose, would he lose?
In this dangerous game of life, there are always winners and losers, but sometimes it's hard to tell who's who
As me and you now, now see it through
Together, let's face the harsh realities of life and try to make sense of it all
Deep in your heart you like to snake and probably fool
Despite the façade of strength and machismo, we have a tendency to deceive and manipulate those around us
But, we in the streets so ? no no no
In this world of danger and deception, there's no room for weakness or naivety
Yo, panic and both of us stiff as mannequins, we speak
In high-pressure situations, we often freeze up or become robotic in our movements and words
We ? both got rules to the streets we keep if you cross and we creep
We live by a certain code in the streets and will defend it at all costs, even if it means resorting to sneaky or underhanded tactics
We ? we even cold in the coffin with sheets
We're so used to the coldness and ruthlessness of the streets that it extends even into death
We ? was taught in the streets what we fought, our thoughts and beliefs
Our worldview and moral compass are shaped by our experiences in the streets, both good and bad
We ? front on we actors; we love the next nigga
We often put on a façade of toughness or indifference to hide our true feelings of love or connection to others, even in our own community
'bout as much as we love our guns and we'll ditch our guns if we have to
Our guns are our lifeline and our means of protection, but we're also not above letting them go if it means survival
Our religion is we niggas that's living
Our way of life and survival in the streets is akin to a religion or way of living that we follow, even if it contradicts traditional values
We believe in the Lord, while we unsure 'bout the way it was written
Despite our harsh exterior and criminal actions, we may still hold onto faith and spirituality, even if it conflicts with our current lifestyle
We ? focus on what niggas focus on us
We're constantly on guard and focusing on those around us, knowing that our enemies or rivals may be watching or plotting against us
The beam or scope is on us, we teens that just hope to grow up
We're constantly being hunted or targeted, even at a young age, and all we can do is hope to survive and make it to adulthood
Uh, I know the shit I said it hundreds of times
We may repeat ourselves or our actions because it's what we know and what works in our world
Would this bun or this .9 switch with the hands of a one-of-a-kind?
In this life-or-death situation, would our decisions or actions change if we knew we only had one chance or were a one-of-a-kind person?
Hell naw!
No, our core beliefs and survival instincts wouldn't change, even with only one chance or opportunity
[Chorus]
These questions and doubts plague us constantly in this dangerous world of street life
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONYELL BOYNTON, KEN FAMBRO, KENNY HICKSON, ANTONIO MOBLEY, OCZAVIA PITTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karl Fekete
Love this track
lifestraight
Couldn't find this for a long time. Beat is sick.
a-6_grindtime
Love this song
shall7277
Been looking for this forever
DJNightcoreHD
That last part though.
tvpsppplf
Thanks a lot ! Do someone have the lyrics of the discussion that led to the gunfight at the end?