Can't Say Goodbye
Snoop Dogg Lyrics


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I'm a man I gotta take care of my family
Fighting these pressures in my life
I know my mind should be on shining and getting Grammy's
But these streets won't say goodbye

I can't say goodbye, to the blocks
Goodbye, to the hood
Goodbye, to the streets

I can't say goodbye, to the hood
Goodbye, to the blocks
Goodbye, to the streets

I can't say goodbye goodbye to the blocks
Goodbye to the streets
Goodbye to the hood

I can't say goodbye, to the hood
Goodbye, to the blocks
Goodbye, to the homies

I guess it's true, you can't take the hood out a homeboy
Plus my hood just lost another homeboy
Another one got life and we don't know, if he coming home boy

They in the street tell me, "Just leave it alone boy
Let them do them take care of your own boy"
But I said, "Back brake a bound, before I was drome boy
You had dreams of being a dope boy"

Yeah, I was runnin' from the po po
Banging for the turf, late night huntin'
Puttin' me in work, good day comin', airbrush, shirt
Pay day, get the spot, got my hair cut first

Made mom sick when I wouldn't go to church
Yeah I live in the burbs but I think 21st
I know since I left that it's gotten much worse
But I'd still be there, if I couldn't write a verse

I'm a man I gotta take care of my family
Fighting these pressures in my life
I know my mind should be on shining and getting Grammy's
But these streets won't say a goodbye
I can't say goodbye

To the the blocks that raise me
The enemies and the homies that made
Me tough enough to hang on the corners that would mold me
Critics wonder if I'm tryna be the old me

But if the thing the old me ever left
Then they don't really know me
And don't know, we don't change, we just become OG
You always addicted to the life, you just don't OD

I owe the streets before they owe me
Took me in when my momma didn't want me
To wild to be a child and cops not around now
All I got now is the homies

To teach me, how to be a man an' what not
How to brake ounces in the grams an' what not
The reason I'm so nice with my hands and what not
S***, you think I forgot, man

I'm a man I gotta take care of my family
Fighting these pressures in my life
I know my mind should be on shining and getting Grammy's
But these streets won't say a goodbye
I can't say goodbye

Thank good every day that the boy could spit
And all around the world they enjoyin' my s***
I know I got plenty more wars to get
I got a beautiful wife and some gorgeous kids

But it wouldn't be right if I ignore the s***
They made me how I am, the music in the man
Told me that I can for the world gave a damn
If it wasn't for my ****, they sayin' stick to the plan

Probably be a gun instead of a pen in my hand
Probably be doin' a dub [Incomprehensible] with my man
The say leaders streets but they don't really understand
All I had was the block, when I didn't have fans

Wrapped on the corners when I couldn't get spins
All I had was the homies when I didn't have kids
If it all come down and my career was to end
I'm sure my name would live in the streets

I'm a man I gotta take care of my family
Fighting these pressures in my life
I know my mind should be on shining and getting Grammy's
But these streets won't say goodbye

I can't say goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
I can't say goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye

I can't say goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
I can't say goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye





You can take the man out the streets
But you can't take the streets out the man

Overall Meaning

The song "Can't Say Goodbye" by Snoop Dogg feat. Charlie Wilson is a moving ode to the streets and the hood that raised the rapper. The lyrics speak to the pressure that comes with being a successful artist while still feeling torn between the allure of the streets and the need to provide for one's family. Snoop Dogg acknowledges that his mind should be on "shining and getting Grammy's," but he's still drawn back to the "blocks" and "hood." The lyrics paint a picture of the realities of growing up in a tough neighborhood, with lines like "All I had was the block when I didn't have fans" and "All I got now is the homies." Snoop Dogg recognizes the importance of the streets in shaping who he is today and how they will always be a part of him.


The chorus of "Can't Say Goodbye" is particularly poignant, as Snoop Dogg repeats, "I can't say goodbye, to the hood, goodbye, to the blocks, goodbye, to the streets." This refrain speaks to the idea that one can physically leave a neighborhood, but the impact it has on a person will never truly fade. The song also touches on the unspoken bond between those who grew up together in a tough environment, with lines like "The enemies and the homies that made me tough enough to hang on the corners that would mold me."


Overall, "Can't Say Goodbye" is a powerful tribute to the neighborhood that shaped Snoop Dogg's life and career, acknowledging its struggles and beauty.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm a man I gotta take care of my family
As a man, I must provide and care for my family.


Fighting these pressures in my life
I am struggling with the obstacles in my life.


I know my mind should be on shining and getting Grammy's
I should focus on my career and achieving success like winning Grammy awards.


But these streets won't say goodbye
However, I cannot leave behind the streets that I grew up on.


I can't say goodbye, to the blocks
It is impossible for me to say goodbye to the neighborhoods where I spent my youth.


Goodbye, to the hood
I cannot bid farewell to the environment where I was raised.


Goodbye, to the streets
It is difficult to leave behind the streets where I learned some of the most meaningful lessons.


I guess it's true, you can't take the hood out a homeboy
It is true that one's experiences growing up in the community will always play a crucial role in their life.


Plus my hood just lost another homeboy
Sadly, the community has recently lost someone who was a part of our shared experiences.


Another one got life and we don't know, if he coming home boy
Another peer was incarcerated for life and it is uncertain whether or not he will ever be able to return home.


They in the street tell me, "Just leave it alone boy
Some of my friends in the neighborhood often advise me to disengage from any illegal activities that could harm my future.


Let them do them take care of your own boy"
Instead of getting involved in the wrong things, I should focus on taking care of myself and my loved ones.


But I said, "Back brake a bound, before I was drome boy
However, I reminded them that I had big dreams even before I started roaming the streets.


You had dreams of being a dope boy"
Even though some may criticize me for my past experiences on the streets, I remind them that they too had their own aspirations.


Yeah, I was runnin' from the po po
I remember the times when I was evading the police.


Banging for the turf, late night huntin'
I was also involved in gang activity and spent many nights looking for trouble.


Puttin' me in work, good day comin', airbrush, shirt
I had moments of productivity even when I was in a difficult situation that helped me see the value in hard work.


Pay day, get the spot, got my hair cut first
When I got paid, I always made sure to take care of my grooming so I could look my best.


Made mom sick when I wouldn't go to church
My mother was disheartened when I refused to attend church.


Yeah I live in the burbs but I think 21st
I now reside in a suburban neighborhood, but my heart always remains loyal to the streets.


I know since I left that it's gotten much worse
I am aware that things have worsened in the neighborhood since I have left.


But I'd still be there, if I couldn't write a verse
However, I would still be living in the streets if I had not found my calling as a musician.


To the the blocks that raise me
I am grateful to the neighborhoods that raised me.


The enemies and the homies that made
I also acknowledge the acquaintances who were both friends and foes.


Me tough enough to hang on the corners that would mold me
Being able to withstand the harsh realities of life on the streets helped shape me into the person I am today.


Critics wonder if I'm tryna be the old me
Some might speculate that I have not changed from my past behaviors.


But if the thing the old me ever left
Nonetheless, I acknowledge that I have never abandoned the person I used to be.


Then they don't really know me
Their ignorance towards my true self only proves how little they know me.


And don't know, we don't change, we just become OG
When one has experienced life on the streets, they may evolve into an OG (original gangster).


You always addicted to the life, you just don't OD
One cannot escape the allure of the street life, even if they decide to move on from it.


I owe the streets before they owe me
I recognize that I owe the streets for the lessons they have taught me rather than the other way around.


Took me in when my momma didn't want me
When my own mother could not care for me, the streets provided for me.


To wild to be a child and cops not around now
Without the presence of authorities, children like myself were free to engage in reckless behavior.


All I got now is the homies
Nowadays, the only people I have left are my close friends from the neighborhood.


To teach me, how to be a man an' what not
My friends taught me many valuable lessons on how to be a successful adult.


How to brake ounces in the grams an' what not
They also taught me practical survival skills related to drugs, money, and other illegal activities.


The reason I'm so nice with my hands and what not
Finally, they provided me with physical training that made me a proficient fighter.


S***, you think I forgot, man
I will never forget the people who have helped me become the person I am today.


Thank good every day that the boy could spit
I am grateful for my talent as a rapper and recognize that it has blessed me with many opportunities.


And all around the world they enjoyin' my s***
Listeners from around the world appreciate my music and it brings me joy knowing that it resonates with them.


I know I got plenty more wars to get
Despite my success, I recognize that I still have more challenges to overcome.


I got a beautiful wife and some gorgeous kids
I am also blessed with a loving family.


But it wouldn't be right if I ignore the s***
Nonetheless, I cannot ignore the experiences that have made me who I am today.


They made me how I am, the music in the man
It is these experiences that have shaped my artistry and my identity as a person.


Told me that I can for the world gave a damn
My upbringing taught me to believe in myself and that I could achieve anything I set my mind to without needing validation from others.


If it wasn't for my ****, they sayin' stick to the plan
Without my musical talent, I might have been told to stick to a certain plan for my life.


Probably be a gun instead of a pen in my hand
Without music, I might have been more involved in a life of crime with a gun in my hand instead of a pen.


Probably be doin' a dub [Incomprehensible] with my man
I might have been selling drugs with my friends if not for my music career.


The say leaders streets but they don't really understand
Many do not comprehend the complex dynamics of the streets and who holds power within them.


All I had was the block, when I didn't have fans
Before my music career, the only support system I had was the neighborhood in which I grew up.


Wrapped on the corners when I couldn't get spins
I spent many days on the street corners looking for opportunities to further my music career since I could not get airplay on the radio.


All I had was the homies when I didn't have kids
Before I had children, my friends in the neighborhood were my closest companions.


If it all come down and my career was to end
Even if my music career were to come to a halt, my roots in the streets will always define who I am.


I'm sure my name would live in the streets
My impact on the streets and the people in it have been so significant that my name would continue to hold value.


You can take the man out the streets
Although one's environment can be changed, it is difficult to rid oneself of the habits and experiences they have amassed from living in the streets.


But you can't take the streets out the man
The streets have imprinted such a deep influence on one's identity that it can never truly be removed.




Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LONNIE BEREAL, CALVIN BROADUS, BRUCE HORNSBY, GLENDA PROBY, DEJANEE RILEY, TEDDY RILEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@RiceWithRamen

Probably one of the most realist songs by Snoop. Not only a Living Rap Legend, but he's giving back to his community! Can't explain how much Respect I got for this man! Been listening since Dre's "The Chronic" Album, that's when I first heard Snoop and I was hooked 😂

@AaronT129

True.

@bigmactv634

AnonGaming well said

@SenorGnar

Big facts, more than an icon. Tons of great songs like this Boss Life, Ups and Downs, that joint with Dre and Stevie, too many classics!

@StrongerThanEver84

i came here to say this and here it is already. probably my favorite snoop song honestly.

@stennaymezmboumbadjiembi6516

Truly really bro real talk ‼️

@timursergaliyev1153

This song should have like 1000x more views than this.. Been jammin this one since it ever got released and wont ever stop 💯

@mizzhall200

If you can't say good bye to the streets hit the like button

@davidmunyi9679

Still fresh and new to me, SNOOP 🔥 it's 2023 Dec

@rontified7166

Childhood memories

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