Adams Avenue
Tony Tillman Lyrics
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slow it down let me show you how to live
ive been seeing and you past through you
ever when I make a lil' cash
ill show you how it is
all you have to do is hit the block
Nah man im good you're gunna
mess around and get me shot
You but my Uncle Joe up in the grave
Wait a minute man chill
Plus my momma told don't
mess with you fo you mean me no good
Yo momma mean well and said what she should
but how do you expect to leave out your hood
how do you expect to make it
graduate and then go to collage
you ain't got the knowlage or the scholarship
you can't pay tuition you ain't got them dollars
lets be honest brah you can't afford it
you see your mom will benefit assure it
I can buy my way through im good its good
im mean you're cool and all but
you're not Michel Jordan
no disrespect but I can make you bears
and they'll be so thick
that you can't fold them up
and in the colden bro
what you bout seventeen?
Nah man, im fifteen!
Brah thats old enough!
(Phone Call)
Yeah I hear you, your off is cool
but ima keep my lane
I see what happen to them other dudes
that put they hope you and all leave in shame
they leave in boxes are they leave in chains
but its all the same because its you that trained
Nah I don't make them stay
they can leave when ever
Yeah they all belive that untill somebody clappa
What the problem, huh?
Why so hostile?
Mommas baby doing what he's told?
You need a bottle and your diaper change?
you're to scared to hang
you're to smart to walk?
Ey, whatever im just being smart
seeing though your lies, that dont make me softer
and I see them other guys who didn't cut you off
then lived a life of crime
and ended up getting caught
What you trying to say thats my fault?
Now take a look around it my town
I could but you down, I can make you boss
The lyrics to Tony Tillman's "Adams Avenue" depict a conversation between two young men, with one offering to show the other how to succeed in life, while the other is initially hesitant. The first speaker, who is presented as more street-wise, attempts to persuade his friend to follow in his footsteps and turn to illegal activities in order to make money. His friend, however, is more cautious and is concerned about the potential danger involved. The first speaker insists that he can protect his friend and that they can make money together. The conversation ends with the first speaker talking about how he can either support or undermine his friend's success, depending on whether he chooses to cooperate with him or not.
One of the central themes of the song is the idea of temptation, with the first speaker tempting his friend by offering him a way of making money quickly, but at a great risk. The song explores the idea of how being tempted can lead one into making wrong decisions, and how those decisions can ultimately lead to destruction. However, it also portrays the importance of having good friends who will not lead one astray.
Overall, "Adams Avenue" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting involved with the wrong people and making immoral decisions. It demonstrates the importance of carefully considering the consequences of one's actions and having a strong sense of responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Young blood what it is
Tony Tillman starts by addressing a young person, asking them how they're doing.
slow it down let me show you how to live
He then wants the young person to slow down and let him teach them how to live.
ive been seeing and you past through you
He has seen this person around before.
ever when I make a lil' cash
Tony is implying he makes money.
ill show you how it is
He is willing to show this person how to make and live off of money.
all you have to do is hit the block
Tony tells this person the way to make money is to sell drugs.
Nah man im good you're gunna
The young person refuses to sell because he is afraid of getting shot.
mess around and get me shot
He is scared he might end up getting killed.
Nah man ima mess around and get you paid
Tony reassures him and tells him he can get paid if he sells the drugs.
You but my Uncle Joe up in the grave
Tony blames someone for the death of his Uncle Joe and suggests the listener owes him something.
Wait a minute man chill
Tony asks the young person to calm down.
Plus my momma told don't
Tony's mother advised him not to mess with this person because he is bad news.
mess with you fo you mean me no good
His mother thinks this person is not a good influence on him and he shouldn't hang out with him.
Yo momma mean well and said what she should
Tony acknowledges that his mother only wants the best for him and is trying to protect him.
but how do you expect to leave out your hood
Tony asks how the young person plans to leave his neighborhood.
how do you expect to make it
He then asks how the young person plans to be successful in life.
graduate and then go to collage
Tony suggests going to college to further education.
you ain't got the knowlage or the scholarship
However, he acknowledges that it might be difficult because the person doesn't have the education or scholarship.
you can't pay tuition you ain't got them dollars
He realizes the young person might not have the money to afford it.
lets be honest brah you can't afford it
Tony bluntly states that the young person can't afford college.
you see your mom will benefit assure it
He encourages the person to think about the benefits of going to college, such as his mother being proud.
I can buy my way through im good its good
Tony then offers an alternative solution, suggesting that he can just buy his way through life instead of going to college.
im mean you're cool and all but
He is trying to be comforting and reassuring to the young person, but also straightforward in telling him that he can't rely on Tony forever.
you're not Michel Jordan
Tony implies that the young person isn't a superstar, and that they need to work harder to be successful.
no disrespect but I can make you bears
He reassures the person that he can still help him become successful.
and they'll be so thick
Tony is suggesting that the person he's talking to will be very successful.
that you can't fold them up
He is emphasizing how much money the person will have if he follows Tony's path.
and in the colden bro
Tony begins to talk to the listener as if they are good friends by calling them bro.
what you bout seventeen?
Tony asks the young person how old they are.
Nah man, im fifteen!
The young person corrects Tony, revealing that they are actually 15 years old.
Brah thats old enough!
Tony insists that 15 is old enough to make a choice to sell drugs.
(Phone Call)
Tony receives a phone call at this point in the song.
Yeah I hear you, your off is cool
Tony is on the phone talking to someone else, saying that he understands what they're saying.
but ima keep my lane
He says he's going to keep doing what he's doing.
I see what happen to them other dudes
Tony is saying he is aware of the consequences of his actions.
that put they hope you and all leave in shame
He implies that there are others who have been in his position and failed and that he doesn't want to end up like them.
they leave in boxes are they leave in chains
Tony is saying some of those others ultimately died or ended up in prison.
but its all the same because its you that trained
He is accepting the consequences by acknowledging that he made his own choices.
Nah I don't make them stay
Tony clarifies that he doesn't force anyone else to sell drugs for him.
they can leave when ever
He is saying that anyone is free to leave if they want to.
Yeah they all belive that untill somebody clappa
Tony suggests that others might not understand the danger they're in until someone gets hurt.
What the problem, huh?
Tony snaps back to talking to the young person and asks what the problem is.
Why so hostile?
He is asking why the young person is acting so angry and defensive.
Mommas baby doing what he's told?
He implies that the reason for the young person's aggressive behavior is that he is still acting like a child who always listens to their mother.
You need a bottle and your diaper change?
He is insulting the young person, suggesting that they are not yet grown up.
you're to scared to hang
Tony is saying that the young person is too scared to spend time with him and too cowardly to do what it takes to be successful.
you're to smart to walk?
He taunts the young person and suggests they are too smart to take the risks it takes to be successful.
Ey, whatever im just being smart
Tony justifies his behavior as being smart and shrewd.
seeing though your lies, that dont make me softer
Tony tells the young person that he sees through their lies and that it won't soften his approach.
and I see them other guys who didn't cut you off
He is suggesting that others were friendly to the young person but got involved with the wrong crowd and ended up in trouble.
then lived a life of crime
He is saying that these other people got caught up in the criminal lifestyle.
and ended up getting caught
Tony warns the person that they could end up like these other guys if they don't listen to him and turn their life around.
What you trying to say thats my fault?
The young person becomes defensive, suggesting that he thinks Tony is blaming him for the situation.
Now take a look around it my town
Tony refocuses the young person's attention, telling them to look around at the people and places in the town.
I could but you down, I can make you boss
Tony insists that he can either put him down or help make him successful depending on the young person's choices.
Contributed by Natalie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.