Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of an artist navigating the treacherous waters of newfound success, constantly fending off those who seek to exploit or undermine them. The opening lines immediately establish a theme of betrayal and self-awareness: "Fool me once, then shame on you / Fool me twice, then shame on me." This isn't just about being tricked; it's about recognizing a pattern and accepting personal responsibility for allowing it to continue. The narrator feels a relentless pressure, a sense that external forces are actively trying to derail their path to greatness, even resorting to "felonies" to do so. This external opposition is fueled by greed, as "dollar signs is all they see," a stark contrast to the narrator's own drive and ambition. The central tension lies in the struggle for agency and recognition amidst a sea of opportunists and doubters. The narrator reflects on their past struggles, remembering "nickels" and "dimes," and contrasts it with the present where former associates now lie and cry, driven by jealousy or a desire to capitalize on their fame. This duality is further emphasized by the feeling of being "drownin'," yet simultaneously climbing a "mountain," highlighting the immense pressure and the arduous journey. The repeated question, "Why them bitches won't let me breathe?" underscores a suffocating sense of being hounded and denied peace, a direct consequence of their rising status. The most striking craft element is the recurring motif of breathlessness, directly linked to the external pressures. The inability to "breathe" isn't just a physical sensation; it's a metaphor for the suffocating environment created by those who "tryna get under me." This feeling is amplified by the narrator's internal conflict, oscillating between feeling "down like the world is against me" and "high like I'm Bobby and Whitney." The lyrics also skillfully employ a call-and-response structure in the pre-chorus, posing direct questions about loyalty: "Keep it real for me, would you kill for me? / Would you deal for me?" This interrogation of their inner circle is crucial, as the narrator grapples with who to trust when so many seem motivated by "dollar signs." Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw honesty and the palpable sense of defiance. The narrator's determination to protect what they've earned, asserting "they cannot get it from me," resonates deeply. The blend of past hardship and present struggle, coupled with the constant vigilance required, creates a compelling narrative of resilience. The lyrics don't shy away from the emotional toll of success, making the artist's fight for their destiny and their very breath feel intensely personal and earned.

CRASH RARRI - Rap

FOOL ME ONCE / CAN’T BREATHE

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[Intro] Freshco made this, made this beat [Chorus] Ayy, fool me once, then shame on you Fool me twice, then shame on me Tryna keep me from destiny Tryna trick me with felonies Tryna trick me with felonies And they know what I'm finna be And they know what I'm finna be Why they tryna get under me? Why you wanna get under me? Dollar signs is all they see, yeah Dollar signs is all they see Dollar signs is all they see (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) And they cannot get it from me (And they cannot get it from me) No, no, they cannot get it from me, yeah (No, no) No, they cannot get it from me (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Why them bitches won't let me breathe, huh? (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Tell me, tell me, why can't I breathe? Yeah (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) [Verse 1] Soon as I get it, I know them niggas gon' try to take it Look in my eyes and tell me you're happy I made it Not by surprise, before I did it, I separated Yes, I do realize the street that I'm on, y'all had to pave it I'm not these other guys, I know these niggas be actin' shady Your life is a mirage, you get too close and they get to fadin' The coupe in my garage, I press a button, the roof get faded Your boo wanna ménage, she wanna fuck me because I'm famous I remember the pain (Pain), I remember the times (Times) I remember the nickels, I remember the dimes (Dimes) I remember niggas wasn't my niggas, but now they're lyin' (Lyin') I remember bitches wasn't my bitches, but now they crying (Crying) I ain't change none of my gangs, I still rep 2OUTH2ID3 (2OUTH) It still be 2OUTH2ID3 223 when I be outside (223) I don't know you, you don't know me so you should act right (Right) I keep the pistol like I'm P and I do not lie [Pre-Chorus] Keep it real for me, would you kill for me? Would you deal for me? Tell me you'd steal for me (Me) Is you 'round for me? (Me) Was you down for me? (Me) Is you down for me? Guess we finna see, yeah (Yeah, yeah, yeah) [Chorus] Ayy, fool me once, then shame on you Fool me twice, then shame on me Tryna keep me from destiny Tryna trick me with felonies Tryna trick me with felonies And they know what I'm finna be And they know what I'm finna be Why they tryna get under me? Why you wanna get under me? Dollar signs is all they see, yeah Dollar signs is all they see Dollar signs is all they see (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) And they cannot get it from me (And they cannot get it from me) No, no, they cannot get it from me, yeah (No, no) No, they cannot get it from me (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Why them bitches won't let me breathe, huh? (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Tell me, tell me, why can't I breathe? Yeah (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Tell me, tell me, why can't I breathe? [Verse 2] Lately it feel like I'm drownin', like I'm divin' in water My life, it feel like a mountain, I'm just tryna get over (Get over) I'm tryna make my best music, got a chip on my shoulder (Shoulder) I'm tryna play and get through it 'cause I gotta stay focused I know if I cannot get through it, then I'm gettin' demoted Trust me that I know I can do it, gotta go through the motions Sometimes I feel so down like the world is against me Some days I feel so high like I'm Bobby and Whitney (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) Now say I'm workin', I'm workin', now just prayin' they feel me (Work, work) I said I'm cookin' like Perkins, I just pray that they hear me (Cook, cook, cook) Sometimes I'm feelin' unnoticed I know I'm workin', I'm focused, I know these niggas don't notice, yeah (Yeah, yeah, yeah) I'm tryna right all my wrongs I put my heart in my songs, I hope my people get on Ayy, I had to switch up my tone I called up Tooch on the phone, sickle cell hurtin' his bones [Pre-Chorus] Keep it real for me, would you kill for me? Would you deal for me? Tell me you'd steal for me Is you 'round for me? Was you down for me? Is you down for me? Guess we finna see, yeah (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) [Chorus] Fool me once, then shame on you Fool me twice, then shame on me Tryna keep me from destiny Tryna trick me with felonies Tryna trick me with felonies And they know what I'm finna be And they know what I'm finna be Why they tryna get under me? Why you wanna get under me? Dollar signs is all they see, yeah Dollar signs is all they see Dollar signs is all they see (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah) And they cannot get it from me (And they cannot get it from me) No, no, they cannot get it from me, yeah (No, no) No, they cannot get it from me (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Why them bitches won't let me breathe, huh? (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Tell me, tell me, why can't I breathe? Yeah (No, no, no, no, no, no, no) Tell me, tell me, why can't I breathe? [Outro] Ghetto Greatness

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Writers: CRASH RARRI

FOOL ME ONCE / CAN’T BREATHE

FOOL ME ONCE / CAN’T BREATHE

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