Song Meaning

DMX’s “One More Night” isn’t a party anthem; it's a raw, desperate plea for endurance. The song's core meaning revolves around the daily struggle to survive—both physically and spiritually—in the face of overwhelming adversity. The repetition of “Hold up for one more night / I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night” acts as a mantra, a desperate attempt to self-soothe and find the strength to persevere through seemingly insurmountable challenges. It speaks to the exhaustion and emotional turmoil of someone battling inner demons and external pressures. The rawness of this repetitive confession is the song's core strength: the listener is trapped in the same feedback loop of anxiety as DMX himself. Delving into the verses, the lyrics reveal a complex internal conflict. DMX wrestles with his own capacity for violence and wrongdoing (“That's why I lie, cheat, rob and steal sometimes”), acknowledging his flaws while simultaneously questioning his purpose (“But what am I supposed to think he made me for / When he only gave me war”). This paints a picture of a man grappling with the hand he's been dealt, torn between his actions and his desire for redemption. The invocation of God suggests a search for guidance and intervention, a desperate hope that divine intervention can alter his course. The line “My back's against the wall, I am under pressure” illustrates the feeling of being trapped, a recurring theme in DMX's music and a reflection of the systemic challenges faced by many in marginalized communities. Later verses offer a glimmer of hope and resilience. DMX reflects on his upbringing (“Put me in the hood for a reason”) and acknowledges the strength he's gained from enduring hardship (“You kept me around long enough / Til I got strong enough”). This suggests an acceptance of his past as a formative experience, one that has equipped him with the wisdom to navigate the complexities of life. The contemplation of heaven and hell further underscores the moral weight of his choices and the ultimate consequences that await. The ending breakdown, fixating on the line "Take back when I was a little bad motherfucker" could be interpreted as regret, or perhaps the wish to reclaim a time of innocence before the streets hardened him. Either way, the lyrics of “One More Night” offer a powerful glimpse into the mind of a man battling his demons, seeking solace, and striving for redemption in a world that often feels unforgiving. The song meaning, therefore, is a testament to the enduring human spirit's capacity to persevere even in the darkest of times.

DMX - Rap, Pop

One More Night

4 Plays

Duration: 3:45

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Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through (Verse) Understand, this ain't something that you talk about You cats talk that gangster shit, I walk the route I could be a grimy nigga for real sometimes That's why I lie, cheat, rob and steal sometimes I know God made me But what am I supposed to think he made me for When he only gave me war My whole life has been a hustle Money coming in bundles Half-way to the struggle pulled me out the jungle God if you listening, I need you to help me Please cross this bridge, or you done lost the kid My back's against the wall, I am under pressure Like I'm about to fall, he like no, I won't let ya (Chorus) Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through (Verse) Put me in the hood for a reason I don't understand, it's cold outside, but I ain't freezing You kept me warm enough You kept me around long enough Til I got strong enough To understand the days as they come To live the life of a rich man and the life of a bum Yet the life of a wise man is the hardest It forces you to sometimes play dumb when you know you the smartest Regardless This is the shit we go through And have to get through In order to get to the place that we all end up at Think about it, heaven or hell is where you gonna end up at Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through (Verse) Think back when I was a little bad motherfucker Or was I really? Or was I just misunderstood? Does y'all hear me? I don't know if I can take it, slow sometimes I don't know If I'm gonna make it, holding mine I'ma do the best I can As long as I got him by his hand, that's the best plan (Chorus) I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Hold up for one more night I don't know if I'm gonna make it for one more night I've been going through What I'm going through Take back when I was a little bad motherfucker Take back when I was a little bad motherfucker Take back when I was a little bad motherfucker Take back when I was a little bad motherfucker Take back when I was a little bad motherfucker

Credits

Writers: Dame Grease
DMX

One More Night

One More Night

Lyrics

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Credits