One Time
The Roots Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, the spirit in the sky scream homicide
But it was time to ride on some niggas funny talking
If too much money talking
We make em economize
Real rap, no tale spinning, such is the life of a
Kam-I-Ka-Ze pilot
We wilin' out of control until we all make the funny papers like Comic-Con
Feared in all streets so, if you ever see me out in y’all streets
Find another one to occupy
I never hope for the best
I wish a nigga would
Turn around and walk away
I wish a nigga could
Listen to my instincts and say fuck the rest
But once you’ve had the best better ain’t as good
Weak heartedness cannot be involved
Stick to the script, nigga, fuck your improv
Like the samurai
The street’s Hammurabi Code
Play your part, shut the fuck up, and do as I was told

I was always late for the bus
Just once can I be on time
Then I start to think what’s the rush
Who wants to be on time
Feeling unlucky and if I ever got lucky it was one time
In this crazy world

Not a thing I fear besides fear itself
This is clearly a lesson learned for someone else
Reach for the crown of thorns upon the shelf
Cross around my neck
I’ve been taught by stealth
Capture this moment in time, it’s a smash and grab
And where my party people y’all finna have a blast
You say goodbye, I say hello first and last
Hello hello, Now all of y’all elevate your glass
To an example of what time will do to you
When those nameless things just keep on eluding you
When shit is new to you and lies is true to you
Words of suspects-usual, coming though to you
Man, I guess if I was ever lucky it was one time
Then I went missing looking for the sublime
A nigga stayed low, left the ladder unclimbed
Time after time, verse blank, the line un-rhymed

You ever wonder what’s the big fuss
For everyone be on time
What’s the big deal, why do they feel
The need to have us marching on line
Feeling unlucky and if I’d ever got lucky it was one time
In this crazy world

I wonder when you die do you hear harps and bagpipes
If you born on the other side of the crack pipe
Niggas learn math just to understand the crack price
Then drive in head first like the jack knife
Cause out here, yo you niggas can’t belly flop
If you wanna make the noise inside your belly stop
One time means being on the front line
Being on the front line means ducking one time
The pendulum swinging my way, couldn’t be more blind
Niggas talk to the cops? Not even one time
Cause we all going down just like the sub prime
Or a cheap ass half gallon of Ballantine
But hopping over gates to escape is sublime
Then through the alley way and down to the sub line
Tales from the streets
A life of high crime
To make it to the bottom
Such a high climb

I was always late for the bus
Just once can I be on time
Then I start to think what’s the rush
Who wants to be on time




Feeling unlucky and if I ever got lucky it was one time
In this crazy world

Overall Meaning

The Roots's song One Time is a mixture of social commentary, lyrical cleverness, and hard-hitting beats. The lyrics explore the themes of struggle and perseverance in the face of adversity, with the opening lines showcasing the violence that permeates the singer's environment. He's a "Kam-I-Ka-Ze pilot" who's "wilin' out of control," with his madness being a testament to the absurdity of life in the streets. The chorus finds the singer reflecting on his tardiness and bad luck, lamenting about how he's always seemingly missing his shot. The latter half of the song dives deeper into introspection, with the singer questioning the afterlife and reflecting on the harsh realities of dealing drugs.


Line by Line Meaning

Yo, the spirit in the sky scream homicide
The atmosphere warns of violence and danger.


But it was time to ride on some niggas funny talking
It was necessary to confront those who were disrespectful.


If too much money talking
If they are flaunting their wealth excessively.


We make em economize
We force them to be frugal and conservative with their money.


Real rap, no tale spinning, such is the life of a Kam-I-Ka-Ze pilot
Truthful music, not fabrication, is the norm for someone living recklessly like a kamikaze pilot.


We wilin' out of control until we all make the funny papers like Comic-Con
We are living wild and carelessly, and our actions may eventually make headlines like a comic book convention.


Feared in all streets so, if you ever see me out in y’all streets
I am respected and feared wherever I go.


Find another one to occupy
Avoid confronting me on the streets and find something else to do.


I never hope for the best
I do not rely on hope or chance for success.


I wish a nigga would
I am daring someone to challenge me or start a confrontation.


Turn around and walk away
Leave without instigating a conflict.


I wish a nigga could
I am still daring someone to try and fight me.


Listen to my instincts and say fuck the rest
Trust my gut and ignore anyone who tries to stop me.


But once you’ve had the best better ain’t as good
When you have experienced great success, anything less is no longer satisfying.


Weak heartedness cannot be involved
I cannot afford to be timid or indecisive.


Stick to the script, nigga, fuck your improv
Follow the plan closely and do not deviate from it.


Like the samurai
Similar to the code of honor followed by Japanese warriors.


The street’s Hammurabi Code
The unwritten laws of the streets that dictate appropriate behavior.


Play your part, shut the fuck up, and do as I was told
Accept your role, be quiet, and obey my commands.


Not a thing I fear besides fear itself
The only thing that scares me is the feeling of being scared.


This is clearly a lesson learned for someone else
I have already learned this lesson, but someone else may still need to learn it.


Reach for the crown of thorns upon the shelf
Strive for greatness, even if it means enduring pain and suffering.


Cross around my neck, I’ve been taught by stealth
I have been silently instructed to follow a particular belief system.


Capture this moment in time, it’s a smash and grab
Take advantage of this brief window of opportunity as quickly and efficiently as possible.


And where my party people y’all finna have a blast
Let's celebrate and have a good time.


You say goodbye, I say hello first and last
I am confident in my greetings, both the first and the last.


Hello hello, Now all of y’all elevate your glass
Cheers, everyone raise your glasses and celebrate.


To an example of what time will do to you
Let's honor someone who has experienced the effects of time.


When those nameless things just keep on eluding you
When those obscure things that you cannot even name continue to escape you.


When shit is new to you and lies is true to you
When everything is unfamiliar and deception seems like the only truth.


Words of suspects-usual, coming though to you
You are hearing typical statements from those who are under suspicion.


Man, I guess if I was ever lucky it was one time
Perhaps I was fortunate once in my life.


Then I went missing looking for the sublime
I disappeared while searching for something truly beautiful or exceptional.


A nigga stayed low, left the ladder unclimbed
I avoided being in the spotlight and did not reach my full potential.


Time after time, verse blank, the line un-rhymed
Repeatedly, I struggle to write coherent and meaningful lyrics.


You ever wonder what’s the big fuss
Have you ever considered why people make a big deal out of things?


For everyone be on time
Why is being punctual such a big deal for everyone?


What’s the big deal, why do they feel
Why do people attach so much importance to being on time?


The need to have us marching on line
Why do others insist on us conforming and marching in step with them?


I wonder when you die do you hear harps and bagpipes
I ponder what happens after we die, and if these musical instruments are associated with the afterlife.


If you born on the other side of the crack pipe
If you are born into and raised in an environment of drug addiction and poverty.


Niggas learn math just to understand the crack price
People in such environments must learn mathematical skills to comprehensively understand how much drugs cost.


Then drive in head first like the jack knife
Then aggressively and recklessly engage in drug dealing to make money.


Cause out here, yo you niggas can’t belly flop
Because out here, you cannot make mistakes or fail without consequences.


If you wanna make the noise inside your belly stop
If you want to silence your hunger pangs or discomfort due to your impoverished condition.


One time means being on the front line
Being on the front line means being in a visible and significant role.


Being on the front line means ducking one time
Being in a prominent role also means being at risk of confrontation or danger and having to avoid these situations.


The pendulum swinging my way, couldn’t be more blind
Fortune or success is currently in my favor, though unaware of how fleeting it can be.


Niggas talk to the cops? Not even one time
We do not speak to law enforcement, not even once or under any circumstances.


Cause we all going down just like the sub prime
Because we are all headed towards failure or a challenging situation, similar to the subprime mortgage crisis.


Or a cheap ass half gallon of Ballantine
Like an inferior or low-quality bottle of whiskey.


But hopping over gates to escape is sublime
Evading difficulties or danger in secret is a liberating experience.


Then through the alley way and down to the sub line
Then through the backstreets and down to the subway station.


Tales from the streets
Stories about the harsh realities and dangers of living in certain areas.


A life of high crime
A life of engaging in illegal activities.


To make it to the bottom
To succeed and reach the lowest point in one's business or activity.


Such a high climb
To reach such success requires significant effort and perseverance.


Feeling unlucky and if I ever got lucky it was one time
I often feel as though I have bad luck, and if I have ever experienced good luck, it was only once.


In this crazy world
In this unpredictable and chaotic society.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: PHONTE COLEMAN, KARL JENKINS, BRENT REYNOLDS, AHMIR THOMPSON, TARIK TROTTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Mike Ball


on Proceed V (Da Beatminerz remix)

So after purchasing “Do You Want More” the day it dropped, my guy the upped me from jump (pass the popcorn obvi) found this join on a European release and pressed play…the rest is history. But there in lies my question…what IS the history, the story on how, where, when, this was created? I need to know for context. Drop a link if there is one out there PLEASE! V 5 is a masterpiece!

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