Can It Be All So Simple / Intermission
Wu‐Tang Clan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We gotta get this loot
Yo back in the, yo remember back in the days
When shit, everything was all smooth and calm and shit was like"
"Where's my bone, nigga?"
"Yo man, yo I'm doin' it God, I'm doin' it, man
I'm sayin', like, no, no, like back in like in '70, fuckin' '79"
"Everybody was on my line, man"
Polo shit, everything, everything was lovely, man
Yo, come get the fuck out the rain, nigga
Get the fuck, oh shit, who the fuck is that? Fuck
Ayo Ghost, yo Rae, what's up with y'all niggas, man?
What the fuck y'all niggas, ah"
Hey, you know, everybody's talkin' about the "good old days," right? (Yeah)
Everybody, the good old days, the good all days (yeah, the good ol' days, yeah)
Well, let's talk about the good old days (let's talk about them shits)
Know what I'm sayin'?
Take you on this lyrical high real quick
1993 exoticness, know what I'm sayin'?
Let's get technical, where's your bone at?
Get up on that shit, aight?
Yo
Started off on the Island, AK Shaolin niggas wildin'
Gun shots thrown, the phone diallin'
Back in the days, I'm eight now
Makin' a tape now, Rae gotta get a plate now
Ignorant and mad young, wanted to be the one
'Til I got (blaow-blaow-blaow), felt one
Yeah, my pops was a fiend since sixteen (word)
Shootin' that "that's that shit" in his blood stream
That's the life of a grimy, real live crimey
If niggas know that habit's behind me
Day one, yo, growin' all up in the ghetto
Now I'm a weed fiend jettin' to Palmetto
In Medina, yo, no doubt, the God got crazy clout
Pushin' the big joint from down South (uh, uh)
So if you're filthy stacked up, better watch your back and duck
'Cause these fiends, they got it cracked up
Now my man from up North, now he got the loft
It's solid as a rock and crazy soft
No jokes, I'm not playin', get his folks
Desert Eagle his dick and put him in a yoke (ah)
And to know for sure, I got wreck and rip shop
I pointed a gat at his mother's knot
(Yo, yo, Rae, don't do that shit, man
Yo, don't do that shit) word up
Fuck that (word up, nigga)
Dedicated to the winners and the losers (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
(Dedicated to all Jeeps and Land Cruisers)
Dedicated to the 5's, 850i's (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
(Dedicated to niggas who do drive-bys)
Dedicated to the Lexus and the Ac's (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
(Dedicated to MPV's, phat)
Nigga, yeah, yeah (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
Yo
Kickin' the fly clichés, doin' duets with Rae and A
Happens to make my day
Though I'm tired of bustin' off shots, havin' to rock knots
Runnin' up in spots and makin' shit hot
I'd rather flip shows instead of those
Hangin' on my livin' room wall, my first joint and it went gold
I wanna lamp, I wanna be in the shade
Plus the spotlight, gettin' my dick rode all night
I want to have me a phat yacht
And enough land to go and plant my own sess crops
But for now it's just a big dream
'Cause I find myself in a place where I'm last seen
My thoughts must be relaxed, be able to maintain
'Cause times is changed and life is strange
The glorious days is gone and everybody's doin' bad
Yo, mad lives is up for grabs
Brothers passin' away, I gotta make wakes
Receivin' all types of calls from Upstate
Yo, I can't cope with the pressure, settlin' for lesser
The God left the lessons on my dresser
So I can bloom and blossom, find a new way
Continue to make more hits with Rae and A
Sunshine plays a major part in the daytime
(Peace to mankind, Ghostface carry a black .9, nigga)
Word up, it's on like that
Can it be that it was all so simple then? (Yeah)
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Can it be that-
Can it-
Was all so simple then
Can it be that it was all so-
Simple then
Can it be-
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
It's like this, I'ma start from the top
Inspectah Deck, he's like
He's like that dude that'll sit back and watch you (uh-huh)
Play yourself and all that, right? (Uh-huh)
And see you sit there and know you lyin'
And he'll take you to court after that
'Cause he the Inspectah, that's why he the and
And also he the Rebel I.N.S (uh-huh)
You know what I'm sayin'?
And, and Shallah Raekwon, he the Chef
He cookin' up some marvelous shit to get your mouth waterin'
On some, "Oh shit" (okay)
Then, then it's, then it's the Method Man
It's like mad different methods to the way I do my shit (mm-hmm)
You gotta smoke a bean in here, anyhow
And I'm tellin' you, mine
Basically Method Man is like
Roll that shit, light that shit, smoke it
Know what I'm sayin'?
And, and, and then Baby U, he a psychopathic
He a psychopathic thinker (uh-huh)
And, and, then we got, then we got the Ol' Dirty Bastard (uh-huh)
'Cause there ain't no father to his style
That's why he the Ol' Dirty Bastard
Ghostface Killah, you know what I'm sayin'?
He on some "now you see me, now you don't"
Know what I'm sayin'?
And and, the RZA
He the sharpest motherfucker in the whole Clan
He always on point, razor sharp (uh-hyh, uh-huh)
With the beats, with the rhymes, whatever, and he DJ
And the GZA the Genius is just the Genius
He, he's the backbone of the whole shit
It's self-explanatory
He the head, let's put it that way (he a Genius, word)
We, we form like Voltron, and GZA happen to be the head
You know what I'm sayin'?
Yeah, yeah, that's cool
So what's like, I mean what's y'all like
Ultimate goal against in this in this industry?
Can I say this one? Can I say this one? (Domination, baby, fuck that)
Right now, right now, we still, we still
Feel like we ain't get what we want yet
When we get, when we get, when we get a little props (uh-huh)
When we really really get to where we gotta go (mm-hmm)
That's when you know it's on
You know what I'm sayin'? (Mm-hmm)
'Cause right about now, I ain't braggin' or nothin'
But yo, the Wu, the Wu got somethin'
That I know that everybody wanna hear
'Cause I know I've been waitin' to hear (yeah, yeah)
You know what I'm sayin'?
But straight up and down, 'til we get the goal
We gon' keep goin' (yeah)
'Cause we tryin' to do all this
We tryin' to make a business outta this, man
We ain't tryin' to-
Know what I'm sayin'?
Affiliate ourselves with them fake-ass A&Rs and all that (word)
We tryin' to make our own shit
So that when our children, word (it's longevity out here)
So that when our children get old (know what I'm sayin'?
Our seeds or whatever they got somethin' for theyself right there (true)
We ain't, we ain't tryin' to hop in and hop out right quick (word)
Know what I'm sayin'? (Yeah)
We out for the Gusto, man (we tryin' to stay here)
And we gon' keep it raw
You know what I'm sayin'?
The first part of the lyrics to Wu-Tang Clan’s song “Can It Be All So Simple / Intermission” appears to be a group of friends reminiscing about the past. They are discussing the “good old days” and how everything was smoother and calmer back then. This is interrupted by someone who is focused on getting loot and exclaims that they need to get the loot. Then the lyrics go into a description of the harsh reality of growing up in the ghetto, including gunshots and drug addiction. The persona in the song discusses wanting to make it big in the music industry, but also wanting to have a peaceful life with a yacht and land to grow weed. However, they are struggling to make their way in the industry and dealing with the pressures of life.
The second part of the song has a spoken-word section where each member of the Wu-Tang Clan explains their role in the group, their style, and their ultimate goal. They discuss that they are trying to make a business out of their music and not affiliate with fake A&Rs. Instead, they want to make their own way and have something for their children in the future. The lyrics throughout the song paint a picture of the harsh realities of growing up in a ghetto and struggling to make it in the music industry. Despite this, the Wu-Tang Clan members are determined to succeed and make their mark on the industry.
Line by Line Meaning
"Fuck yo, we gotta get this fuckin' loot, baby
Hey, we really need to acquire a lot of money, my dear
We gotta get this loot
We must obtain a large amount of cash
Yo back in the, yo remember back in the days
Hey, do you recall the old times?
When shit, everything was all smooth and calm and shit was like
When everything was peaceful and effortless
"Where's my bone, nigga?"
Hey, where is my marijuana, my friend?
Yo man, yo I'm doin' it God, I'm doin' it, man
Hey, I'm achieving my goals, my friend
I'm sayin', like, no, no, like back in like in '70, fuckin' '79
I mean, no, no, like in the year 1979
Everybody was on my line, man
Everyone was contacting me, my friend
Nah, nah, '87, that was my favorite shit, God
No, no, 1987 was my preferred period
Polo shit, everything, everything was lovely, man
Everything, including fashion, was excellent
Yo, come get the fuck out the rain, nigga
Hey, come inside and escape the rain, my friend
Get the fuck, oh shit, who the fuck is that? Fuck
Leave quickly, oh no, who is that? Damn it
Ayo Ghost, yo Rae, what's up with y'all niggas, man?
Hey, Ghost and Rae, how are you guys doing, my friends?
What the fuck y'all niggas, ah"
What the hell are you guys up to?
Hey, you know, everybody's talkin' about the "good old days," right? (Yeah)
Hey, you know, everyone is referring to the past, right?
Everybody, the good old days, the good all days (yeah, the good ol' days, yeah)
Everyone, reminiscing about the past, especially the good times
Well, let's talk about the good old days (let's talk about them shits)
Well, let's discuss those remarkable past experiences
Know what I'm sayin'?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Take you on this lyrical high real quick
Let me take you on a quick journey with my poetic expression
1993 exoticness, know what I'm sayin'?
The year 1993 was a unique and exceptional time, do you understand?
Let's get technical, where's your bone at?
Now, let's get specific, where is your marijuana?
Get up on that shit, aight?
Engage in that activity, alright?
Yo, Started off on the Island, AK Shaolin niggas wildin'
Hey, it all began on Staten Island, AK Shaolin, with wild individuals
Gun shots thrown, the phone diallin'
Gunshots being fired, someone making a distress call
Back in the days, I'm eight now
During my childhood, I'm just eight years old
Makin' a tape now, Rae gotta get a plate now
Recording music now, Rae needs to succeed now
Ignorant and mad young, wanted to be the one
Naive and very young, desiring to be successful
'Til I got (blaow-blaow-blaow), felt one
Until I experienced a gunshot and felt its impact
Yeah, my pops was a fiend since sixteen (word)
Yeah, my father was addicted to drugs since he was sixteen (true)
Shootin' that "that's that shit" in his blood stream
Injecting a potent drug into his bloodstream
That's the life of a grimy, real live crimey
That's the lifestyle of a filthy, truly criminal person
If niggas know that habit's behind me
If people know that addiction is no longer present in me
Day one, yo, growin' all up in the ghetto
From the beginning, growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood
Now I'm a weed fiend jettin' to Palmetto
Now I'm addicted to marijuana, rushing to Palmetto
In Medina, yo, no doubt, the God got crazy clout
In Medina, absolutely, I have a significant influence
Pushin' the big joint from down South (uh, uh)
Selling a lot of drugs obtained from the southern states
So if you're filthy stacked up, better watch your back and duck
So if you have a lot of money, you should be cautious and take cover
'Cause these fiends, they got it cracked up
Because these addicts are desperate
Now my man from up North, now he got the loft
Now my friend from up North has acquired a luxury apartment
It's solid as a rock and crazy soft
It's incredibly sturdy and remarkably comfortable
No jokes, I'm not playin', get his folks
I'm not kidding, I'll harm his family
Desert Eagle his dick and put him in a yoke (ah)
Threaten him with a Desert Eagle firearm and make him submissive
And to know for sure, I got wreck and rip shop
To confirm my abilities, I destroy and dominate
I pointed a gat at his mother's knot
I aimed a gun at his mother's head
(Yo, yo, Rae, don't do that shit, man
Hey, Rae, please don't engage in such actions, my friend
Yo, don't do that shit) word up
Hey, don't do that, I'm serious
Fuck that (word up, nigga)
Forget that (exactly, my friend)
Dedicated to the winners and the losers (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
This is a tribute to both the successful and unsuccessful people, questioning if everything was really so easy back then
(Dedicated to all Jeeps and Land Cruisers)
(Devoted to all Jeeps and Land Cruisers)
Dedicated to the 5's, 850i's (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
Committed to the BMW 5 Series and 850i cars, pondering if life was truly uncomplicated back then
(Dedicated to niggas who do drive-bys)
(Devoted to individuals who commit drive-by shootings)
Dedicated to the Lexus and the Ac's (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
Devoted to the Lexus and Acura vehicles, questioning if life was truly that easy in the past
(Dedicated to MPV's, phat)
(Devoted to MPV cars, that are cool)
Nigga, yeah, yeah (can it be that it was all so simple then?)
Yeah, yeah, my friend, wondering if everything was indeed so uncomplicated back then
Kickin' the fly clichés, doin' duets with Rae and A
Using cool clichés and collaborating with Rae and A
Happens to make my day
This brings joy to my day
Though I'm tired of bustin' off shots, havin' to rock knots
Although I'm exhausted from firing guns and engaging in violent encounters
Runnin' up in spots and makin' shit hot
Breaking into places and causing trouble
I'd rather flip shows instead of those
I would prefer performing live concerts instead of engaging in criminal activities
Hangin' on my livin' room wall, my first joint and it went gold
Displaying my first successful album on the wall of my living room
I wanna lamp, I wanna be in the shade
I want to relax, I want to be in a comfortable situation
Plus the spotlight, gettin' my dick rode all night
In addition, being in the spotlight and receiving attention all night long
I want to have me a phat yacht
I desire to own a luxurious yacht
And enough land to go and plant my own sess crops
And sufficient land to cultivate my own marijuana crops
But for now it's just a big dream
But for now, it's just an unrealistic fantasy
'Cause I find myself in a place where I'm last seen
Because I am currently in a position where I am overlooked
My thoughts must be relaxed, be able to maintain
I need to keep my thoughts calm and be able to handle the situation
'Cause times is changed and life is strange
Because times have changed and life seems unusual
The glorious days is gone and everybody's doin' bad
The wonderful days have passed, and everyone is struggling
Yo, mad lives is up for grabs
Many lives are at stake
Brothers passin' away, I gotta make wakes
Friends are dying, I have to attend funerals
Receivin' all types of calls from Upstate
Receiving various telephone calls from people in Upstate
Yo, I can't cope with the pressure, settlin' for lesser
Hey, I can't handle the stress, accepting inferior conditions
The God left the lessons on my dresser
The Almighty has provided valuable teachings for me
So I can bloom and blossom, find a new way
So that I can grow and flourish, and discover a new path
Continue to make more hits with Rae and A
Keep producing more successful songs with Rae and A
Sunshine plays a major part in the daytime
Sunny weather has a significant impact during the day
(Peace to mankind, Ghostface carry a black .9, nigga)
(Peace to humanity, Ghostface carries a black 9mm gun, my friend)
Word up, it's on like that
Indeed, it's on like that
Can it be that it was all so simple then? (Yeah)
Could it be that everything was truly that easy back then? (Yes)
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Could it be that everything was truly that easy back then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Could it be that everything was truly that easy back then?
Can it be that-
Can it-
Could it-
Was all so simple then
Everything was really that easy back then
Can it be that it was all so-
Could it be that everything was truly-
Simple then
That easy back then
Can it be-
Could it be-
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Could it be that everything was truly that easy back then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Could it be that everything was truly that easy back then?
Can it be that it was all so simple then?
Could it be that everything was truly that easy back then?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Alan Bergman, Clifford Smith, Corey Woods, Dennis Coles, Gary E Grice, Jason S Hunter, Lamont Hawkins, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch, Robert Diggs, Russell Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind