Children's Story
Slick Rick Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Uncle Ricky
Would you read us a bedtime story?
Please, huh? Please?
Alright, you kids get to bed
I'll get the story book
Y'all tucked in? (yeah)
Here we go
Once upon a time not long ago
When people wore pajamas and lived life slow
When laws were stern and justice stood
And people were behavin' like they ought ta good
There lived a lil' boy who was misled
By anotha lil' boy and this is what he said
"Me and Ty, we gonna make sum cash
Robbin' old folks and makin' the dash"
They did the job, money came with ease
But one couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease
He robbed another and another and a sister and her brother (stick 'em up, stick 'em up)
Tried to rob a man who was a D.T. undercover
The cop grabbed his arm, he started acting erratic
He said "Keep still, boy, no need for static"
Punched him in his belly and he gave him a slap
But little did he know the lil' boy was strapped
The kid pulled out a gun, he said, "Why did ya hit me?"
The barrel was set straight for the cop's kidney
The cop got scared, the kid, he starts to figure
"I'll do years if I pull this trigger"
So he cold dashed and ran around the block
Cop radios in to another lady cop
He ran by a tree, there he saw the sister
Shot for the head, he shot back but he missed her
Looked around good and from expectations
He decided he'd head for the subway stations
But she was coming and he made a left
He was runnin' top speed 'til he was outta breath
Knocked an old man down and swore he killed him (sorry)
Then he made his move to an abandoned building
Ran up the stairs up to the top floor
Opened up the door there, guess who he saw? (who?)
Dave the dope fiend shootin' dope
Who don't know the meaning of water nor soap
He said "I need bullets, hurry up, run!"
The dope fiend brought back a spanking shotgun
He went outside but there was cops all over
Then he dipped into a car, a stolen Nova
Raced up the block doing 83
Crashed into a tree near university
Escaped alive though the car was battered
Rat-a-tat-tatted and all the cops scattered
Ran out of bullets and he still had static
Grabbed a pregnant lady and out the automatic
Pointed at her head and he said the gun was full o' lead
He told the cops, "Back off or honey here's dead"
Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong
So he let the lady go and he starts to run on
Sirens sounded, he seemed astounded
Before long the lil' boy got surrounded
He dropped the gun, so went the glory
And this is the way I have end this story
He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream
This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh
Just another case 'bout the wrong path
Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets cast

Good night, knock 'em out the box Rick, knock 'em out Rick

Oh boy, that Uncle Ricky he's really weird (knock 'em out the box Rick, knock 'em out Rick)
I know right, what did he mean "Straight and narrow or yo' soul gets cast"?
(knock 'em out the box Rick, knock 'em out Rick)
I don't know, I think he be crackin' it up or something (knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em)
Well, good night (knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em out Rick)
Good night

knock 'em out the box Rick, knock 'em out Rick
knock 'em out the box Rick, knock 'em out Rick
(knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em out Rick)
(knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em out Rick)
(knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em out Rick)
(knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em, knock 'em out Rick)
(knock 'em out Rick, knock 'em out Rick, knock 'em out Rick, knock 'em out Rick)
(knock 'em out Rick, knock 'em out Rick, knock 'em out Rick, knock 'em out the box Rick)





Another Vance Wright, Rick the Ruler presentation
Crumbs!

Overall Meaning

The song “Children’s Story” by Slick Rick is a cautionary tale for the youth. Uncle Ricky tells a story of a young boy who falls into the hands of a bad influence and starts robbing people. The boy continues to do it until he finds himself in a situation where an undercover cop catches him. The boy is armed, and the cop is forced to defend himself. The boy dies, and the song ends with the singer saying it's not funny, and one should stick to the straight and narrow path.


The lyrics of the song talk about a young person's choices and their consequences for their life. The story shows how a youthful error in judgment can lead to tragic consequences. Slick Rick’s message is clear; young people should make wise decisions and avoid negative influences that can ruin their lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Once upon a time not long ago
This story happened a while ago


When people wore pajamas and lived life slow
In the past, people were less rushed and took their time


When laws were stern and justice stood
In the past, laws were strict and punishments were enforced


And people were behavin' like they ought ta good
Back then, people generally behaved well


There lived a lil' boy who was misled
A young boy was manipulated into making bad decisions


By anotha lil' boy and this is what he said
Another young boy influenced him with these words


"Me and Ty, we gonna make sum cash
The two boys planned to rob people


Robbin' old folks and makin' the dash"
They planned to rob elderly people and quickly escape


They did the job, money came with ease
Their plan worked and they successfully robbed someone


But one couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease
One of the boys became addicted and could not stop robbing people


He robbed another and another and a sister and her brother (stick 'em up, stick 'em up)
He continued to rob people and even robbed a sibling pair


Tried to rob a man who was a D.T. undercover
He attempted to rob a police officer who was undercover as a civilian


The cop grabbed his arm, he started acting erratic
The police officer caught him and he panicked


He said "Keep still, boy, no need for static"
The officer told him to calm down and cooperate


Punched him in his belly and he gave him a slap
The officer used force to try to subdue him


But little did he know the lil' boy was strapped
The boy had a gun on him


The kid pulled out a gun, he said, "Why did ya hit me?"
The boy pointed the gun at the officer in retaliation


The barrel was set straight for the cop's kidney
The boy was aiming to shoot the cop in the kidney


The cop got scared, the kid, he starts to figure
The officer was afraid and the boy began to think


"I'll do years if I pull this trigger"
The boy realized he would go to jail for a long time if he shot the cop


So he cold dashed and ran around the block
He quickly ran away


Cop radios in to another lady cop
The officer called for backup


He ran by a tree, there he saw the sister
He saw a girl while running


Shot for the head, he shot back but he missed her
He missed his shot at the girl and she shot back at him


Looked around good and from expectations
He surveyed his surroundings and assessed his situation


He decided he'd head for the subway stations
He chose to run towards the subway


But she was coming and he made a left
The girl was chasing him, so he turned left


He was runnin' top speed 'til he was outta breath
He ran as fast as he could until he was tired


Knocked an old man down and swore he killed him (sorry)
He accidentally ran into an old man and thought he hurt him


Then he made his move to an abandoned building
He went to hide in an abandoned building


Ran up the stairs up to the top floor
He ran up the stairs to the highest level


Opened up the door there, guess who he saw? (who?)
He opened the door and saw someone, and it was revealed to be Dave the Dope Fiend


Dave the dope fiend shootin' dope
He saw Dave using drugs


Who don't know the meaning of water nor soap
Dave was dirty and addicted to drugs


He said "I need bullets, hurry up, run!"
He asked Dave for bullets and told him to hurry


The dope fiend brought back a spanking shotgun
Dave brought him a new shotgun


He went outside but there was cops all over
There were police officers all around the area


Then he dipped into a car, a stolen Nova
He stole a car and drove away


Raced up the block doing 83
He drove very fast


Crashed into a tree near university
He crashed the car near a university


Escaped alive though the car was battered
He survived the crash but the car was damaged


Rat-a-tat-tatted and all the cops scattered
He fired at the cops and they ran away


Ran out of bullets and he still had static
He ran out of bullets but was still in trouble


Grabbed a pregnant lady and out the automatic
He took a pregnant woman hostage and pointed his gun at her


Pointed at her head and he said the gun was full o' lead
He threatened to shoot the woman


He told the cops, "Back off or honey here's dead"
He warned the police to let him go or he would kill the woman


Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong
He knew that what he was doing was not right


So he let the lady go and he starts to run on
He released the woman and continued to run away


Sirens sounded, he seemed astounded
He was surprised when he heard the sound of the sirens


Before long the lil' boy got surrounded
He was quickly surrounded by the police


He dropped the gun, so went the glory
He put down his gun and lost his status


And this is the way I have end this story
And that's the end of the story


He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream
The boy was only seventeen years old and was in a delusional state


The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream
The police killed the boy, and the singer still hears his screams


This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh
This story is serious and should not be laughed at


Just another case 'bout the wrong path
This is another example of someone who made bad decisions


Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets cast
Stay on the right path or suffer the consequences




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ricky M. L. Walters

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@goat9283

If you're watching this video because you actually searched it, you're a real OG.

@dearjuliet1301

Thank you

@vegasso2941

Thx

@p.atrickclarke

😊

@queencee6343

My brother is dead but he was the real og that put me on this

@lowest1187

first heard this on gta san andreas, playback fm or radio los santos i think.

482 More Replies...

@zanedietlin7645

Slick rick is one of hip hop's greatest storytellers.

@phillybuswanker242

+Zane Dietlin the best.

@interracialsuspect5300

I'd disagree and say biggie.

@zanedietlin7645

Interracial Suspect I said one of, not THE greatest. I'm curious though, could you name a couple songs that demonstrate Biggie's storytelling ability? I love Biggie but I don't remember any real storytelling

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