Matt Batey is a familiar face in the Seattle music scene. As a professional… Read Full Bio ↴Matt Batey is a familiar face in the Seattle music scene. As a professional touring musician, he’s taken turns providing lead guitar & vocal harmonies for acts like Cataldo and Rocky Votolato (often with healthy doses of humorous stage banter).
When Batey isn’t helping other musicians out, he’s working on his own music, which he records and performs as Ruler. And with Winning Star Champion — Ruler’s debut LP on Barsuk Records — Batey steals the spotlight. It turns out the lead role suits him just as well as all his supporting parts.
Winning Star Champion delivers the type of polished, intelligent, and catchy indie rock that’s become the Barsuk’s trademark — fitting seamlessly alongside labelmates like Nada Surf, Chris Staples, and Death Cab for Cutie.

Over bright and unpretentious guitar rock tracks, Batey sings with the urgent yelp of an underdog (as the chorus of the title track goes, “I’m the winning star champion of fucking up / like a high school rebel running out of luck”). During the album’s less scrappy moments, Batey transitions into melancholy, as on “Get to You,” which reflects on an always-ending relationship.

The instrumental backing is bolstered by an all-star cast of Batey’s Seattle music pals, including Michael Lerner (Telekinesis), Eric Anderson (Cataldo), and Eric Howk (Portugal. The Man).

Mayday
ruler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Shit nigga i guess they made number two, huh

Bitch I'm from the Stinc Team
Bleed team, ring ring, ding ding
Actin' like I ain't kick down your
Door in a mink thing
Ling ling, B thing, nigga it's a chink thing
Buddha 'round my neck because

It means things, ching ching
Cold devil, ice chilly huh
Runnin' in these Christians
Still lookin' like a million
Talkin' like he wanna rob me
Nigga silly billies huh
He a stoner so I guess I gotta stone him
Or sniper his ass, I'm Eric Donor, I'm on it
Ugh, yeah ugh
Get shot in your face for thinkin' you Suge
We the new bullies
And you ain't seen the new boogers?
Should get chastised 'cause I'm
A foolie nigga i ain't no rookie
I'ma show you how to do this
Front door poppin'
You see the two liter rollin' (shit nigga)

Mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay
Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay
Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay
Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay, another man down

Pull up, park, bounce out
Nigga you drivin', you watch out
Keep the engine runnin', I'll be right out
If they send me to the
County I'll be right out
If it ain't valuable you better leave it
Any false moves nigga, bet I leave it
For ten summers strong, runnin' my region
Hot boy, five hundred degrees, no fever
My niggas havin' things, yeah free Celly
Sixty inch flatscreen
I think he wanna sell it
A thick bitch from Inglewood
At the roach telly
She got an eight of old Tech
But she ain't tryna sell it
Fix some last money like rent eight
My bitch down on the track on a rainy day
I made a million dollars on Sepulveda
Black Mack got a brick, he
'bout to pour it up, it's Philthy

Mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay
Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay
Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay

Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
This F&N hold Shanaynay, another man down

Overall Meaning

In "Mayday" by Ruler, the lyrics convey a sense of aggression, confidence, and dominance. The opening line, "Shit nigga, I guess they made number two, huh," suggests that the singer is dismissing or belittling someone who thinks they are important or influential but is actually insignificant.

The lyrics continue with the singer proudly proclaiming their affiliation with the Stinc Team, a group known for their toughness and relentless pursuit of success. The mention of "Bleed team" and "ring ring, ding ding" highlights their persistence and determination. The line "Actin' like I ain't kick down your door in a mink thing" showcases their audacity and willingness to take action without hesitation.

The lyrics also touch upon racial stereotypes and cultural pride with the line "Ling ling, B thing, nigga it's a chink thing." Here, the singer is reclaiming or embracing a racial slur and using it to assert their identity and individuality. The mention of the Buddha necklace further emphasizes the singer's connection to their heritage and spirituality.

As the lyrics progress, the singer refers to themselves as a "cold devil" and talks about running into "Christians" and looking like a million dollars. This suggests that they are unapologetically confident and unfazed by others' judgment or attempts to intimidate them. The mention of "sniping" and being "Eric Donor" implies a willingness to protect themselves and take out anyone who poses a threat.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Mayday, man down, yell mayday, this F&N hold Shanaynay." This could be interpreted as a call for help or a warning to others that the singer is armed and dangerous. The line "I'll be right out" suggests that the singer is not afraid of confrontations or legal consequences.

The following verse expresses a sense of material success and criminal activities. The singer talks about leaving their valuable possessions behind, hinting at a ruthless attitude towards those who attempt to take what is theirs. The reference to their "region" and being a "hot boy" implies their authority and power in their area.

The lyrics also touch upon a romantic encounter with a woman from Inglewood, who possesses drugs but is not interested in selling them. This depiction of the woman and her situation serves to further highlight the singer's lifestyle and the complexities of their environment.

Overall, "Mayday" by Ruler presents a brash and unapologetic representation of the singer's persona, emphasizing their dominance, loyalty to their team, and their no-nonsense attitude towards those who challenge them. The lyrics depict a world where toughness, confidence, and material success are valued, all while maintaining a certain level of cultural pride.

Line by Line Meaning

Shit nigga i guess they made number two, huh
I suppose they ranked me as the next best, huh

Bitch I'm from the Stinc Team
I proudly represent the Stinc Team

Bleed team, ring ring, ding ding
Our gang sticks together, always ready to engage

Actin' like I ain't kick down your
Pretending as if I didn't forcefully enter your

Door in a mink thing
House wearing a luxurious mink coat

Ling ling, B thing, nigga it's a chink thing
Referring to my Asian heritage, it's a unique culture

Buddha 'round my neck because
I wear a Buddha pendant because

It means things, ching ching
It represents deeper meaning, symbolizing prosperity

Cold devil, ice chilly huh
I'm a heartless person, unemotional and composed, right?

Runnin' in these Christians
Causing fear and panic among religious individuals

Still lookin' like a million
Maintaining a striking appearance of wealth

Talkin' like he wanna rob me
Speaking in a threatening manner, as if he plans to steal from me

Nigga silly billies huh
Such foolish individuals, don't they realize?

He a stoner so I guess I gotta stone him
Since he's a frequent marijuana user, I'll have to harm him in return

Or sniper his ass, I'm Eric Donor, I'm on it
Alternatively, I may discreetly eliminate him like a skilled marksman, for I'm always ready

Ugh, yeah ugh
Expressing affirmation and agreement

Get shot in your face for thinkin' you Suge
You'll face the consequences in the form of a bullet for believing you're invincible like Suge Knight

We the new bullies
We are the current intimidating figures

And you ain't seen the new boogers?
Haven't you noticed the fresh faces causing havoc?

Should get chastised 'cause I'm
Deserve reprimanding because I'm

A foolie nigga i ain't no rookie
An experienced individual, not to be underestimated

I'ma show you how to do this
I'll demonstrate the proper way to handle this situation

Front door poppin'
Entering a location through the front entrance

You see the two liter rollin' (shit nigga)
Observe the vehicle with a two-liter engine cruising by (damn)

Mayday, man down, yell mayday
Emergency situation, someone is injured, call for help

This F&N hold Shanaynay
Referring to a firearm named Shanaynay

Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
Cowardly individual harmed, urgent distress call

This F&N hold Shanaynay
This firearm is in possession, named Shanaynay

Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
Weak person injured, immediate request for assistance

This F&N hold Shanaynay
This firearm is in possession, named Shanaynay

Pussy nigga mayday, man down, yell mayday
Cowardly individual harmed, urgent distress call

This F&N hold Shanaynay, another man down
This firearm named Shanaynay claims another victim

Pull up, park, bounce out
Arrive at the location, park the vehicle, and swiftly exit

Nigga you drivin', you watch out
Be cautious, since you're in control of the vehicle

Keep the engine runnin', I'll be right out
Leave the engine running, I'll return shortly

If they send me to the
In case they decide to send me to the

County I'll be right out
County jail, I'll be released soon

If it ain't valuable you better leave it
If it lacks worth, you should abandon it

Any false moves nigga, bet I leave it
Make a wrong move and I guarantee I'll abandon it

For ten summers strong, runnin' my region
For a decade, I've dominated my area with authority

Hot boy, five hundred degrees, no fever
I'm a fiery individual, scorching at five hundred degrees without any illness

My niggas havin' things, yeah free Celly
My associates are successful, celebrating without any restrictions

Sixty inch flatscreen
Large sixty-inch television

I think he wanna sell it
I believe he intends to trade or sell it

A thick bitch from Inglewood
A voluptuous woman from Inglewood

At the roach telly
Staying at a low-quality motel with cockroach infestation

She got an eight of old Tech
She possesses one-eighth of an ounce of aged Tecate beer

But she ain't tryna sell it
However, she's not willing to trade or sell it

Fix some last money like rent eight
Scraping together some final funds, just enough for rent

My bitch down on the track on a rainy day
My loyal partner is working on the streets even in unfavorable conditions

I made a million dollars on Sepulveda
I earned a significant amount of money on Sepulveda Boulevard

Black Mack got a brick, he
My associate Black Mack possesses a kilogram of drugs, he

'bout to pour it up, it's Philthy
Preparing to sell it, Philthy Rich's involvement