Frontline
The Pharcyde Lyrics

No time to relax, nowhere to run
The situation is dire and there is no respite or escape

Living on the frontline
Existing in a constant state of danger and struggle

Who could believe in you if what you say isn't true
If someone is proven to be dishonest, their credibility evaporates

If he's deceiving me then what's he see for you
A person who is untruthful to one will likely be untruthful to others

When they raise the flag who do I pledge allegiance to
In times of conflict or uncertainty, it can be difficult to know where one's loyalties lie

Life in paper bags, sometimes they fall through
Metaphor for life's fragility; sometimes things fall apart

Best love I ever had was this world when it was new
Expressing nostalgia for a time when the world seemed pure and untarnished

Back in nineteen-seventy all the way to eighty-two
Referring to a period of time that the artist remembers fondly

Things were heavenly around the town where I grew
The artist has positive memories associated with their childhood home

Family love was the sound that I knew, or ran home to
The artist associates a feeling of safety and comfort with being with their family

Don't it make your brown eyes blue?
Playful question asking whether the troubles and hardships of life have gotten the better of the listener

When somebody loves you just for you
Emphasizing the rarity and specialness of being loved unconditionally

With no competition testing you
Expressing appreciation for a love that isn't predicated on competition or one-upmanship

What's the proposition of our disposition unable
Questioning the point of our existence if we are unable to fulfill our goals and desires

You said that I'm a finish, my style won't replenish
Responding to criticism that the singer's style is stale and no longer relevant

You reckon I'll diminish, fuck a demolition
Rejecting the idea that the artist's talent or creativity will fade away

I'm steady on a mission with no intermission
Asserting that the artist is focused and committed to their goals

Cramped up in rough conditions like a Cessna in a hurricane
Metaphor for being in a difficult and uncomfortable situation

I get my best nuts standing on virgin stages
The singer feels energized and empowered by performing on new and untested stages

Feeling timeless and ageless
Expressing a feeling of being transcendent and beyond the limitations of time

Seen those like embryos in our invasion
Metaphor for the artist's sense of being part of a new and exciting movement

It's universal, God is amazing
Expressing a sense of awe and wonder at the universality of certain experiences and joys

They mad cause my rhymes even sound fresh a capella
Others are envious and resentful of the singer's talents, even when they perform without musical accompaniment

Hella fellas is hella jealous, had me feeling uncomfortable
The artist feels awkward and uncomfortable in the presence of others who are envious and hostile

Cause they're unacceptable while we're the exceptional
The singer feels that their talents and abilities set them apart from others

Here to let you know they're influenced by the phenomenal
Implying that the singer's success has inspired and influenced others

While you're unable cause you're too unstable
Others lack the necessary skills, talent, or discipline to achieve success

All of your progress is minimal and that's the inescapable fact
Others are making very little progress in their lives while the artist is experiencing success and growth

Verbal rhyme visionaries equipped with stacks of wax
The artist and other like-minded artists possess artistic vision and skills that set them apart

Rhythm that varies and carries like the wind
The singer's musical style is versatile and ever-changing

Travelling and elevating towards unattainable heights
The singer is constantly pushing themselves to achieve greater success and heights

Exercising my rights and just trying to do what I feel is right
The artist is asserting their independence and doing what they believe is the best course of action

There's a lot of players in the game
Acknowledging that many people are competing for success and recognition

And they seem they can't remember why, forgot their goals
Implying that some people lose sight of their original goals and motivations

Lost then stole like skipper in the minnow
Metaphor for being lost and then taking what one can when a solution isn't apparent

Now they got a long face like Leno
Imagery to convey the unhappiness and dissatisfaction of those who have lost their way

Stressed, feeling gray, nervous
Describing the negative emotional states of those who are struggling

Asking what they did to deserve this
Questioning why they are experiencing difficulties or struggles

Maybe it's not what you did but what you did not
Suggesting that one's lack of action or effort may be contributing to their struggles

You're like snot, uncomfortable, agitated
Comparing the artist's detractors to something unpleasant and disruptive

We inter raining what was said in the past
The present is being shaped by events and words from the past

Nigga could buy a Benz and can't afford gas
Metaphor for people who are able to achieve some measure of success, but are still struggling financially

Getting nowhere fast in a hurry
Expressing the frustration of feeling like one is working hard but making little progress

My visions not blurry, to quote Mr Flave:
Asserting that the artist's vision or goals are clear and well-defined

Don't Believe the Hype unless his last name is Williams
Referencing a famous person (presumably a musician) whose success is well-earned

Then it's guaranteed play, am I lying?
Asking whether the hard work of the artist and others like them will eventually lead to success

If you ask me how I'm doing, I'm trying
Acknowledging that life is difficult and that the singer is doing their best to navigate it

To stay above six feet outside of the bars and the concrete
Metaphor for maintaining a positive outlook and avoiding the supposed inevitabilities of life

Love pumping grass making a bomb beat
Describing the singer's creative process and how they derive inspiration from nature

This is for my niggas on the late night creep
Dedicating the song to people who work hard (and often alone) in the late hours of the night

Watch where you sleep, watch where you sleep
Warning to be vigilant and cautious in a world that can be dangerous and unpredictable

Oh yeah, 342nd airborne
Non-sequitur or inside reference to a particular military unit/operation