Raised in Gadsden, Alabama, Atha appeared on the reality series The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott and released his independent debut album Creek Water in 2005. Two years later, Atha signed to Columbia Records and released the single "Kickin'" from his unreleased first studio album, before being released from the label later that same year. From 2008 to 2010, Atha released an extended play and four mixtapes with Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment. Trunk Muzik 0-60, Atha's fourth mixtape, was also released by Interscope Records. In 2011, Atha signed to Shady Records and his debut studio album Radioactive was released on November 21, 2011 to positive reviews. It entered the Billboard 200 at number 27. He spent much of his childhood in various locations around the southern United States, including Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Atlanta, Georgia, and Antioch, Tennessee.
Atha is half white and Cherokee, and the name Yelawolf is a reference to his Native American roots.
Yelawolf is an avid skateboarder and made attempts at a professional skateboarding career but was forced to abandon due to injuries. Yelawolf began releasing mixtapes independently in 2007. He was briefly signed to Columbia Records in 2007 and left the label the same year.
In 2009, Yelawolf was featured on the Slim Thug album Boss of All Bosses, and in the lead single Mixin' Up the Medicine from Juelz Santana's upcoming album Born to Lose, Built to Win. In 2010 he appeared in the track Down This Road from Bizarre's third studio album Friday Night at St. Andrews, in Big Boi's first solo album Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty track "You Ain't No DJ" which was produced by André 3000, and his most recent appareance is in Paul Wall's fifth studio album Heart of a Champion track "Live It" which also features Jay Electronica and Raekwon, produced by Travis Barker. In 2010, Atha confirmed he has signed with Interscope Records, he announced that he is working in his debut studio album with the label, and has a desire to work with Eminem.
In 2011 Yelawolf revealed that he went to visit Eminem in Detroit, Michigan and has subsequently been signed to Shady Records.
Son of a Gun
Yelawolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Small town Alabama, from city life we departed
Not a single light in the street, morning was scary and dark
To a little boy catching the bus to school 5:30 sharp
I used to make up songs to keep my mind from wandering
What was in the woods waiting for me, my stomach still rumbling
From the cereal diet
Even though mama was trying to do the best that she could
Her boyfriend was a prick, probably twenty six
Barley looked my direction and really didn't do shit
My animosity grew along with my anger
And impatience disastrous school
My teachers knew I was trouble waiting
And I did too, admittedly but I like it
Maybe I had to accept I'd always be uninvited to church events
Football and family oriented stuff
But I never thought I had it rough
I embraced it honestly cause I knew how different I was
It made me a rebel and rebels made me feel welcomed and loved
I never knew my daddy but they said I was the same
What a shame get your umbrella Wayne
Here comes the heavy rain
'Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
????
'Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
And you can tell that I still don't give a fuck
Still drinking whiskey ??
Slumerican made men, Criminals all around
70 thousand dollars a night isn't good, look
Living a story using my wars my ??
??
'Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
In the first verse of "Son of a Gun," Yelawolf reflects on his upbringing in a small town in Alabama. He describes the darkness and emptiness of his surroundings, with no lights in the street and a sense of fear in the morning. As a young boy, he had to catch the bus to school early in the morning and would create songs to distract himself from the uncertainty and rumbling hunger he felt due to a meager diet. While his mother did her best, her struggles with alcohol made her violent, and her boyfriend showed little care towards Yelawolf. Growing up in such a challenging environment, he developed anger, impatience, and trouble at school, aware that he was different and often excluded from church events and family-oriented activities. Yet, he embraced his rebellious nature as it made him feel welcomed and loved among fellow rebels. He compares himself to a storm, bringing lightning to someone's darkness and being a force that can be both destructive and invigorating.
In the catchy chorus, Yelawolf uses metaphorical language to further emphasize his impact on others. He compares himself to various elements and events, painting himself as the lightning in someone's storm, the aftermath of a dogfight, the chaotic disruption after a wild night, the unexpected surprise that emerges from a structured environment, and the perfect match to someone's rhythm. He proudly claims his identity as the "son of a gun," possibly referring to his rebellious nature and being a product of unconventional circumstances. The repetition of "Son of a gun" in the chorus reinforces his assertion and emphasizes his presence and influence.
In the second verse, Yelawolf continues to assert his unique and unapologetic nature. He declares that he still doesn't care and continues to indulge in his vices, such as drinking whiskey. He aligns himself with the Slumerican lifestyle, a term he coined representing the darker and grittier aspects of American culture. He depicts himself and those around him as criminals, perhaps alluding to the struggles and hardships they have faced. Yelawolf hints at a life filled with stories and personal wars, suggesting that his experiences have shaped him into who he is today.
The final repetition of the chorus further solidifies Yelawolf's self-image and his impact on others. He maintains his role as the lightning in someone's storm, the unpredictable aftermath of intense battles, and the unexpected twist to structured routines. He is the embodiment of rebellion and individuality, the son of a gun who embraces his identity and leaves a lasting impression. The repetition of "Son of a gun" serves as a powerful statement, reminding listeners that Yelawolf is unapologetically himself, defying societal norms and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I look in the mirror sometimes and think about how it all started
Reflecting on my past and how my journey began
Small town Alabama, from city life we departed
Leaving the bustling city to live in a quiet small town in Alabama
Not a single light in the street, morning was scary and dark
The town was so quiet and empty, mornings felt eerie and intimidating
To a little boy catching the bus to school 5:30 sharp
As a young boy, I had to wake up early and catch the bus to school without any delay
I used to make up songs to keep my mind from wandering
To distract myself from disturbing thoughts, I would create songs
What was in the woods waiting for me, my stomach still rumbling
Feeling anxious about the unknown dangers lurking in the woods nearby
From the cereal diet
Surviving on a diet primarily consisting of cereal
Even though mama was trying to do the best that she could
Despite my mother's efforts to provide for us and be a good parent
Alcohol made her violent
My mother's consumption of alcohol led to her becoming aggressive
Her boyfriend was a prick, probably twenty six
My mother's boyfriend was unpleasant and likely in his mid-twenties
Barley looked my direction and really didn't do shit
He rarely acknowledged my presence and didn't contribute much
My animosity grew along with my anger
As time passed, my resentment and rage intensified
And impatience disastrous school
My impatience and rebelliousness had a negative impact on my academic life
My teachers knew I was trouble waiting
My teachers already anticipated that I would cause trouble
And I did too, admittedly but I like it
I was aware of my rebellious nature, and despite that, I found enjoyment in it
Maybe I had to accept I'd always be uninvited to church events
Realizing that I would never truly fit into religious gatherings or events
Football and family oriented stuff
Activities like football and family-focused events that didn't resonate with me
But I never thought I had it rough
Despite my challenging circumstances, I didn't consider my life to be excessively difficult
I embraced it honestly cause I knew how different I was
I accepted and embraced my uniqueness because I was fully aware of my differences
It made me a rebel and rebels made me feel welcomed and loved
My rebellious nature brought me into a community of like-minded individuals where I felt accepted and cherished
I never knew my daddy but they said I was the same
Although I never met my father, people claimed that I inherited his traits
What a shame get your umbrella Wayne
Expressions of disappointment and a warning to prepare for challenging times
Here comes the heavy rain
Difficulties and hardships are approaching
'Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
I bring intensity and energy like lightning to chaotic situations
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The aftermath of a brutal conflict leaves visible marks and scars
The tornado to your alarm
Like a tornado, I disrupt and unsettle your sense of security
Your hangover after a long night
The consequences and regrets that follow a wild and excessive night
I'm the snake outta your barn
I am the unexpected trouble or danger that emerges from a seemingly safe situation
That one mistake you ever did right
Despite being viewed as a mistake, I am the one thing that you did correctly
The gunpowder to your drum
I provide the explosive and powerful element that drives your actions
I'm your son
I am a reflection of you, your legacy, and the embodiment of your actions
The son of a gun
I am the offspring of someone who is considered cunning, deceitful, or notorious
And you can tell that I still don't give a fuck
It's evident that I remain unbothered and indifferent
Still drinking whiskey ??
Continuing to indulge in the consumption of whiskey
Slumerican made men, Criminals all around
Referring to myself and others in my group as self-made individuals from a rough neighborhood, with a presence of lawbreakers
70 thousand dollars a night isn't good, look
Highlighting the negative aspects and consequences of living a lavish lifestyle
Living a story using my wars my ??
Navigating through life by incorporating my past struggles and conflicts into my narrative
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: Michael Wayne Atha, Caleb Anthony Owens, Peter Michaelson Pisarczyk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zZtReXx
I look in the mirror sometimes and think about how it all started
Small town Alabama, from city life we departed
Not a single light in the street, morning was scary and dark
To a little boy catching the bus to school 5:30 sharp
I used to make up songs to keep my mind from wandering
What was in the woods waiting for me, my stomach still rumbling
From the cereal diet
Even though mama was trying to do the best that she could
Alcohol made her violent
Her boyfriend was a prick, probably 26
Barely looked my direction and really didn't do shit
My animosity grew along with my anger
And impatience disastrous school
My teachers knew I was trouble waiting
And I did too, admittedly but I like it
Maybe I had to accept I'd always be uninvited to church events, football and family oriented stuff
But I never thought I had it rough
I embraced it, honestly, 'cause I knew how different I was
It made me a rebel and rebels made me feel welcomed and loved
I never knew my daddy but, they said that I was the same and what a shame, get your umbrella Wayne
Here comes the heavier rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun (X3)
[Verse 2]
If life is but a dream
I'm up the creek in a paddle boat
Streams full of snakes, demons, not even a ladder goes
Up high and over the Mississippi to see the ocean, so here I go floatin', yeah
But I made it a habit though
19 and tattooed, hell-raised in the neighborhood was the place and I made it home with the favorites
Quarter pound of that seeded Mexican trash slinging nickles
Make enough and then break it even, just do it for tickles
Nashville's under icicles, the Methadone's penatratin'
Ecstasy-hungry, baited as an experimentation
No more chocolate-chip cookies, and porcelain jaws
Morbid and dark are my role models, and old-school cars
Sickening and I'm lovin' it
I'm basking in half of it
Backstrokin' in sinnin' ways, a dagger to pastors
I never knew my daddy but, they said that I was the same and what a shame, here come the cocaine in the heavier rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun (X3)
[Verse 3]
And you can tell that I still don't give a fuck
Still drinking whiskey I'm half-a-bottle already down
Slumerican-made man, Criminals all around
Seventy-thousand dollars a night isn't good, look
Livin' a story usin' my war as my shield
The truth, examined and recreated
The followings real:
Plenty of fatherless children fill up the pit in the buildin'
Usin' the mind for the feelin', it's just like poppin' a pill
And I'm takin' it in
Lost at makin' a win
Thanks for the poems that you inspired, I'm rakin' it in
Never heard you say "give me five," so make it a ten
Think the chances I'm ballin', look at the bastard of him
When I went to jail for the first time, I thought about you
Son of a bitch, I admit it, I guess the room was the truth
'Cause when I look in the mirror, I see from what I 'came
Trial by fire, pain, heavier rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun (X3)
@kyricer5515
[Verse 1]
I look in the mirror sometimes and think about how it all started
Small town Alabama, from city life we departed
Not a single light in the street, morning was scary and dark
To a little boy catching the bus to school 5:30 sharp
I used to make up songs to keep my mind from wandering
What was in the woods waiting for me, my stomach still rumbling
From the cereal diet
Even though mama was trying to do the best that she could
Alcohol made her violent
Her boyfriend was a prick, probably 26
Barely looked my direction and really didn't do shit
My animosity grew along with my anger
And impatience disastrous school
My teachers knew I was trouble waiting
And I did too, admittedly but I like it
Maybe I had to accept I'd always be uninvited to church events, football and family oriented stuff
But I never thought I had it rough
I embraced it, honestly, 'cause I knew how different I was
It made me a rebel and rebels made me feel welcomed and loved
I never knew my daddy but, they said that I was the same and what a shame, get your umbrella Wayne
Here comes the heavy rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark bloodstains after a dogfight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
[Verse 2]
If life is but a dream
I'm up the creek in a paddle boat
Streams full of snakes, demons, not even a ladder goes
Up high and over the Mississippi to see the ocean, so here I go floatin', yeah
But I made it a habit though
19 and tattooed, hell-raised in the neighborhood was the place and I made it home with the favorites
Quarter pound of that seeded Mexican trash slinging nickles
Make enough and then break it even, just do it for tickles
Nashville's under icicles, the Methadone's penatratin'
Ecstasy-hungry, baited as an experimentation
No more chocolate-chip cookies, and porcelain jars
Morbid and dark are my role models, and old-school cars
Sickening and I'm lovin' it
I'm basking in half of it
Backstrokin' in sinnin' ways, a dagger to pastors
I never knew my daddy but, they said that I was the same and what a shame
Here come the cocaine in the heavy rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark bloodstains after a dogfight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
[Verse 3]
And you can tell that I still don't give a fuck
Still drinking whiskey I'm half-a-bottle already down
Slumerican-made man, Criminals all around
Seventy-thousand dollars a night isn't good, look
Livin' a story usin' my war as my shield
The truth, examined and recreated
The followings real:
Plenty of fatherless children fill up the pit in the buildin'
Usin' the mind for the feelin', it's just like poppin' a pill
And I'm takin' it in
Lost at makin' a win
Thanks for the poems that you inspired, I'm rakin' it in
Never heard you say "give me five," so make it a ten
Think the chances I'm ballin', look at the bastard of him
When I went to jail for the first time, I thought about you
Son of a bitch, I admit it, I guess the rumours are true
'Cause when I look in the mirror, I see from what I 'came
Trial by fire, pain, heavy rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark bloodstains after a dogfight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
Son of a gun
@BabyWick351
Money is Freedom.
Do you own the time you wake up at?
Most men on this planet have sold every ounce of freedom they have,
including their choice of the time they wake up in the morning.
They sold their ability to speak their opinions about topics.
Fear of getting canceled, fired, or blacklisted leaves them mute.
If you were rich.
You’d wake up when you wanted and say whatever you wanted and BE WHOEVER YOU WANTED.
Without money.
You are not free.
There is no honor in poverty.
It is CHILDISH to be poor.
MEN are not poor.
"I believe in acquiring wealth and abundance in order to improve my life and do good for those I care about."
Without money?
You're screwed.
Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
You NEED to get rich.
TODAY.
So what's your plan?
NOTHING GOOD IN YOUR LIFE WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT A PLAN.
You need a plan to end up with a good body, it won’t happen by accident.
You need a plan to get rich. It won’t happen by accident.
Luckily for you...
@BabyWick351
Money is Freedom.
Do you own the time you wake up at?
Most men on this planet have sold every ounce of freedom they have,
including their choice of the time they wake up in the morning.
They sold their ability to speak their opinions about topics.
Fear of getting canceled, fired, or blacklisted leaves them mute.
If you were rich.
You’d wake up when you wanted and say whatever you wanted and BE WHOEVER YOU WANTED.
Without money.
You are not free.
There is no honor in poverty.
It is CHILDISH to be poor.
MEN are not poor.
"I believe in acquiring wealth and abundance in order to improve my life and do good for those I care about."
Without money?
You're screwed.
Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.
You NEED to get rich.
TODAY.
So what's your plan?
NOTHING GOOD IN YOUR LIFE WILL HAPPEN WITHOUT A PLAN.
You need a plan to end up with a good body, it won’t happen by accident.
You need a plan to get rich. It won’t happen by accident.
Luckily for you...
@nxmicob
i love his voice
@zZtReXx
I look in the mirror sometimes and think about how it all started
Small town Alabama, from city life we departed
Not a single light in the street, morning was scary and dark
To a little boy catching the bus to school 5:30 sharp
I used to make up songs to keep my mind from wandering
What was in the woods waiting for me, my stomach still rumbling
From the cereal diet
Even though mama was trying to do the best that she could
Alcohol made her violent
Her boyfriend was a prick, probably 26
Barely looked my direction and really didn't do shit
My animosity grew along with my anger
And impatience disastrous school
My teachers knew I was trouble waiting
And I did too, admittedly but I like it
Maybe I had to accept I'd always be uninvited to church events, football and family oriented stuff
But I never thought I had it rough
I embraced it, honestly, 'cause I knew how different I was
It made me a rebel and rebels made me feel welcomed and loved
I never knew my daddy but, they said that I was the same and what a shame, get your umbrella Wayne
Here comes the heavier rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun (X3)
[Verse 2]
If life is but a dream
I'm up the creek in a paddle boat
Streams full of snakes, demons, not even a ladder goes
Up high and over the Mississippi to see the ocean, so here I go floatin', yeah
But I made it a habit though
19 and tattooed, hell-raised in the neighborhood was the place and I made it home with the favorites
Quarter pound of that seeded Mexican trash slinging nickles
Make enough and then break it even, just do it for tickles
Nashville's under icicles, the Methadone's penatratin'
Ecstasy-hungry, baited as an experimentation
No more chocolate-chip cookies, and porcelain jaws
Morbid and dark are my role models, and old-school cars
Sickening and I'm lovin' it
I'm basking in half of it
Backstrokin' in sinnin' ways, a dagger to pastors
I never knew my daddy but, they said that I was the same and what a shame, here come the cocaine in the heavier rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun (X3)
[Verse 3]
And you can tell that I still don't give a fuck
Still drinking whiskey I'm half-a-bottle already down
Slumerican-made man, Criminals all around
Seventy-thousand dollars a night isn't good, look
Livin' a story usin' my war as my shield
The truth, examined and recreated
The followings real:
Plenty of fatherless children fill up the pit in the buildin'
Usin' the mind for the feelin', it's just like poppin' a pill
And I'm takin' it in
Lost at makin' a win
Thanks for the poems that you inspired, I'm rakin' it in
Never heard you say "give me five," so make it a ten
Think the chances I'm ballin', look at the bastard of him
When I went to jail for the first time, I thought about you
Son of a bitch, I admit it, I guess the room was the truth
'Cause when I look in the mirror, I see from what I 'came
Trial by fire, pain, heavier rain
[Chorus]
Cause I'm the lighting to your storm
Dark blood stains after a dog fight
The tornado to your alarm
Your hangover after a long night
I'm the snake outta your barn
That one mistake you ever did right
The gunpowder to your drum
I'm your son
The son of a gun
Son of a gun (X3)
@jessecompton3501
*Chorus 3*
*keep the change as I'm ballin
*I guess the rumor was true
@travelinman95
in porcelain jars 🙂
@sebastianrucki246
I’ve been sleeping in this track. Good story telling. Real talk.
@valleyarmy
Love it!
@HulkerRock
Music is my drug
Yelawolf is my dealer
@mikealderson6222
Been waiting on this album forever! Album of the year for sure!! Gonna be bumpin this for a good while!
#Slumerican
@christopherbronson7204
Mike Alderson no it’s not. DAMN.
@chasegrove6235
He's listing to real music, #albumoftheyear. Not like it's hard in today's industry. #Slumarican