Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of youth caught in a cycle of systemic disadvantage and street life. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of urgency and past struggle: "Gotta step my WAVES up, gotta step my WAYS up," juxtaposed with memories of "GRINDIN' tryna' SAVE us." This sets up a core tension between the desire for upward mobility and the harsh realities of their environment, where "Mama tryna SAVE up" while others "tryna PLAY tough." The narrator recalls a youth spent in a "DAZE at the RIDGE," skipping school for illicit activities, highlighting a pervasive feeling of being lost and disconnected from conventional paths. The central conflict emerges from the narrator's internal battle between the allure of immediate gratification and the pursuit of a better future. Phrases like "I been, I been STUCK in my ways" and "PUFFIN away" reveal a pattern of self-destructive behavior, yet this is contrasted with a yearning for something more, a daydream of being "up on a STAGE" and "SCHEMIN til up in a GRAVE." The lyrics suggest a deep-seated fear of remaining trapped, of being "STUCK in the gate," and a desperate hope for "SALVATION" and finding a path "out the SOUTHSIDE." This internal struggle is amplified by the external environment, where violence is a constant threat, as evidenced by "shots fired then somebody DIED." A striking element of the craft is the recurring motif of being "LOST in the SYSTEM." This phrase, appearing in the chorus, encapsulates the feeling of powerlessness and being overlooked by societal structures. The lyrics also employ a potent contrast between the narrator's "ACTION been ILL ADVISED" and a plea to "Don't KILL me just KILL my PRIDE." This reveals a complex self-awareness, acknowledging personal failings while simultaneously expressing a desire for redemption over destruction. The second verse further explores this duality, with the narrator wrestling with a "gift of prophecy" and the temptation of violence, ultimately questioning if this is the only way life can unfold. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics lies in their raw honesty and unflinching portrayal of a specific lived experience. The writing doesn't shy away from the grim realities, the temptations, or the internal turmoil. By grounding the narrative in concrete details like "3 for 5 Blunts" and the constant threat of violence, the lyrics create a powerful sense of place and emotional weight. The narrator's journey, though fraught with "ILL ADVISED" actions, is driven by a profound desire to escape their circumstances and find a path toward a brighter future, making their struggle resonate deeply.

BuddieRoe - Rap

West Fuqua Kids

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Duration: 3:24

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[Chorus] Gotta step my WAVES up, gotta step my WAYS up I REMEMBER days up, GRINDIN' tryna' SAVE us Mama tryna SAVE up, you was tryna PLAY tough I was in a DAZE at the RIDGE since day 1 Used to roll one before the school house TRIPPIN PRESENCE was APPARENT but we in school MISSIN 3 for 5 Blunts they ain't WORRIED bout suspension West Fuqua Kids LOST in the SYSTEM [Verse] These are the DAYS, i'm in a DAZE, i'm in a MAZE I've been AFRAID I been, I been STUCK in my ways I been, I been PUFFIN away I been, I been up and AWAY Daydreamin I'm up on a STAGE Stay SCHEMIN til up in a GRAVE They peakin I GROW by the day, can't see me being STUCK in the gate No LUCK for me, These are the TIMES 2:30 then back to our lives, No guidance Ma' Got 9 to 5 Don't try em he ride with the MOB They throwin up ***, hit parties on other side Pulled up with dark tint on the ride, shots fired then somebody DIED RETALIATION on mind, but true SALVATION on mine GOD let these letters OBLIGE the lost and help em to find The path out the SOUTHSIDE, the way you helped me I dine with DESTINY, know im tryin I'm tainted but still I RISE Get FADED and hop in rides, my ACTION been ILL ADVISED Don't KILL me just kill my PRIDE, Don't kill me just KILL my PRIDE [Chorus] Gotta step my WAVES up, gotta step my WAYS up I REMEMBER days up, GRINDIN' tryna' SAVE us Mama tryna SAVE up, you was tryna PLAY tough I was in a DAZE at the RIDGE since day 1 Used to roll one before the school house TRIPPIN PRESENCE was APPARENT but we in school MISSIN 3 for 5 Blunts they ain't WORRIED bout suspension West Fuqua Kids LOST in the SYSTEM [Verse 2] Is it an anomoly to bare the gift of prophecy I 'prolly be the only nigga riding with you honestly I hesisitated, spearated, elevated constantly And chasing what you promised me, Is this the way it gotta be? Saw so many evils mama tried to pray it out of me But now she smiles and wipe her eyes as if she hit the lottery Pilot through the politics of hip hop and cop a seat At tip top and bitch boppin flip floppin on a beat Wrist watch tick tockin' wishin' for a roley piece A spottieottiedopaliscious hoe thats from the dirty three A car with a Remote Controller piece, heater under seat Don't take the gun from me ima do the shit I been wondering Since living humbly and me struggling tryna run from me And stomach rumblings and the hunger can take you underneath To point the gun at me til I feel it sting like a bumble bee And then it's done for me rather that than the demons come for m..(SHOT) Too late, so much for being great Getting rich and getting out the gate You still from Fuqua Nigga.. [Chorus] Gotta step my WAVES up, gotta step my WAYS up I REMEMBER days up, GRINDIN' tryna' SAVE us Mama tryna SAVE up, you was tryna PLAY tough I was in a DAZE at the RIDGE since day 1 Used to roll one before the school house TRIPPIN PRESENCE was APPARENT but we in school MISSIN 3 for 5 Blunts they ain't WORRIED bout suspension West Fuqua Kids LOST in the SYSTEM

Credits

Writers: BuddieRoe

West Fuqua Kids

West Fuqua Kids

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Credits