Y
The Pharcyde Lyrics

Be like that, it just be like that
That's just the way things are and we can't always change them.

Baby tell me why it's gotta be like that
Questioning why things have to be the way they are.

I wasn't sleepin' I was creepin' slidin' hidin'
Moving around secretly and cautiously, avoiding being noticed.

I would love the girl behind me roll up a fat time
Wanting the girl behind him to roll a joint.

Thinkin' mentally sinkin'
Feeling mentally overwhelmed and sinking emotionally.

Presently breaking two decades n a half
Breaking the 25-year mark and reflecting on the past.

Waitin' for the path of mine to follow
Waiting for a clear direction or purpose to follow in life.

The world is hollow yet it's full of crap prepared to gamble
The world may appear empty and meaningless, but there are still risks and uncertainties involved in life.

I give you a handful of chips and tips
Providing advice and resources for the future.

For what's to come, I cried a ton of tears
Feeling anxious and emotional about what the future holds.

Drunk a ton of beers, that's fun at first
Engaging in enjoyable but ultimately unfulfilling activities.

But learned to persevere throughout the years
Realizing the importance of persistence and endurance over time.

Kept my ears open, eyes scoping mouth locked
Being alert and observant while remaining silent and cautious.

Don't rock the boat if you can't swim
Avoid getting involved in risky or dangerous situations if you're not prepared for the potential consequences.

Nobody may be there with the limb to lend
You may not always have someone to rely on or help you in difficult times.

This is the end, still I can't explain the fact
Feeling as though the end of something is approaching, but still not understanding why things happened the way they did.

Why the fuck shit gotta be like that?
Expressing frustration and confusion about the way things are.

Know what, I said it
Asserting one's thoughts or opinions with confidence.

Hear me clearin' over so severe and dreaded
Speaking clearly and with intensity, commanding attention and respect.

That they need to be beheaded
Metaphorically saying that certain copycats or imitators should be eliminated or put in their place.

Why? I'm readily, steadily stimulating and mutilating
Being a skilled rapper who is both creative and capable of destroying the competition.

All sloppily copied imitations, 'cause they irritatin'
Disliking imitation or lack of originality in rap music.

So I'm intimitading them over the snare
Using his skills and delivery to intimidate other rappers and assert dominance over their music.

With simply a stare
Being so confident and self-assured that he can intimidate others with just a look.

Bringin them turbulent terror
Creating fear and chaos in those who try to imitate his style or take him on in a rap battle.

And they know this 'cause they can feel it
Other rappers can sense the intensity and skill he brings to each performance.

He knew that it was mine still the sucker tried to steal it
Being aware that someone else was trying to take credit for his work or style, but refusing to let them succeed.

So I had to reveal it, through provin'
Demonstrating his skills and talent to others to prove that he was the real deal and not a copycat.

That I am astonishing and fly
Being confident and proud of his skills and abilities as a rapper.

And by just blinking my eye
Being so talented and confident that he can impress others just by blinking an eye.

In a flash I flush out the face, layin' low-key
Being able to quickly and confidently adapt to whatever situation or confrontation presents itself, without drawing too much attention to himself.

Trained eyes locate to focus on the phony
Having the ability to detect insincerity or inauthenticity in others and avoid being tricked or taken advantage of.

Mister sometime-homey, why he act like that
Questioning why someone he thought was a friend would suddenly start acting different or behaving strangely.

I thought he had my back
Assuming that someone he trusted was on his side and had his best interests in mind.

I thought he had our backs
Assuming that someone was loyal to the group or cause he was a part of, only to find out they were not.

But it was him who I should've never trusted
Realizing that the person he trusted was not worthy of that trust and had betrayed him in some way.

And not at least till he got his attitude adjusted
Realizing that someone's negative attitude or behavior can be a warning sign that they are not trustworthy.

Or mouth busted for acting all dusted, but bust this
Mouths off a threat of physical violence towards those who act in an untrustworthy or aggressive way.

Now when I'm out I seek and thought out the whole scene
Being vigilant and aware of one's surroundings in order to stay safe and avoid trouble.

For all sinister types, sneaks that scheme
Being on the lookout for people who may be planning something illegal or harmful.

They come into my face, I send them tight men home
Being able to handle confrontations with ease and send aggressive or harmful people away from him.

When they be suffering from the double-agent syndrome
Having to deal with people who are not truthful or are working for opposing interests.

Sometimes this world means everything to me
Feeling as though the world and its experiences are all that matter in life.

The inside is lovely to these eyes I see
Finding beauty and joy in one's internal thoughts and emotions rather than external experiences.

And sometimes in my mind all I wanna do is cry
Feeling overwhelmed or emotional, and wanting to express those emotions by crying.

Highly up-set but nothing drops from my eye
Feeling upset or emotional, but not being able to cry or express those feelings outwardly.

Those drain out my skin cause I'm pissed from within
Feeling angry and frustrated inside, even if it's not obvious from the outside.

I see a situation now and all I do is grin
Finding humor or irony in a situation that might otherwise be stressful or upsetting.

People think I'm high but I'm mentally travelling
Appearing to be under the influence of drugs, but in reality just being lost in thought or lost in one's own mind.

Aging is your times 'cause life's unraveling
Feeling as though life is slowly passing by and things are starting to fall apart or become more difficult.

While I'm straddlin' walls up this fuckin' mic
Being intensely focused on one's music or performance and feeling as though they are in control of the situation.

I hate to be a pilot crashin' in a flight
Feeling reluctant to fail or make mistakes in front of an audience or fans.

People need to know about this thing called life
Feeling a sense of responsibility to share one's experiences or wisdom about life with others.

'Cause if you see the light then life's alright
If one can understand and appreciate what life has to offer, then life can be fulfilling and enjoyable.

So can you dig it?
Asking whether or not someone else is able to relate to or understand his experiences and thoughts.

Popped in my freestyle tapes, started reminiscing
Listening to one's own past music and feeling nostalgic or reflective.

About my little homie, who was raised in Wyoming, wanted to be famous
Reflecting on a friend or peer who had big aspirations and goals for their music career.

So he came to Californey on the microphony
Moving to California in order to pursue a career in rap music.

He was super bad and what not
Describing his friend as being extremely talented or skilled.

But he was the kinda fella to follow fads that was hot
Acknowledging that his friend could be influenced by popular trends or styles in music.

He became too fascinated with that gang related flavor
Becoming overly interested in the gangster lifestyle and culture that was present in the rap music scene at the time.

That he modificated, rearranged his behavior
Adjusting his personality or behavior in order to fit in with a certain group or style of music.

He hooked up quick with the influential slang
Adopting the language and slang that was used by influential or popular rappers at the time.

Gangsta-stroll, cornrolls, the whole shabbang
Imitating the physical style or appearance of gangster rappers, including their manner of walking and hairstyle.

Braggin' and boastin, boastin' and braggin'
Showing off and being overly confident about one's skills and accomplishments.

How he mostly be hangin' with baby gees I was baggin'
Bringing up his friends who were members of youth gangs or street crews.

Like why you tryin' to ride up on the bandwagon
Questioning why he was trying to fit in with a certain group or style of rap music, instead of staying true to his own talents and ideas.

Hopin' they'd hit him in the head, but he steady saggin'
Expressing resentment or frustration towards his friend for behaving in a way that would attract negative attention or danger.

Like he a hog
Comparing his friend to a selfish or greedy animal.

Creepin' through the smog
Moving stealthily or with secrecy through a polluted or difficult environment.

Smokin' on some indo sippin' on a cup of O-Dog
Describing his friend engaging in drug use, while also drinking alcohol.

Like most who come to this West Coast society
Observing that many people who move to California from other areas aspire to a certain style or level of success in the entertainment industry.

Try to be because they think it's fly to be a menace
Believing that it's cool or desirable to act tough or rebellious, even if it's not true to one's own personality or character.

So what a relic way to end this
Commenting on how his friend's story is a tragic or outdated example of the tendency to conform to a certain style or image in rap music.

Got rolled up when he was strolling
Being arrested or targeted by law enforcement while walking or moving around in the city.

On a Sunday at the Venice
Describing the specific location where his friend was arrested or targeted by police.

Some niggas never listen they gotta learn their lesson
Noting that despite warnings or advice, some people still have to learn things the hard way, through their own mistakes or failures.

The hard way I'm guessin' yessin'
Reflecting on how difficult it can be to change someone's behavior or attitude, even if it's necessary or desirable.

Deedy as I hit the Beady and make a right on Weston
Ending the rap with a reference to his own location or route, bringing the story full circle.