Tip The Scale
The Roots Lyrics

Homicide or suicide
Life can seem so hopeless at times that some people are either driven to kill themselves, or others to escape it all

Heads or tails
Life is unpredictable, it can be a gamble and you never know how it's going to turn out

Some think life is a living hell
Many people believe that life is a constant struggle, full of pain and suffering

Some live life just living well
Other people just seem to cruise through life effortlessly, enjoying every moment of it

I live life tryna tip the scale
The singer strives to make a difference in his life, to have some control over the outcome, and to make a positive impact

My way, my way
The singer is determined to take charge of his life, and do things on his own terms

Yo, I'm always early
The singer is reliable and punctual, always showing up ahead of schedule

I never take off 'cause I got a job
He is committed to his work and takes pride in his responsibilities

Rob Peter to pay Paul
He has been forced to rob from one area of his life to support another, just to make ends meet

Now I realize it's the winner that takes all
The singer has come to understand that in life, success is everything; it is the person who wins that comes out on top.

Do what I gotta do because I can't take loss
He is unwilling to accept defeat, and will do whatever is necessary to avoid it

Picture me living life as if I'm some animal
He refuses to give in to a primitive, animalistic way of life where survival is the only goal

That consumes its own dreams like I'm a cannibal
The singer compares himself to an animal that eats its own dreams, because he refuses to give up his aspirations and goals

I won't accept failure unless it's mechanical
He refuses to take failure personally, and will only accept it if it's due to something outside of his control

But still the alcohol mixed with the botanical
The singer acknowledges that he has vices and indulges in drinking, but this does not detract from his resolve to succeed

I guess I be referred to the owners manual full of loaners
He feels like he's a misfit, trying to fit into a world that doesn't quite understand him

Full of all the homeless throwaways and the stoners
He associates himself with a group of people who are often neglected by society: the homeless and the stoners

Soldiers of the streets with 8th grade diplomas
He identifies himself with people who've had to fight to survive in tough environments, people with limited education but unlimited street smarts

And the world awaiting their shoulders as a bonus
Despite the hurdles they face, these people have great potential and could make a huge difference in the world once they are given the chance.

Look, let he without sin live without sin
He believes in the biblical principle that only someone who is without sin can cast the first stone and that people should not judge others unless they are entirely blameless themselves

Until then, I'll be doing dirty jobs like swamp men
Because he is not free from sin, he feels like he has to do the tough, unpleasant jobs that no one else wants to do

Counting the faces of those that might have been
He spends time dwelling on the potential of lost opportunities, the things that could have been if only things had worked out better

It's like living that life but I won't live that life again
The singer has learned from his mistakes and is determined not to repeat them, to live a better life instead

Lot of niggas go to prison
The singer notes that many young black men end up in prison for various reasons

How many come out Malcolm X?
He questions how many of those who go into prison emerge as powerful advocates like Malcolm X, rather than being further pushed down by the system.

I know I'm not
He acknowledges that he is not one of those who come out stronger after going through the prison system

Shit, can't even talk about the rest
He is unable to disclose the details of why he is not like Malcolm X because it may incriminate him further

Famous last words: "You under arrest"
He is all-too-familiar with the phrase 'you're under arrest', and knows the feeling of being trapped, powerless and in danger

Will I get popped tonight? It's anybody's guess
He is in a constant state of fear, knowing that he could be arrested or shot at any moment, and there's nothing he can do about it

I guess, a nigga need to stay cunning
In order to survive, he has to be smart, observant, and quick-witted

I guess when the cops comin' need to start runnin'
He knows that when the police show up, he needs to make a quick getaway, or else he's likely to end up in trouble

I won't make the same mistakes from my last run in
He has learned from past experiences and is determined not to repeat the same mistakes that put him in jail before

You either done doing crime now or you done in
He recognizes that the only way to guarantee not getting arrested or killed is to stop committing crimes altogether and clean up his life

I got a brother on the run and one in
He has family members who are in a similar situation, either running from the police or currently in jail

Wrote me a letter, he said when you comin'
His brother is looking to him for guidance, knowing that he has a chance to make it out of this life

Shit man, I thought the goal's to stay out
He is conflicted because he knows that the ultimate goal is to stay out of prison entirely, but at the same time he wants to help his family and friends who are still in trouble

Back against the wall, then shoot your way out
When he's trapped and out of options, he has to resort to fighting his way out, even if it means breaking the law

Gettin' money's a style that never plays out
He knows that making money through illegal means is not a sustainable lifestyle, and can never last forever

Til you end up boxin' your stash, money's paid out
Eventually, the illegal money will run out and you'll be forced to confront the fact that your life has been nothing but a series of scams and empty promises

The scales of justice ain't equally weighed out
The justice system doesn't treat everyone fairly, some people get away with more than others, and some people are unjustly punished for things they didn't do

Only two ways out, digging tunnels or digging graves out
In the end, there are only two ways out of the life of crime: either dig your way to freedom or dig your own grave