One Day
UGK Lyrics

Well, well, well, well
The song begins with a phrase that can be interpreted as an introduction or a conversation between the two friends

Hello baby
The singer greets his friend and begins sharing his experiences

Fool, one day you're here
The singer addresses his friend as a fool and then proceeds to warn him/her about the impermanence of life

And then you're gone
The singer explains the previous line by saying that life is unpredictable and one can't know how much time they have left on this planet

Mama put me out at only fourteen
The singer talks about his upbringing, how his mother kicked him out of their house when he was only fourteen years old.

So I start sellin' crack cocaine and codeine
The singer explains how he started his life of crime to survive, by getting into the drug trade by selling several drugs.

Time to stack some paper, I gotta do it quick
The singer emphasizes how he needs to earn money quickly to support himself and his family. He wants to accumulate wealth as soon as possible.

Thinkin' I'm a juvenile but they don't know who they messin' with
The singer reflects on how he is considered a minor by the law enforcement but wants to show them that he is not someone to be underestimated.

Yeah, my mama's only son
The singer talks about his unique status within his family as his mother's only son.

But I live every day like it's my muthafuckin last one
The singer reflects on how he lives every day of his life as if it were his last, as he knows how precarious life is and wants to enjoy every moment he gets.

Every nigga and they mama askin why
The singer talks about how people question why he does what he does, and his response to them would always be that he does it because he wants to

But I'm in the game live by the game
The singer explains his life philosophy of living by the rules of the street life that he has chosen to live, and he expects the same from others around him who live by a similar code.

And in the game I'ma die
The singer reflects on the dangers of the street life that he leads and expects that he could lose his life doing what he does.

And if I die or should I say if I go (yeah)
The singer acknowledges the possibility of his death and then proceeds to ask for specific last rites.

Bury me in Hiram Clarke next to the Come N Go (huh)
The singer requests that he is buried near his local store, which serves as a symbol of his community and the place where he has lived his entire life.

'Cause tomorrow ain't promised to me
The singer emphasizes the uncertainty of life and how there is no guarantee of tomorrow, so he wants to live his life to the fullest today.

The only thin' promised to a playa is the penitentiary
The singer reflects on the inevitability of getting caught by the authorities when engaging in criminal activities and how one day, he may have to go to jail.

So I'ma take care of my business on the smooth tip
The singer explains how he would manage his business in a subtle and calm way, so as to keep a low profile and avoid getting the attention of the authorities.

Watch my back sellin crack and pack two clips
The singer talks about how he is always cautious while engaging in his criminal activities, as he knows that danger is just around the corner.

And when ya think about that you say, "It'll be on"
The singer reflects on how his reputation precedes him and how people would view him as someone who can take care of his business.

It's a trip you're here today
The singer reflects on the strangeness of life and how it's impossible to know what the future holds.

But the next day you're gone
The singer reinforces the idea of the impermanence of life and how one never knows when their time is up.

This world we livin' in, man it ain't nothin' but drama
The singer reflects on the troubles and tribulations of the world we live in, as it is full of conflict and setbacks.

Everyone wanna harm ya
The singer talks about how the world is full of people who want to cause harm to others and how violence is just a way of life for those who live in his community.

In New York niggas gettin' shot for bombers
The singer highlights how violence has become a way of life in many parts of the country, where people are getting killed for even the most trivial reasons.

Now they got your life in the palm of they hand like California
The singer talks about how the justice system controls people's lives, much like how California controls many aspects of life in America.

Niggas with dubs of hydroponic marijuana
The singer talks about how people are involved in drug trade even in the present times, and how marijuana is a commonly traded product.

Gangbangin got the ghetto hotter than a sauna
The singer reflects on how gang violence has affected his community and how this has made the living conditions unbearable and hostile for people like them.

Down in Orange my nigga Pots died on the corner
The singer talks about how one of his friends died on the street corner, where he used to sell drugs.

Behind a funky-ass dice game
The singer reveals the circumstances that led to his friend's death, which was caused by a dice game that went wrong.

I saw him once before he died wish it was twice, man (once in the evenin')
The singer regrets not spending more time with his friend before he died and shares an anecdote about how he only saw him once in the evening when he passed away.

I remember bein' eight deep off in Chucky crib
The singer reminisces about a time when he had fun with his friends and how he wishes to go back to those simpler times.

Lettin' us act bad not givin' a fuck what we did
The singer talks about how he lived his life without any inhibitions and how he had the freedom to do as he pleased.

When we lost him I knew the world was comin' to the end
The singer reflects on how he felt when he lost his friend, as it felt like the world was crashing down on him.

And I had to quit lettin' that devil push me to a sin
The singer talks about how the loss of his friend made him want to turn his life around and how he doesn't want to indulge in any activities that have the potential for causing harm to others.

My brother been in the pen for damn near ten
The singer talks about how his brother has been in jail for almost ten years.

But now it look like when he come out man I'm goin' in (yeah)
The singer shares a moment of realization that his brother's release may coincide with his own incarceration, which he has accepted as inevitable.

So shit I walk around with my mind blown in my own fuckin' zone
The singer talks about how he's always lost in thought, wondering about what his future holds and how he's going to deal with the obstacles and challenges that lay ahead.

'Cause one day you're here, the next day you're gone
The singer concludes the song with the central idea that life is fleeting and unpredictable, and one must live every day like it's their last.