Step by step, heart to heart, left right left
We all fall down,
Step by step, heart to heart, left right left
We all fall down like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart
We never win but the battle wages on for toy soldiers

I'm suppose to be the soldier, who never blows his composure
Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders
I ain't never suppose to show it, my crew ain't suppose to know it
Even if it means going toe to toe with the Benzino, it don't matter
I never drag 'em in battles that I can handle less I absolutely have to
I'm suppose to set an example, I need to be the leader
My crew looks for me to guide 'em
If some shit ever just pop off I'm suppose to be beside 'em
That Ja shit, I tried to squashed it, it was too late to stop it
There's a certain line, you just don't cross it, and he crossed it
I heard him say Hailie's name on a song and I just lost it
It was crazy, this shit went way beyond some Jay Z and Nas shit
And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it
I spent so much energy on it, honestly I'm exhausted
I'm so caught it I almost feel like I'm the one who caused it
This ain't what I'm in Hip Hop for, it's not why I got in it
That was never my object for someone to get killed
Why would I want to destroy something I helped build
It wasn't my intentions, my intentions were good
I went through my whole career with out ever mentioning
And that's just outta respect, for not running my mouth
And talking about something that I knew nothing about
Plus Dre told me stay out, just wasn't my beef, So I did
I just fell back, watched and gritted my teeth while he's all over TV
Now I'm talking a man who literally saved my life, like fuck it
I understand, this is business and this shit just isn't none of my business
But still knowing this shit could pop off at any minute cause

Step by step, heart to heart, left right left
We all fall down, like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart
We never win but the battle wages on for toy soldiers

It used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme
And wouldn't have to worry about one of your people dying
But now it's elevated cause once you put someone's kids in it
Shit gets escalated, it ain't just words no more, is it
It's a different ball game, call names and you ain't just rapping
We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happening
Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him
And asked him not to start it, he wasn't gonna go after him
Until Ja' start yappin' in magazines how he stabbed him
Fuck 'em 50, smash him, mash him, and let him have it
Meanwhile my intentions pulled me in other directions
Some receptionist said the source who answers phones at his desk
Has an erection for me and thinks
That I'll be his resurrection
Tries to blow the dust of his mic and make a new record
But now he's fucked the game up cause one of the ways I came up
Was through that publication, the same one that made me famous
Now the owner of it got a grudge against me for nothing but fuck it
That motherfucker can get it too, fuck 'em then
But I'm so busy being pissed off, I don't stop to think
That we just inherited 50's beef with Murder Inc
And he's inherited mine, which is fine, ain't like either of us mind
We still have soldiers that's on the front line that's willing to die for us
As soon as we give the orders, never to extort us
Strictly to show they support us
Maybe shout 'em out in a rap or up in a chorus to show we love 'em back
And to let 'em know how important it is to have Runyon Avenue soldiers up in our corners
Their loyalty to us is worth more then any award is
But I ain't trying to have none of my people hurt or murdered
It ain't worth it, I can't think of a perfecter way to word it
Then to just say that I love y'all too much to see the verdict
I'll walk away from it all before I'll let it go any further
But don't get it twisted, it's not a plea that I'm coping
I'm just willing to be the bigger man
If y'all can quit popping off at the jaws with the knocking
'Cause frankly I'm sick of talking
I'm not gonna let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience 'cause

Step by step, heart to heart, left right left
We all fall down, like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart
We never win but the battle wages on for toy soldiers



Lyrics submitted by k5every1

Track duration: 04:57

"Like Toy Soldiers" as written by Margules/marrero/resto/mathers

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Like Toy Soldiers song meanings
Add your thoughts

305 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:Shouldn't this title have a question mark? But in response, yes Eminem i do like toy soldiers.
    Flag shamone12on December 19, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:3 words : I LOVE IT
    Flag eminemforeveron January 07, 2012   Link
  • +3
    Song Meaning:I don't usually listen to Eminem, but these lyrics are so raw and real I just had to comment. He talks about trying to be the responsible person in a world of immature rappers. He doesn't want to lose his temper but when the people he cherishes the most are involved then it's war. He just sounds so mature, and I like how with this song he basically says how he knows what's right from wrong but he will fight to the end for his loved ones. Good job, E!
    Flag carleybethon January 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about all the different wars/arguements/beef whatever you wanna call it between all of the rappers. The guy on the table is Tupac. Its representing that because of beef in the 'rap game' somone has been killed. Tupac was very close to Eminem, not many people know that, Hense why Eminem is co-producer of Amaru Shakur Records alongside Tupacs mum Afeni. Eminem is pretty much explaining what happened between 50 and Ja and Eminem and how Dre's business is Dre's business with Suge. Hense the (?) 50 and Jar Rules beef come from the fact that 50 released his album the same time Ja did and it topped it. Def Jam records then tried to get Suge Knight to release his single on the album to try and boost sales but failed and never did so. 50 and Ja have had beef since. Eminem doesnt want beef between 50 and Ja, Hense the line "We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happenin'
    Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him
    And asked him not to start it he wasn't gonna go after him
    Until Ja started yappin' in magazines how we stabbed him
    Fuck it 50 smash 'em, mash 'em and let him have it" - Ja used to rap about muggin R&B stars and rappers etc. Which is one of the main reasons aswell why him and 50 never got on. Eminem made this song to try and end the beef in the rap game. At the end of the video you see "Enough is Enough" with Eminem sitting next to it on a news screen. He illustrates that he got in the game to do somethign he loved, rap. Not fight. Then at the end you see 4 rappers come up, Big L, Tupac, Biggie and the other dude but i forgot who. 4 Rappers who had lost there lives because of stupid beef because of rapping and how fame got to their heads. its an awesome song.
    Flagged Bannonon August 29, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I love how angry he sounds in this song. This song is simply amazing. Amazing. I bet he felt so much looser after writing this song, he let out alot of his rage and thoughts in this. Congrats Eminem, this is just another song that proves you're the best rapper the world has ever seen.
    Flagged hicktownheroon June 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Frankly i was suprised at the lyrical content of this song the first few times i heard it but the chorus makes up for it. well done song!!!
    Flag Ayjizzy010on January 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:when theres tht pause n the song its Suge.he doesnt say it cuz it has 2 do with problems wit dre and suge n the 90's.(4 ppl who didnt know tht)p.s Marion Hugh Knight, Jr. is bttr known as Suge Knight or suge 4 ppl who didnt know tht.i may b a 13 yr old white blond girl but i know my EM's shit.
    Flag KkKOon December 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:sad irony...

    Proof plays the victim in the video and then is murdered a few years later.

    I wonder if Em looks back on this song since Proof's death and feels guilty. And for that matter, I wonder how he feels about Michael Jackson's death after he wrote the song "Just Lose It"....
    Flag duchess9on November 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song is about his fued with rival gangs and how his crew suffered. I think he had a right to have a go at jas for bringin his family into this cuz it isn't fair on them so no one shud of sed anythin about his reply to jas's rap
    Flag tiaralouon October 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:amazing cover. and great sad remade lyrics, breaks my heart :(
    Flag dark_eyez_666on August 25, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain