Life
I wonder
Will it take me under
I don't know

Imagine smoking weed in the streets without cops harassin'
Imagine going to court with no trial
Lifestyle cruising blue behind my waters
No welfare supporters, more conscious of the way we raise our daughters
Days are shorter, nights are colder
Feeling like life is over, these snakes strike like a cobra
The world's hot my son got not
Evidently, it's elementary, they want us all gone eventually
Troopin' out of state for a plate, knowledge
If coke was cooked without the garbage we'd all have the top dollars
Imagine everybody flashin', fashion
Designer clothes, lacing your click up with diamond vogues
Your people holdin' dough, no parole
No rubbers, go in raw imagine, law with no undercovers
Just some thoughts for the mind
I take a glimpse into time
Watch the blimp read, "The World Is Mine"

[Chorus:]
If I ruled the world, imagine that
I'd free all my sons, I love 'em love 'em baby
Black diamonds and pearls
Could it be, if you could be mine we'd both shine
If I ruled the world
Still livin' for today, in these last days and times

The way to be, paradise like relaxin', Black, Latino and Anglo-Saxon
Armani, exchange the reins
Cash, Lost Tribe of Shabazz, free at last
Brand new whips to crash then we laugh in the ill'er path
The Villa house is for the crew, how we do
Trees for breakfast, dime sexes and Benz stretches
So many years of depression make me vision
The better livin', type of place to raise kids in
Open they eyes to the lies, history's told foul
But I'm as wise as the old owl, plus the Gold Child
Seeing things like I was controlling, click rollin'
Trickin' six digits on kicks and still holdin'
Trips to Paris, I civilized every savage
Gimme one shot I turn trife life to lavish
Political prisoner set free, stress free
No work release purple M3's and jet skis
Feel the wind breeze in West Indies
I'd make Coretta Scott-King mayor o'the cities and reverse themes to Willies
It sounds foul but every girl I meet to go downtown
I'd open every cell in Attica send em to Africa

[Chorus]

And then we'll walk right up to the sun
Hand in hand
We'll walk right up to the sun
We won't land
We'll walk right up to the sun
Hand in hand
We'll walk right up to the sun
We won't land

You'd love to hear the story how the thugs live in worry
Duck down in car seats, heat's mandatory
Runnin' from Jake, gettin' chased, hunger for papes
These are the breaks, many mistakes go down out of state
Wait, I had to let it marinate we carry weight
Tryin' to get laced, flip the ace stack, the safe
Millionaire plan to keep the gat with the cock hammer
Makin' moves in Atlanta, back and forth scrambler
'Cause you could have all the chips, be poor or rich
Still nobody want a nigga havin' shit
If I ruled the world and everything in it, sky's the limit
I push a Q-4-5 infinite
It wouldn't be no such thing as jealousies or be felony
Strictly living longevity to the destiny
I thought I'd never see, but reality struck
Better find out before your time's out, what the fuck

[Chorus]

If I ruled the world, if I ruled, if I ruled
I'd free all my sons, if I ruled, if I ruled
Black diamonds and pearls, black diamonds, black diamonds
Could it be, if you could be mine, we'd both shine
If I ruled the world
Still livin' for today, in these last days and times

If I ruled the world, if I ruled, if I ruled
I'd free all my sons, black diamonds
I love em love em baby
Black diamonds and pearls, if I ruled
If I ruled the world

If I ruled the world
I love em love em baby



Lyrics submitted by oofus

Track duration: 04:42

"If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)" as written by Kurt Walker, Aaron O'bryant, David Franklin Reeves

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


If I Ruled The World song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:Does anyone know if there is a reaon why L Boogie didn't get a verse on this song? Seems perfect for her and as she was in the studio already doing the chorus it seems like a wasted opportunity... unless there was a reason she didn't...?
    Flag Bowneron May 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:@REd, that's a lot of things to take out. I haven't been back to Africa since 1992. I'm betting that it's changed a whole lot since then.
    Flag Realityon April 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:uhm... Africa isnt as ugly or as pretty as some people think it is(I blame the media mostly here). This continent has suffered greatly from its years spent under colonial rule... dude we dont even own most of our resources due to that ish. I aint saying that its a fucked up place, minus the mindless killings, over populated prisons, corrupt individuals in goverment, high crime rates, the aids, poverty, our love for western culture(I am guilty of this one), terrible eduction system(South Africa), Companys that need land so they use their fat wallets to get people to die quietly with the help of the police when they refuse to leave their homes and the biggest issue sevice delievery... if you take those out of the picture Africa is your utopia.
    Flag REDorbon November 14, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is for the poster ..Reality....


    the feeling i get from the lyrics when he says id open up every cell in attica and send them to Africa!

    Nas is saying he would release his brothers that had no chance at life.. in prison and stuck in a world of violence and drug dealing etc.. he would give them a second chance and send them Africa Where they were taken from!
    Flag MUSICISFORMEon September 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Brilliant in its simplicity musically. But what really shines here is Nas' lyricism and flow. Not bad at all.
    Flag Lateralus518on September 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:reality, I really feel like that line has the intent of the first interpretation you made. The interpretation being that African Americans really don't have a sense of our past, specifically in this country, and that by taking us back to the continent, there will be some sort of realization of past greatness and thus empowerment. Nas is a genius
    Flag thescenestboyaliveon August 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I dont usually listen to Nas, but i heard a cover of this song on Jtv and fell in love with it. I downloaded the real version and found it was 10 times better than the cover =]]
    Flag dietcocaineon July 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Solid song.
    Flag iWin4Prepon June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The only line a have a problem with is "I'd open every cell in Attica, send 'em to Africa."

    I'm African and this line rubs me the wrong way. You can look at it as he's saying that Africa is the most beautiful place on earth so he'd open all the cells to those that have done wrong and send them somewhere that can change their lives. Or you can look at it like he's saying that Africa is a place of lions, animals and savages so he'd open all the cells of a prison that confines some of the worst in society and send them a place where they can run rampant and wild, killing each other off.
    Flag Realityon May 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of the greatest songs I've ever heard. The guy that typed the lyrics to this song made a few errors.
    Flag Realityon February 03, 2007   Link

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