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It's dark, and hell is hot
[Chorus]
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, cause when it's on
ya niggaz know to be gone, everytime, cause we don't play
"Who turned out the lights?" is what niggaz be sayin
Now you don't want to fight, but y'all niggaz be playin
Thinkin it's alright, keep playin with that role
And you gonna know the night, when you layin in that hole
Dirt gettin tossed in yo' grave, now it's all over
Preacher said "You was brave," but now it's all over
You just one of the many, plenty, I done gave it to
Ain't no savin you
No matter how many tears your moms' cried
Ain't gon bring yo' ass back, plus in hell you gon' fry
Why? But now the only two relative questions
is "Do we bury him or burn? Any suggestions?"
Either way, you up out of here for good
Now when niggaz mention your name they knockin on wood
Did I, get my, point across?
Another body on the shottie another joint I toss
[Chorus]
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
It ain't no sunshine when the Dark Man comes out
And I want mine, so I plan to keep my gun out
We got four 9's, so niggaz run in and run out
But I bust mine, cause I'd like to hear some shouts
Get at me dog, niggaz know how its goin dizzy
When it comes to that flow, I gets busy
Who is he? Dark Man, of the unknown
(Grrr, arf!) One dog, one bone
Now who ain't goin home? Looks like you
You hear strike one, talkin' shit, strike two
Won't be a strike three, cause I don't play fair
I'ma look you in your eye while he hit you from the rear
Be like yeah, holdin you up 'cause you fallin (what?)
The Lord ain't comin, 'til niggaz stop callin'
You was ballin', a minute ago, in it for dough
'til it was, "Yo, I swear to God, I didn't know"
[Chorus]
Every time, cause we don't play
Every time, cause we don't play
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
Whatchu think you gon' get, fuck around with my dough
Just so it ain't no mistakes, this is my show
One (one) two (two) three, here I go!
Your shit is quick, and your shit is slick, but this shit is thick
Ain't you hear this shit? Damn right, I can finish shit
If you caught that verse without a rewind you can see mine
but you be blind, I'll do it 360 and come up from behind
Tap you on your shoulder, have you turnin' around
Hit you with somethin' that'll have you burnin' the ground
Be like, "Damn, ain't nuttin' left of money, but a pile of ash"
Life is good, so please enjoy it while it lasts
'Cause you know ain't got much longer to go
The quicker you go depends on the stronger the flow
And niggaz know, I don't give a fuck, right or wrong
There ain't no sunshine when it's on
[Chorus]
Every time, cause we don't play
Every time, cause we don't play
[Chorus]
Ain't no sunshine when it's on
Only darkness every day
Ain't no sunshine when it's on, cause when it's on
ya niggaz know to be gone, everytime, cause we don't play
"Who turned out the lights?" is what niggaz be sayin
Now you don't want to fight, but y'all niggaz be playin
Thinkin it's alright, keep playin with that role
And you gonna know the night, when you layin in that hole
Dirt gettin tossed in yo' grave, now it's all over
Preacher said "You was brave," but now it's all over
You just one of the many, plenty, I done gave it to
Ain't no savin you
No matter how many tears your moms' cried
Ain't gon bring yo' ass back, plus in hell you gon' fry
Why? But now the only two relative questions
is "Do we bury him or burn? Any suggestions?"
Either way, you up out of here for good
Now when niggaz mention your name they knockin on wood
Did I, get my, point across?
Another body on the shottie another joint I toss
[Chorus]
Every time, 'cause we don't play
Every time, 'cause we don't play
It ain't no sunshine when the Dark Man comes out
And I want mine, so I plan to keep my gun out
We got four 9's, so niggaz run in and run out
But I bust mine, cause I'd like to hear some shouts
Get at me dog, niggaz know how its goin dizzy
When it comes to that flow, I gets busy
Who is he? Dark Man, of the unknown
(Grrr, arf!) One dog, one bone
Now who ain't goin home? Looks like you
You hear strike one, talkin' shit, strike two
Won't be a strike three, cause I don't play fair
I'ma look you in your eye while he hit you from the rear
Be like yeah, holdin you up 'cause you fallin (what?)
The Lord ain't comin, 'til niggaz stop callin'
You was ballin', a minute ago, in it for dough
'til it was, "Yo, I swear to God, I didn't know"
[Chorus]
Every time, cause we don't play
Every time, cause we don't play
And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know
Whatchu think you gon' get, fuck around with my dough
Just so it ain't no mistakes, this is my show
One (one) two (two) three, here I go!
Your shit is quick, and your shit is slick, but this shit is thick
Ain't you hear this shit? Damn right, I can finish shit
If you caught that verse without a rewind you can see mine
but you be blind, I'll do it 360 and come up from behind
Tap you on your shoulder, have you turnin' around
Hit you with somethin' that'll have you burnin' the ground
Be like, "Damn, ain't nuttin' left of money, but a pile of ash"
Life is good, so please enjoy it while it lasts
'Cause you know ain't got much longer to go
The quicker you go depends on the stronger the flow
And niggaz know, I don't give a fuck, right or wrong
There ain't no sunshine when it's on
[Chorus]
Every time, cause we don't play
Every time, cause we don't play
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I think it is a message of how life can end at anytime, and he seems to suggest that you should live it to the fullest every chance you get. "Life is good, so please enjoy it, while it lasts"
this message seems to be contrasted with the rest of the verses which are detailing how bad the "Street" can be.
Also, the song is probably a tribute to Bill Withers, hence the similar chorus, and melody.
Now instead of spamming the comments section with your foolish argument about rap, you guys should be reading the lyrics and coming up with your own ideas for the meaning.
Firstly, are you going to hate on all artists that do a cover? Secondly, I fail to see how DMX's track is a cover...
Bill Withers - 'Aint no sunshine' [1st verse]
You ever want something
That you know you shouldn't have
The more you know you shouldn't have it
The more you want it
And then one day
You get it
And it's so good to you
But it's just like my girl
When she's around me
I just feel so good
So good
But right now I just feel cold
So cold
Right down to my bones 'cause...
Yeah i can totally see where dmx got inspired with his first verse. I believe a cover track is when the artist just reperforms another artists' song, or tries to put his/her own artistic flare into it. All DMX is doing is sampling the beat and chorus (with some addition to the beat and alteration of the chorus) and isn't trying to reinterpret Bill Withers' song in anyway.
The original track is "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers.
Famous covers by: The Jackson Five, Eva Cassidy, Will Young, Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Soul For Real, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, Woven Hand, Tyrone Wells, Bob Marley, and, yes, DMX too.
you should know that. sheesh.
you all need to download "siamese twins" by the cure too.