Nobody
b.o.n. Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I guess I bit off more than I could chew
And nobody told me, nobody told me
Had it all and never knew
'Cause nobody told me

Nobody told me money don't make you rich
And if it did, I'm missing something
Nobody told me you can lose when you win

And if they did, I'd still be missing, eyah

Who knew that this much success would make it so hard
But that's to accept the fact that I can't go back where I left
And back track my steps, back track my steps
The records I dropped, so massive, so large
It makes it hardcore hip-hop to digest
The things that I do, I guess if it's true
Well fuck it, a nigga too good to be the best
Too good to be the best, too good to be stressed
'Cause this the type of life, too good to regret
You know money don't buy you no respec
No respect, no respect yea
So what the hell is that?
I'm tryna recreate the past that I never had
And smash grills I could never smash
And live fantasies that'll never last

I guess I bit off more than I could chew
And nobody told me, nobody told me
Had it all and never knew
'Cause nobody told me

Nobody told me money don't make you rich
And if it did, I'm missing something
Nobody told me you can lose when you win
And if they did, I'd still be missing

I ran away from home just to try to make a million
Yea, just to try to make a million
And when you get a million it's a different type of feeling
When you look around and what you really need is missing
It's like, it's like suffering from a sickness
Can't find a doctor to fill out the prescription
Or diagnose the illness
Can't leave it in the book, can't buy from the dealer

And I find it ironic
Yeah, I find it ironic
How I can buy anything that I ever wanted
But I really had it all when I ain't have nothing
They always say that mo money, mo problems
I guess I, I guess I should've listened to the warning
I guess I, I guess I should anticipate the stormy weather
I guess I'd illustrate a different story,
However, well if it's clever
I couldn't find the words to say it better
I'm knee-deep within these endeavors
But all that glitters with gold is not treasure
I'm ready for whatever, I never let up
I work even better when I'm under pressure
They say money don't make you rich
'Cause you can't buy shit that can make you better, word

Nobody told me money don't make you rich
And if it did, I'm missing something
Nobody told me you can lose when you win
And if they did, I'll still be missing

I guess I bit off more than I could chew
And nobody told me, nobody told me

Had it all and never knew
'Cause nobody told me

Overall Meaning

The song "Nobody" by b.o.n. offers a reflective commentary on the trappings of success and how it can be a double-edged sword. The song opens with the realization that the artist may have taken on more than he could handle, and that there were aspects of his rise to fame that he was not prepared for. Despite having achieved significant financial success, he admits that he still feels like something is missing - a sentiment that seems to be echoed throughout the rest of the song.

As the song progresses, b.o.n. emphasizes that money does not necessarily equate to happiness, and that there are other qualities that are far more important than material wealth. He acknowledges that his own success has come at a cost - that being constantly under the pressure of the spotlight has taken a toll on him. Moreover, he acknowledges that he is chasing a past that he never really had, and that he is struggling to find meaning in the things that he once thought were important.

Ultimately, the song ends on an optimistic note, with b.o.n. expressing his determination to weather whatever comes his way. He emphasizes that while success may be fleeting, it is ultimately up to us to find the silver lining in our circumstances.

Overall, "Nobody" is a poignant reflection on the complex nature of success and the different challenges that come with it. The song encourages listeners to look beyond material possessions and to try to find happiness in the intangible moments that make life truly worth living.

Line by Line Meaning

I guess I bit off more than I could chew
I took on more than I could handle

And nobody told me, nobody told me
No one warned me of my limitations

Had it all and never knew
I had everything but didn't appreciate it

'Cause nobody told me
I was ignorant and unaware

Nobody told me money don't make you rich
Having money doesn't guarantee happiness

And if it did, I'm missing something
If money is the key to happiness, I'm still unhappy

Nobody told me you can lose when you win
Even when you're successful, you can still experience failure

And if they did, I'd still be missing, eyah
If people warned me, it wouldn't have made a difference

Who knew that this much success would make it so hard
I didn't anticipate the challenges that come with success

But that's to accept the fact that I can't go back where I left
I have to come to terms with the fact that I can't return to my past

And back track my steps, back track my steps
I wish I could undo my mistakes

The records I dropped, so massive, so large
My music is popular and well-known

It makes it hardcore hip-hop to digest
My music is challenging to comprehend

The things that I do, I guess if it's true
My actions are genuine, even if they're not always successful

Well fuck it, a nigga too good to be the best
I don't need to be the best to feel good about myself

Too good to be the best, too good to be stressed
I don't need to be the best to feel successful

'Cause this the type of life, too good to regret
I enjoy my life and don't regret past decisions

You know money don't buy you no respec
Money doesn't buy you respect

No respect, no respect yea
I'm not receiving the respect I deserve

So what the hell is that?
I don't understand why I'm not respected

I'm tryna recreate the past that I never had
I'm trying to make up for a past I never experienced

And smash grills I could never smash
I'm trying to achieve things that were once impossible for me

And live fantasies that'll never last
I'm chasing after dreams that won't be fulfilled

I ran away from home just to try to make a million
I left home to pursue wealth

Yea, just to try to make a million
Money was my main goal

And when you get a million it's a different type of feeling
Attaining wealth brings a unique sensation

When you look around and what you really need is missing
Despite having money, I still lack something important

It's like, it's like suffering from a sickness
Money can't cure everything

Can't find a doctor to fill out the prescription
I can't find a solution to my problems

Or diagnose the illness
I don't know what's wrong with me

Can't leave it in the book, can't buy from the dealer
I can't solve my problems through conventional means

And I find it ironic
I think it's amusingly ironic

Yeah, I find it ironic
I find it ironic

How I can buy anything that I ever wanted
I have the means to purchase anything I desire

But I really had it all when I ain't have nothing
I was happier when I had less

They always say that mo money, mo problems
Having more money can cause more issues

I guess I, I guess I should've listened to the warning
I should have taken the advice seriously

I guess I, I guess I should anticipate the stormy weather
I should be prepared for difficult times

I guess I'd illustrate a different story,
I wish my story were different

However, well if it's clever
Even if my story isn't ideal, it could still be inspiring

I couldn't find the words to say it better
I don't have the perfect words to express myself

I'm knee-deep within these endeavors
I'm fully committed to my goals

But all that glitters with gold is not treasure
Wealth isn't always worth it

I'm ready for whatever, I never let up
I'm prepared for anything and won't give up easily

I work even better when I'm under pressure
I do well when I'm challenged

They say money don't make you rich
Having money doesn't equate to being fulfilled

'Cause you can't buy shit that can make you better, word
Money can't solve all your problems

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JENNIFER DECILVEO, BOBBY JR SIMMONS, JAMES SCHEFFER, MICHAEL JOHN MULE, ISAAC JOHN D DE BONI, LATISHA TAWANA HYMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS