In the Air Tonight
Various Artists Lyrics


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"In The Air Tonite"

What we gonna do right here is go back (go back)
Way back (way back)- back into time (into time)

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment
For all my life
Oh Lord, Oh Lord

Keep still in the shit, killin the rhyme
The Queen stay poppin the wine and cockin the nine
For those who think they stoppin my dough
Wanna copy my show, wha
I'm switchin my flow, can't take it no mo'
Oh you think I'm playin around
I'm layin ya down
Album drop, new millenium shuttin it down
Better off givin it up, I'm rippin it up
Spendin money, livin it up, not givin a fuck

Hiding the tote, runnin the coast
Makin niggas catch the Holy Ghost
I'm realer than most, wha
The trendsetter, the Brooklyn repper
You know the routine
Smoke you like a ciggarette-r
We've been, out in a bit
Y'all still talkin shit
Ain't that a bitch?
What part of the game was this?

Millions I'm holdin'
Drop tops rollin'
Diamonds on my neck
And Bentley ballin'
Me and my niggas gettin' high all day
Straight to the top, cuz we on our way

Comin' for y'all, comin' for y'all
That's right I got something for y'all
Something for y'all, wha
God bless me, look at all I've been through
It's my time, I can feel it, can't you?

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment
For all my life
Oh Lord

Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?
Oh Lord, Oh Lord

JM, JM
Lil' Kim, Lil' Kim
PC, PC
Clark

Well I remember.

...back when it used to be the eighties
Said the world was gon' end in 2000 (that's crazy)
I'm the only thing to fear
For the new year
New year, and if BIG was here (woo)
Get the fans, we the ones to talk
We die real on the streets
So watch where you walk
And you can find me, usually
Talkin' dirty to a cat thugged out
Or even kinda nerdy
Lil' Kim, Lil' Cease and JM
Taking over like a plague on a town
All y'all can do is pray and watch it go down
Like when the ball drop
My fam's all I got, we keep it gangsta

Comin' for y'all, comin' for y'all
That's right I got something for y'all
Something for y'all, wha
God bless me, look at all I've been through
It's my time, I can feel it, can't you?

Well, if you told me, you were drowning
I would not a lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am
Well I was there and I saw what you did
Saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off that grin
I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment
For all my life
Oh Lord, Oh Lord

I can feel it coming in the air tonight
Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment
All my life
Oh Lord, Oh Lord





Lil' Kim, Lil' Kim
JM, JM

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Various Artists' "In the Air Tonite" are a mix of verses from different artists. The song starts with a reference to nostalgia, with the lyrics "What we gonna do right here is go back, way back - back into time," conveying the idea of taking listeners on a journey to revisit memories from the past. The main chorus of the song is a haunting melody that repeats throughout the song, with lyrics that state, "I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord, And I've been waiting for this moment, For all my life, Oh Lord, Oh Lord." The lyrics suggest that something significant is about to happen, and the writer has been anticipating this moment for a long time. The rest of the lyrics are a mix of bragging rap lyrics about wealth, power, and fame.


The second verse of the song switches to Lil' Kim rapping about herself and her crew. She boasts about her success, saying that she is rich and that she and her friends are living it up. She also portrays herself as a gangster who can talk dirty to thugs or be "kinda nerdy." The chorus does not reappear immediately after Lil' Kim's verse, which creates a sense of suspense and anticipation. The third verse is a rap again, with an intense beat underlining the lyrics that express anger and the desire to take revenge on someone who has lied. The chorus comes in again, adding to the dark and menacing atmosphere of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

What we gonna do right here is go back (go back)
Let's take it back to the past, shall we?


Way back (way back)- back into time (into time)
We're going all the way back into history.


I can feel it coming in the air tonight
I can sense something significant approaching.


Oh Lord
An expression of awe or excitement.


And I've been waiting for this moment
I've been waiting for this event to happen.


For all my life
I've waited my whole life for this moment.


Keep still in the shit, killin the rhyme
Stay focused and keep rapping with intensity.


The Queen stay poppin the wine and cockin the nine
I'm a powerful and dangerous force to be reckoned with.


For those who think they stoppin my dough
For anyone who thought they could prevent me from making money.


Wanna copy my show, wha
Trying to replicate my performance or style, huh?


I'm switchin my flow, can't take it no mo'
I'm changing up my rap style because I'm tired of the same old thing.


Oh you think I'm playin around
Do you believe I'm not serious about this?


I'm layin ya down
I'm taking someone down or asserting my dominance.


Album drop, new millenium shuttin it down
My new album will be a huge success in the new millennium.


Better off givin it up, I'm rippin it up
You should quit because I'm destroying the competition.


Spendin money, livin it up, not givin a fuck
I'm enjoying my wealth and success without caring about others' opinions.


Hiding the tote, runnin the coast
I'm hiding my gun while also staying active on the music scene.


Makin niggas catch the Holy Ghost
My music is so powerful it can bring people to a trance-like state.


I'm realer than most, wha
I boast of my authenticity and honesty.


The trendsetter, the Brooklyn repper
I'm the one who sets trends and represents Brooklyn.


You know the routine
You're familiar with how I work or what I do.


Smoke you like a ciggarette-r
I'll take you down like it's nothing.


We've been, out in a bit
We've been out of the music scene for some time.


Y'all still talkin shit
People are still criticizing or talking negatively about us.


Ain't that a bitch?
Isn't that ironic or unfortunate?


What part of the game was this?
What happened or what was going on here?


Millions I'm holdin'
I have a lot of money.


Drop tops rollin'
Driving a convertible car with the top down.


Diamonds on my neck
Refers to the expensive jewelry around the neck.


And Bentley ballin'
Riding around in a luxury car brand Bentley.


Me and my niggas gettin' high all day
I and my friends spend our day smoking weed.


Straight to the top, cuz we on our way
We're going straight to success because we're on the right path or doing well so far.


God bless me, look at all I've been through
In light of my struggles and successes, I thank God for his blessings.


Comin' for y'all, comin' for y'all
I'm coming for you, be prepared.


That's right I got something for y'all
I have something to give or show to you.


Well I remember.
I vividly recall the past or this particular event.


...back when it used to be the eighties
Refers to the 1980s, a decade in history.


Said the world was gon' end in 2000 (that's crazy)
People once thought that the world was going to end in the year 2000, which is unbelievable.


I'm the only thing to fear
I'm the only thing that's intimidating or fearful.


For the new year
In preparation for the upcoming new year.


New year, and if BIG was here (woo)
Refers to late rapper Notorious B.I.G. (known as BIG) and how his presence would be felt in the new year.


Get the fans, we the ones to talk
We have the attention of the fans and they are listening to us.


We die real on the streets
We conduct ourselves authentically and honestly while living a tough life on the streets.


So watch where you walk
Be careful where you go or what you do, because the streets are dangerous.


And you can find me, usually
You can usually locate me in this particular place.


Talkin' dirty to a cat thugged out
Engaging in raunchy or provocative conversations with someone who lives a street or gangster lifestyle.


Or even kinda nerdy
Also, I can be a little bit of a nerd or intellectual, despite my tough appearance.


Lil' Kim, Lil' Cease and JM
Refers to rappers Lil' Kim, Lil' Cease, and JM.


Taking over like a plague on a town
We're taking over the music industry like a plague takes over a town - rapidly and uncontrollably.


All y'all can do is pray and watch it go down
All people can do is hope for the best and watch as we dominate the music scene.


Like when the ball drop
Like the ball that drops in Times Square to signify the new year.


My fam's all I got, we keep it gangsta
My family is all I have and we maintain our tough, gangster image.


Well, if you told me, you were drowning
If you said you were in serious trouble.


I would not a lend a hand
I wouldn't help you, even if you needed it.


I've seen your face before my friend
I've seen you before, but I wouldn't consider us friends.


But I don't know if you know who I am
I'm not sure if you realize who I really am or how powerful I am.


Well I was there and I saw what you did
I was present and witnessed your actions.


Saw it with my own two eyes
I witnessed it firsthand, without any doubt.


So you can wipe off that grin
You shouldn't be so smug or happy right now, because I know what you did.


I know where you've been
I'm aware of your past or recent activities.


It's all been a pack of lies
Everything has been a big lie, a deception.




Writer(s): Johann Sebastian Bach, Tom Kane, Colin Nicholas Baldry

Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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