Drop
Dance Through Defiance: Idris Lawal's Sonic Journey of Identity and Empowerment
Lyrics
VERSE 1
Opening of the song
Drop, that tingle in your feet
Describing the physical sensation of music
the feeling of the beat, watch your knees fall in defeat
Expressing the impact of the beat on the body
and buckle, before the vocals creep through the rubble
Introduction of vocals breaking through
subtle, like the pop of a bubble
Comparing vocals to a subtle burst like a bubble
trouble, i start the verse, ya feel it one time
Starting the verse, setting the mood
Make you dance your way onto the front line
Encouraging dancing and moving forward
Warning i ain’t here to take no names
Declaring a warning and assertiveness
The spoils of victory, I take claim
Claiming the rewards of success
Feedback & fame won’t feed the fam
Highlighting the limitations of fame
Smooth criminals, creep through villages
Reference to smooth criminals and their actions
gone in the morning, sheets we pillaged them
Describing transient, secretive encounters
Young & corrupted, girls we caught up in
Referring to the influence on young individuals
bang on 'em eardrums …..
Impactful music hitting eardrums
We just trynna have some fun wit it
Expressing the desire for enjoyment
Neighbours wanna call the cops again
Neighbors reacting negatively to the noise
‘Cause my colour makes me complicit
Addressing racial prejudice and assumptions
Don’t make sense, it don’t make commas men
Expressing frustration over racial stereotypes
Drop me a line, they won come sentence me
Inviting communication but fearing judgment
CHORUS
Beginning of the chorus
My skin is like bronze
Describing personal attributes metaphorically
My heart’s like a diamond
-My tongue is like gold
-My word is my bond
-If i think it, i’m gon’ drop
Expressing creative freedom and impact
If I speak it, time gon’ stop
-If I sing it, & you bop
-If I flip it, won’t you’ cop
-VERSE 2
Beginning of the second verse
They wan’ box me in, they can’t box with god
Resisting confinement and claiming divine status
I know the ropes like a boxing ring
Comparing life to a boxing ring and asserting resilience
Can’t box me out,
-Can’t shake my dreams
Asserting determination to pursue dreams
Nigerian boy, i’m olajuwon
Identifying cultural background proudly
& I travelled
Highlighting experience and expertise
10,000 hours now I’m a veteran
-Found me a girl,
Finding love and companionship
& found me some brethrens
-Life is a lesson
Viewing life as a learning experience and achieving goals
I cut my check
-& check off my checklists
-I give you my word
Commitment to promises and avoiding consequences
I don’t want no sentence
-It don’t make sense, it don’t make commas men
Reiterating frustration with racial stereotypes
That my colour make me complicit
Highlighting the impact of skin color on perception
Drop me a charge, they won come empty me
Inviting legal accusations and potential consequences
Draining my blues to fill they cups with it
Addressing exploitation and appropriation of emotions
CHORUS
Repetition of the chorus
My skin is like bronze
Reiteration of personal attributes metaphorically
My heart’s like a diamond
-My tongue is like gold
-My word is my bond
-If i think it, i’m gon’ drop
Reiteration of creative impact and influence
If I speak it, time gon’ stop
-If I sing it, & you bop
-If I flip it, won’t you’ cop
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