Bad Idea
YBN Cordae Lyrics
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(Ooh) yeah, uh (Bongo ByTheWay)
I know myself all too well to be a stranger of pain
Despite it all, we remainin' the same, I'm just changin' the game
Heart pure, never tainted with fame
Straight ahead, I'ma stay in my lane
Never switchin' courses, life's amazin', shit is gorgeous
Performed the song and the crowd cried
How can I lie? I'm tearin' up as I'm startin' to stare in y'all eyes
I know the shit you goin' through the last month
You stressin' as you hittin' on that glass blunt
A nigga prayin' to get lucky like Daft Punk
You can't even stomach the pain, now that's a bad lunch
Uh, ramen noodles on the regular
Add some seasoning and some hot sauce for a better touch
Peanut butter, jelly and syrup sandwich, ectcetera
And we just flyin' in the Nebula
And it might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
See, it might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
So don't you cry, little baby, little baby (don't you cry, don't you cry, don't you cry)
It'll be alright
So don't you cry, little baby, little baby (don't you cry, don't you cry, don't you cry)
It's gon', it'll be alright
I done been around the world four times, lookin' for parkin'
Finally found a condo, that shit still feel like apartment
Out South, my foul mouth started soundin' like Cartman
Roundabout like cartwheels, hopped inside of a U-Haul
Confused where all my art went, monsters in a quiet place
Some of these decisions is like Sharpie on a dry-erase
I know they thought I wouldn't, but I'm a fireplace
I had my cake and ate it too, that shit is an acquired taste
I promised I would buy a place, I got my favorite roommates
They used to never see me, like when you zip up a new Bape
Do that shit 'fore it's too late, don't ever drink the Kool-Aid
Don't ever think it's sweet, that's that crème de la brûlée
Who they? They Robert Goulet, they Nazi, cuckoo, goofy
My wifey yellin', "Who they?" My daughter yellin', "Hooray"
I see it clear like Blu-Ray, I park it in the sky
I keep 'em on my block, 'round the corner of my eye
Like a stye (uh)
So don't you shed a tear
'Cause there'll be better years
I live life by faith, nigga, instead of fear
God cryin', thunderstorms is Heaven tears
The feelin' of lost hope, shit is never here
'Cause we gon' make it happen by any means
A young nigga, dawg, but I done witnessed many things
Age thirteen, wearin' hand-me-down skinny jeans
You know they a little extra faded around the knees
With the grass stains in 'em
I really wish a little extra cash came in 'em,
'Cause a nigga really needed it
Pain, I defeated it, and brought back
Soul survivor, nigga, what you call that?
And it might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
See, it might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
So don't you cry, little baby, little baby (don't you cry, don't you cry, don't you cry)
It'll be alright
So don't you cry, little baby, (don't you cry, don't you cry, don't you cry)
It's gon', it'll be alright
And it might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
See, it might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
So don't you cry, little baby
It'll be alright
So don't you cry, little baby
It'll be alright
YBN Cordae's "Bad Idea" speaks of the lessons learned on the road to success, and the sacrifices that come with it. In the first verse, Cordae talks about staying true to himself despite the fame and fortune that come with success, and recognizing the struggles that his audience may be going through. He mentions the struggle to make ends meet, pointing out that many people resort to simple meals like ramen noodles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches just to get by. The chorus states that it might not be a bad idea to never go home again, implying that the road to success requires leaving one's comfort zone, and that sometimes taking risks could be essential.
Cordae goes on to talk about his own personal journey, from the struggles of trying to find parking to finally finding a condo that still feels like an apartment to him. He describes his art as something that he's struggling to find in the present, and how he's afraid of it disappearing altogether. Cordae also speaks about overcoming the many obstacles he's encountered on his journey, and promising to keep pushing forward. In the bridge, he explores the idea that although life can be tough, it's better to go through it with faith and hope, rather than fear and hopelessness.
Overall, "Bad Idea" is a song about the struggles of life and the sacrifices one must make to achieve their dreams. It speaks to the power of resilience, faith, and hope, and the importance of staying true to oneself despite the many challenges that come with the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I know myself all too well to be a stranger of pain
I am very familiar with pain and have experienced it many times before.
Despite it all, we remainin' the same, I'm just changin' the game
Although things may be difficult, I am still staying true to myself while making changes to the industry.
Heart pure, never tainted with fame
I have not let fame corrupt my values or morals.
Straight ahead, I'ma stay in my lane
I will always stay focused on my own path and not let others steer me away from it.
Never switchin' courses, life's amazin', shit is gorgeous
I am not changing my path despite challenges because life is beautiful and amazing.
How can I lie? I'm tearin' up as I'm startin' to stare in y'all eyes
I am feeling emotional as I look out into the audience and connect with my fans.
You stressin' as you hittin' on that glass blunt
You are using drugs to cope with your stress and anxiety.
A nigga prayin' to get lucky like Daft Punk
You are hoping to get lucky or find a way out of your struggles.
You can't even stomach the pain, now that's a bad lunch
The pain you are experiencing is so intense that it is like having a bad meal that you cannot digest.
And we just flyin' in the Nebula
We are living in an imaginary and dreamlike state while ignoring the challenges in reality.
It might not be such a bad idea if I never went home again
Leaving home may be a good idea to escape from struggles and find a new path.
I done been around the world four times, lookin' for parkin'
I have traveled extensively but still struggle with finding a place to feel at home.
Finally found a condo, that shit still feel like apartment
Even though I have a new home, it doesn't yet feel like a true escape from my struggles.
I know they thought I wouldn't, but I'm a fireplace
Others doubted my success, but I have turned into a source of warmth and inspiration for others.
Do that shit 'fore it's too late, don't ever drink the Kool-Aid
Take action before it's too late and don't blindly follow others or fall for false promises.
I see it clear like Blu-Ray, I park it in the sky
I have a clear vision of my future and am determined to achieve my dreams.
I live life by faith, nigga, instead of fear
I choose to live my life with faith and confidence, rather than being controlled by fear.
God cryin', thunderstorms is Heaven tears
Thunderstorms may be seen as a sign of sadness or emotion from a higher power.
Age thirteen, wearin' hand-me-down skinny jeans
I grew up with limited resources and had to make do with second-hand clothes.
You know they a little extra faded around the knees
The jeans I wore were so worn out that they were almost transparent in some places.
I really wish a little extra cash came in 'em
I wanted to have more money and resources to improve my situation and provide for myself.
Pain, I defeated it, and brought back
I have overcome my struggles and emerged victorious.
Soul survivor, nigga, what you call that?
I am a soul survivor and proud of the strength I have gained through my struggles.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chancelor Bennett, Charles Mann, Cordae Dunston, Donny Hathaway, Gil Scott Heron, Kid Culture, Roberta Flack, Uforo Imeh Ebong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Soulbuddies
I'm in my mid-thirties and have had this on repeat lately, first song in a long time that I've done that with. I like how it is so airy and summery and is washed over in feel-good vibes but has layers to it too and I've realized how reflective a song it is at the same time, and like all the best songs it allows lots of room for interpretation..
Cordae's verses touch on the common struggle we all go through at some point ("Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Syrup sandwich, etc."), while also highlighting the moments that he felt truly grateful for after coming out better for it "Life's amazin', shit is gorgeous.... Performed the song and the crowd cried, how can I lie? I'm tearing up as I'm starting to stare in ya'lls eyes." No glory without struggle, victory without sacrifice, etc. He is celebrating the hardships because you don't get the rainbows without a little rain.
Chano's verse is particularly reflective, he has been through the Syrup sandwich phase too, has come out the other side long ago and is sharing the different kinds of struggles he is going through though he has found success. It is like he is just sitting you down and sharing his experiences.
"I done been around the world four times, looking for parking/ Finally found a condo that shit still feel like apartment" We can all connect with the feeling of searching for where we truly belong in this world, and he has searched his whole life, far and wide for where he will finally lay his roots and after finding a place of his own, he can't shake the feeling that it isn't all it's cracked up to be.
"I had my cake and ate it too, that shit is an acquired taste" Maybe my favorite bar of the whole song. Chance is one of the few who has achieved the kind of success many of us dream of attaining one day, and he's letting you know it isn't all sweet - a lot of this fame and fortune is bitter as fuck and takes getting used to.
"Do that shit fore it's too late, don't ever drink the Kool-Aid, don't ever think it's sweet, that's that Creme de la Brulee" What he is encouraging you to do before it is too late is settle down, buy yourself a home, invest in property, in a family, in yourself and your development as a person - don't ever think the rat race and the 'grind' is all there is to life and that it's the only sweetness you'll taste as you go through life.
Great song all around and gonna go back to playing this on repeat. Blessings and stay happy and healthy in 2020 and beyond to Cordae and Chance and to all of you
@mariostrikerschargedenthusiast
CORDAE is so far ahead of the other Ybn in terms of lyricism its crazy
@langstonj3438
Baguett e Nahmir can be lyrical a lot and uses good wordplay
@mariostrikerschargedenthusiast
́LJ ́ Yeah at times, but Cordae is still miles ahead. Nahmir is much better than Jay tho. Don’t even get me started on that guy lmao
@langstonj3438
Baguett e right
@iancampion6979
́LJ ́ I uses to think so, but that’s not the case. Nahmir says 44 like 80 times a song even when the song has NOTHING to do with guns.
@justwesley
He shouldn't even be in a group with them, nigga should have been independent. He is way out of their league.
@leonardgrant442
These two are meant for each other. Dope track, smooth lyricist, pure hip hop. Bring more 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@DaneIbsen
that's gay tho
@vlone7902
@@DaneIbsen your gay
@vlone7902
Right we have to bring the real back hip hop is coming back like it or not