Early
Run the Jewels Lyrics

It be feelin' like the life that I'm livin' a man I don't control
The singer feels like his life is out of his control.

Like every day I'm in a fight for my soul
The singer feels like he's in a struggle to maintain his morality.

Could it be that my medicine's the evidence
The singer is questioning whether his prescribed medication is what leads police officers to racially profile and search him.

For pigs to stop and frisk me when they rollin' round on patrol?
The artist reflects on his frequent encounters with the police who stop him and perform search for no apparent reason.

And ask "why you're here?" I just tell 'em cause it is what it is
When asked why he is in a certain place, the artist just tells them the truth.

I live here and that's what it is
The singer explains that he lives in the area and has a right to be there.

He chimed "you got a dime?
A police officer asks if the singer has any marijuana.

I said "Man, I'm tryin' to smoke and chill
The artist indicates that he just wants to relax and smoke.

Please don't lock me up in front of my kids
The artist requests that the police not arrest him because his kids are present.

And in front of my wife, man, I ain't got a gun or a knife
The artist explains that he does not have any weapons on him.

You do this and you ruin my life
The singer warns the police officer that arresting him would negatively impact his life.

And I apologize if it seems like I got out of line, sir
The artist apologizes to the police officer if he came across as rude or aggressive.

'Cause I respect the badge and the gun
The singer clarifies that he respects the power and authority represented by the police officer's badge and weapon.

And I pray today ain't the day that you drag me away
The singer hopes that he won't be arrested and taken away by the police officer.

Right in front of my beautiful son"
The singer highlights the negative impact an arrest would have on his family, specifically his son.

And he still put my hands in cuffs, put me in the truck
Despite the artist's pleas, the police officer still arrests and handcuffs him.

When my woman screamed, said "shut up"
The police officer tells the artist's partner to be quiet during the arrest.

Witness with the camera phone on
Someone in the vicinity is recording the incident on their phone.

Saw the copper pull a gun and put it on my gorgeous queen
The witness sees the police officer draw his weapon on the singer's partner.

As I peered out the window
The artist looks out of the window to witness what is happening.

I could see my other kinfolk and hear my little boy as he screamed
The artist's family members are present and are reacting to the situation.

As he ran toward the copper begged him not to hurt his momma
The artist's son pleads with the police officer not to hurt his mother during the arrest.

'Cause he had her face down on the ground
The police officer has the singer's partner pinned to the ground.

And I'd be much too weak to ever speak what I seen
The artist suggests that he cannot bring himself to talk about the events he witnessed.

But my life changed with that sound
Despite the singer's reluctance to talk about it, the incident has a profound effect on his life.

Get out, get out, get out, get out
The singer is commanding someone to leave.

Feeling this, feeling this too early
The singer is suggesting that they are experiencing something too early, before they are ready for it.

Feeling this way, feeling this way
The artist is describing the way that they are feeling.

Feeling this, feeling this too early
The artist repeats that they are experiencing something they are not ready for.

Feeling this, feeling this early
The singer re-emphasizes that they are feeling something early.

Early, early, early, early
The singer repeats the word "early" to further emphasize that they are experiencing something premature.

All hands below, high seas in a rickety boat
The artist is describing a chaotic, unstable situation.

Smoke o's, so the kid might cope
The artist proposes that smoking something might help someone deal with the chaos.

You want cash or hope, no clash, matter fact get both
The artist suggests that money and hope are the solutions to the chaotic situation.

Go without get turnt to ghosts
The singer indicates that people without these solutions become ghosts, meaning that they are marginalized and forgotten.

You know that's the law, deal done by the shake of claws
The artist suggests that laws are enforced through underhanded, violent tactics.

It ain't a game if the shit don't pause
The singer indicates that the situation is serious and cannot be paused or stopped.

And I find you odd, so convinced in the truth of y'all
The singer questions the viewpoints of those who are convinced that truth and justice are being served.

That the true truth's truly gone
The singer suggests that there is no truth or justice being upheld.

And yes there's a they, any time a man say there's not
The artist asserts that there is always a group in power.

Then you know that he lost the plot, what can I say?
The artist indicates that anyone who denies the existence of the powerful group is not facing reality.

Truth's truth when denied or not,
The singer asserts that truth is true regardless if it is accepted or not.

like its true crews ride the cock
The singer uses slang to suggest that those who are in power are staying there through manipulative tactics.

Fair enough, the way that the beat bump do sound tough
The artist acknowledges that the beat of the song sounds forceful.

I made it in the dark like Civil War surgery
The artist uses a metaphor to describe that the song was created in a hidden, secret place.

Woke up in the same air you huff, early
The artist suggests that they are waking up early after inhaling the same smoke as their listeners.

By twelve o'clock the whole Earth felt dirty
The singer is saying that by noon, the world as a whole has an overall negative feeling.

Street Lamps stare when you walk watch the birdie
The artist suggests that in the street, observers are always watching.

They'll watch you walk to the store they're recording
The singer highlights the fact that there is always a possibility someone is being recorded.

But didn't record cop when he shot, no warning
The singer questions why no one recorded when a cop shot someone, suggesting that there is some selective recording going on.

Heard it go pop, might have been two blocks
The singer describes how he heard the sound of gunshots from a distance.

Heard a kid plus pops watched, cop make girl bleed
The artist is recounting a traumatic incident where a police officer caused a girl to bleed in front of her child and mother.

Go to home, go to sleep, up again, early
The artist explains that despite the traumatizing event, life goes on and the cycle of waking up early continues.