Never Be Friends
The Game Lyrics


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[Verse 1]
Yeah though I walk through the valley of death
Vest on, Teflon none approached in my Hurricane sweats
Black chrome my shoulder, big wheel ‘till it's over
He never got to see me put black chrome on the Rova
Reading your obituary wishing we never met
So I wouldn't have to shed tears or wake up in cold sweats
Lookin' at this bottle of Hennessy wishing you never left
Wishing I chased your Monte Carlo down and gave you my vest
Or better yet I wish they never let you out
And I never got that phone call tellin' me that you out
Wish you never signed the release form
I wouldn't have had to clear this sample
Or use this track to say rest in peace for him
You wanted to know if Dre and Em felt you?
They did, before I could tell you somebody killed you
I feel pain for everybody that ever knew the real you
Call Nas tell him that I got an Ill Will too

[Chorus]

[Verse 2]
Niggas politickin' wanna know why I'm rhymin' different
My best friend got murdered, nigga my mind is different
If you ain't never spent no time in prison
You can't understand these bars or the lines I'm spittin'
Niggas rilin' me up let's go find a victim
I can't do it homie that's the reason Shyne in prison
And through divine intervention ten plus years doing crime in the trenches
Multiply by the time we spent in the kitchen
It's a life worth of hard livin', Cuban cigar tippin'
Twelve grade ditchin', purple serve by the jar sippin'
If you lost a homie you know friendship is God given
I've done seen the church so much you'd think I was born Christian
I've done seen more dead bodies than a mortician
Seen niggas in and out of county blues like they was born crippin'
So I'ma keep on livin' cause when I'm gone niggas ain't gonna do shit
But fuck my bitch and poor liquor

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
What if you was me
And you had to sit through an entire funeral
While the Pastor readin' your homeboy's eulogy
I'm already dead
What the fuck you gonna do to me?
Keep talking shit I'll empty my clip in that G-Unit tee
Gimme a minute to say my grace with God
I'll see your face in the mirror I came a long way to talk
And tell you your Moms is missing you
Your Pops is missing you
Just saw your baby pictures in your Grandmother's living room
Face is missing you homie
Wink is missing you
Thank God you left us memories and songs to listen to
??? is missing you
The hood is missing you
Let my son graduate high school
And I'm gonna come visit you
The world is missing you
Eminem was feeling you
Dre said he felt your vibe the little time we spent with you
Pour the Henny out cuz he ain't here in the physical
They say real men don't cry but nigga I'm missing you





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The Game's song Never Be Friends is a heartfelt tribute to a friend who was killed. In the first verse, The Game walks through the valley of death with his bulletproof vest on and reflects on his slain friend. He wishes he didn't have to shed tears or wake up in cold sweats because of his friend's passing. He also wishes he had given his bulletproof vest to his friend before he was killed. The Game uses black chrome on his shoulder and big wheels until it's over, a reference to his successful career as a rapper, which his friend never witnessed. He also regrets that he had to clear a sample and use the track to say "rest in peace" for his friend.


In the second verse, The Game raps about the different perspective he has on life after his friend's murder. He raps about how people who haven't spent time in prison can't understand the bars or the lines he's spitting. He further states that his friend's death changed him mentally, and he can't be the same again. The Game has seen so many dead bodies that he's more familiar with them than a mortician. He states he's going to keep on living because when he's gone, people aren't going to do anything but have sex with his girlfriend and pour liquor.


In the final verse, The Game speaks directly to his departed friend, expressing the pain of his absence. The verse is emotionally charged and reflects the regret of not telling his friend how much he was valued. He laments that his friend's parents are missing him, and he saw his baby pictures recently. The hood and the world are missing him, and Eminem and Dr. Dre felt his vibe when they hung out. Despite being a real man, The Game admits he's missing his friend, and he's pouring out the Hennessy in his memory.


Line by Line Meaning

Yeah though I walk through the valley of death
Even in the darkest of times, I won't be afraid.


Vest on, Teflon none approached in my Hurricane sweats
I'm protected and ready for anything that comes my way.


Black chrome my shoulder, big wheel ‘till it's over
I'm driving in style until the very end.


He never got to see me put black chrome on the Rova
My friend never got to experience my success with me.


Reading your obituary wishing we never met
If I had known our friendship would end like this, I wouldn't have gotten close to you.


So I wouldn't have to shed tears or wake up in cold sweats
I'm haunted by the thought of losing you.


Lookin' at this bottle of Hennessy wishing you never left
I miss you so much and wish you were still here.


Wishing I chased your Monte Carlo down and gave you my vest
I regret not being there to protect you when you needed it.


Or better yet I wish they never let you out
If you had never been released, you might still be alive.


And I never got that phone call tellin' me that you out
I never expected to hear that you were gone.


Wish you never signed the release form
Your death might have been avoided if you had never left prison.


I wouldn't have had to clear this sample
I wish I didn't have to use this song to say goodbye to you.


Or use this track to say rest in peace for him
This song is now a tribute to you.


You wanted to know if Dre and Em felt you?
You were always hoping to make a connection with your idols.


They did, before I could tell you somebody killed you
Before I could share the good news, you were taken from us.


I feel pain for everybody that ever knew the real you
Your true self was loved and respected by many.


Call Nas tell him that I got an Ill Will too
My heart is also filled with sadness and grief.


Niggas politickin' wanna know why I'm rhymin' different
People are questioning why I've changed since your death.


My best friend got murdered, nigga my mind is different
Losing you has affected me deeply and changed me.


If you ain't never spent no time in prison
If you don't know the realities of prison life, you won't understand my lyrics.


You can't understand these bars or the lines I'm spittin'
My music is an expression of my life experiences that only those who have lived it can fully comprehend.


Niggas rilin' me up let's go find a victim
People are trying to provoke me into violence.


I can't do it homie that's the reason Shyne in prison
I know the consequences of violent actions and won't engage in dangerous behavior.


And through divine intervention ten plus years doing crime in the trenches
I've been through a lot in my life and have experienced both good and bad.


Multiply by the time we spent in the kitchen
The struggles and hardships we faced together have shaped who I am today.


It's a life worth of hard livin', Cuban cigar tippin'
My life has been a challenging journey that has taught me to appreciate the finer things.


Twelve grade ditchin', purple serve by the jar sippin'
I've made mistakes and have had my fair share of fun along the way.


If you lost a homie you know friendship is God given
Losing a friend is a painful experience that reminds us of the value of true friendship.


I've done seen the church so much you'd think I was born Christian
I've been through so much pain and suffering that I've sought solace in religion.


I've done seen more dead bodies than a mortician
I've experienced a lot of tragedy and death in my life.


Seen niggas in and out of county blues like they was born crippin'
I've witnessed countless people caught up in a cycle of crime and punishment.


So I'ma keep on livin' cause when I'm gone niggas ain't gonna do shit
I will continue to live on through my music and legacy.


But fuck my bitch and poor liquor
I don't want people to celebrate my death by disrespecting my loved ones.


What if you was me
Have you ever thought about what it would be like to walk in my shoes?


And you had to sit through an entire funeral
It's a painful experience to say goodbye to someone you love.


While the Pastor readin' your homeboy's eulogy
Hearing someone else speak about your friend's life and legacy is emotional.


I'm already dead
Losing you has left me feeling empty and broken.


What the fuck you gonna do to me?
I've already been through the worst possible pain and suffering.


Keep talking shit I'll empty my clip in that G-Unit tee
I won't let anyone disrespect me or my friend's memory.


Gimme a minute to say my grace with God
I need to take a moment to pray and reflect on my feelings.


I'll see your face in the mirror I came a long way to talk
I've struggled and overcome many obstacles in my life to get to where I am today.


And tell you your Moms is missing you
Your mother is grieving and wishes you were still here with us.


Your Pops is missing you
Your father is also heartbroken by your loss.


Just saw your baby pictures in your Grandmother's living room
Your family is holding onto memories of you and cherishing them.


Face is missing you homie
Everyone who knew you is struggling to cope with your absence.


Wink is missing you
Even your nickname holds special meaning to those who loved you.


Thank God you left us memories and songs to listen to
Your art and legacy will continue to live on and bring comfort to those who miss you.


??? is missing you
Someone else who knew and loved you is also suffering.


The hood is missing you
Your entire community is mourning your loss.


Let my son graduate high school
I have goals and dreams for my own family's future.


And I'm gonna come visit you
I'll always hold onto the hope of reuniting with you someday.


The world is missing you
Your impact and influence were much greater than you could have ever known.


Eminem was feeling you
Even your idols recognized your talent and potential.


Dre said he felt your vibe the little time we spent with you
Dr. Dre sensed something special and unique about you during your time together.


Pour the Henny out cuz he ain't here in the physical
We may have lost you in the physical world, but your spirit lives on.


They say real men don't cry but nigga I'm missing you
It's okay to show emotion and mourn the loss of someone you love.


[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus for emphasis.




Contributed by Vivian N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@RickyB12715

One of Game's finest tracks. I remember hearing this 10+ years ago and having chills. RIP to my brother Angel. I shed tears to this track...

@franklinmardy8171

🙏🏽

@neroinferno1214

I opend the track having in my Mind exactly what u wrote

@thijs673

Amazing song, doctors advocate was also amazing..

@probablynotgold

10+ years later and this song still haunts me (in a good way)

@sergiodzul8839

@@probablynotgold whats the name songs original of the movie belly 2 plissss

@luisblanco2342

I was 19 when this song 1st came out I’m 35 now still bumping this classic Rip to all of our loved ones who have come and gone 🕊

@wh1800

Who is slappin this in 2020?
This tracc came from the heart

@mugerwa78

Here bumping

@SamuelB818

@@mugerwa78 yee likewise

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