One Life
The Last Emperor Lyrics

1993, shortly before Thanksgiving
In 1993, just before Thanksgiving, the singer received a call informing him about the death of Jamal Derek.

I got the call, she said Jamal Derek is not longer living
The singer got a call from someone informing him that Jamal Derek had passed away.

Softly she spoke, is this a joke? Man you gotta be kidding
The person who called the singer spoke very softly and the singer thought that it might be a joke or prank.

As my question was raised this explanation was given
The artist had a lot of questions in mind, but the caller did not provide any explanation.

A meaningless death made me question the meaning of life
Jamal Derek's death was senseless and it made the artist think about the purpose of life.

Does my body remain at rest like when I'm sleeping at night?
The singer wonders if his body will be at rest like it is when he's sleeping after he dies.

Will I burn in eternal hell or will I find paradise?
The singer is worried about what will happen to his soul after he dies, whether he will be punished or rewarded.

Be rejected or resurrected like the body of Christ?
The artist is questioning if he will be accepted or rejected after he dies, or if he will come back to life like Jesus Christ.

Is it like purgatory, the story described by the Catholics?
The artist is contemplating if the Catholic idea of purgatory (a place of temporary punishment) is what happens after someone dies.

Or Nirvana that Buddhists honor in both theory and practice?
The artist wonders if Nirvana (a state of enlightenment) is what happens to people who follow Buddhism after they die.

Like I study in my college philosophy classes
The singer relates his questions about death and afterlife to his studies of philosophy in college.

Or do my molecules and atoms travel back to the gases?
The artist is wondering if, after he dies, his physical body will break down into gases, thus returning to the environment.

I mean, what I like to know, is where my spirit goes?
The singer is looking for answers about where his spirit/soul goes after he dies.

After the curtains close, on my final show?
The singer uses the imagery of curtains closing on a show to describe his death.

Is there a pain it brings? Enjoy my favorite things?
The singer wonders if there is any pain in death and if he will still be able to enjoy the things he loves.

Visit ancient kings? Hear the angels sing?
The artist imagines being able to visit ancient kings and hear angels singing, as a possibility after he dies.

Who'll answer these said the great MCs
The artist acknowledges that these questions cannot be answered and even great MCs cannot provide a solution.

My man Gribbles battling a debilitating disease
The singer mentions his friend Gribbles, who is fighting a serious illness.

He said you see a brother like me is willing to fight
Gribbles has shown willingness to fight his illness.

And everytime I question death my only answer is life
Gribbles reminds the artist that questioning death only leads to one answer, which is life.

[Chorus] One life, yeah
The chorus emphasizes the idea that we only have one life to live.

And my God will set me free
The artist believes that God will give him freedom after death.

Am I living in this moment
The singer asks himself if he's living in the present moment the best way he can.

Am I living righteously
The artist asks if he's living a good and honorable life.

It gets hard
The singer admits that life can be difficult.

But I know I got to keep on
Despite the difficulties of life, the singer knows he has to keep going.

I'm trying so hard to be strong
The singer is making an effort to remain strong.

Paralyzed on the bathroom floor by pain
The artist describes being physically paralyzed by pain on the bathroom floor.

Last month I endured, but now I can't ignore
The artist mentions that he was able to get through pain last month, but this time it's different.

Feels like railroad spikes being stuck in my liver
The pain is unbearable and the singer compares it to having railroad spikes in his liver.

Am I dying? Eyes crying, body starting to shiver
The singer is wondering if he's dying, which makes him emotional and his body weak.

Crawl upstairs from the basement calling my sister
The artist can barely move, but he tries to crawl upstairs to ask for help.

(Sniff) Dawn help me, I ain't feeling too healthy
The artist asks Dawn for help because he feels very sick.

Stomach walls burning, head spinning and turning
The artist describes the physical symptoms of his pain and sickness.

Waiting for the EMS; 3:10 in the morning
The singer waits for emergency medical services to arrive at 3:10 am.

Rush me to the emergency screaming like a newborn
The artist is taken to the emergency room and his pain is so intense that he screams like a newborn baby.

The pain's too strong maybe my soul's trying to move on
The singer wonders if the pain is so severe that his soul is trying to leave his body.

They hook me to the I.V., put me through some X-Rays
The hospital staff administers an IV and takes the singer through some X-Rays.

Gave me Demerol to kill the pain that was the next phase
The hospital staff gives the singer a powerful painkiller, Demerol, to help him cope with the pain.

Early the next day in the hospital room
The artist wakes up in the hospital the next day.

Moms and pops in the room, three or four docs in the room
The artist's parents and three or four doctors are in the hospital room with him.

Test results suggest your colon and your liver
The test results show that the singer's colon and liver are at risk.

Is so cancerous you got three months left
The singer is informed that he only has three months left to live due to cancer.

Me and Death is playing chess ever since then
The artist has been playing a game of chess with Death ever since he found out he has cancer.

My strength is the most high, my fam and close friends
The artist's strength comes from his faith in a higher power and the love and support of his family and close friends.

The Last Emp and Set Free blessed me with a verse
The Last Emperor and Set Free wrote and performed a song for the artist to give him strength.

Staying healthy comes first
The singer realizes that staying healthy is the most important thing in life.

Look at me things could be worst
The artist acknowledges that things could be worse and he feels grateful for what he has in life.

[Chorus:Repeat x2] One life, yeah
The chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea that we only have one life to live.