Discover the poetic beauty in ‘Movin Backwards’ by A Tribe Called Quest. This lyric breakdown takes you on a journey through the artist’s thoughts, emotions, and the story they aim to tell. From clever metaphors to evocative imagery, we delve into the nuances that make this song a lyrical masterpiece. Whether you’re a fan of A Tribe Called Quest or a lover of well-crafted words, our detailed analysis will give you a deeper understanding and appreciation of this song.
I hope my legendary style of rap lives on
A-fixed to the earth like my feet they got cleats on
Moving backwards never, that was never the plan
Pushing shit along, render stillness in the quick sand
Asphalt jumpin’, junkie lyrical, concrete
My Jedi mind be moving me through the many dark streets
Backwoods, boondocks, whatever terrain
Auf wiedersehen, aloha, man, our feet ain’t the same
I won’t abuse these shoes these shoes ain’t made for reversing
Then trudging through these motherfuckers first album footprinting
Never ever ghostwritten, yo shit free, bitten
Grab my shit with both hands
Iron grip, steel mitten
And bloviated Jarobi ate it, and now it’s gone
Closed mouths don’t get fed or move ahead to my hustlers with customers
Scam my chicks just being petty
Trap lords with the fetty, don’t be no backwards, no
No backward ass nigga, don’t be no backwards, no
No backward ass nigga, don’t be no backwards, no
Don’t do it, nigga
I spun around without a care, when I stopped, I felt lost
I’m two heels from the top tier, I really want to be boss
I figured out, I figured it out somewhere
Maybe the answer’s not up there
Maybe it’s on the ground somewhere
When I stopped, I felt lost
Do you ever feel lost?
They wanna see my downfall
Turn a good day into a downpour
Thorns in the crown and the cross I bear
Why they wanna see me hangin’ like a towel somewhere
One eye, two bills, three tears, a heart still
How I’m feelin’ in my mind right here
I think I’m moving but I’m going nowhere, nowhere
Lately I feel lost, yeah
How I’m supposed to know how home feels, I ain’t even on my home field
Yeah nigga I feel lost
Was not a cruise that brought us here
Yeah, again I feel lost
And I refuse to be stuck right here yeah
I don’t want to move backwards, and oh
Can somebody just give me, can somebody just give me, can somebody just give direction?
I don’t want to move backwards, no
Can somebody just give me, can somebody just give me, can somebody just give direction?
Can’t go back, I don’t want to move backwards
Moving backwards never, that was never the plan
Can I vent? I was content being my own man
Up until that night, ill fated, walking home, I was faded
Po puts braces on my wrist like he was clapping his hands
How demeaning y’all, who could be blind to racism
Bring bro bro to me for the brotherly baptism
Instead of slaps give ’em, the dose of Ab wisdom
He’ll make it out of the jungle some way
Hey, it’s figurative, it’s not a real place you stay
Ay, it’s mind state, feel with muck and malaise uh
I got direction without using Waze, mm
Submitting myself to praying these days
Yeah, moonbacking backwards, it’s only for stage
Feds lining up, we’re right here
And everybody’s hands in the air
Four-fives so get your ass found somewhere
Caught between hope and despair
Say it loud, when it take to make my niggas listen
(Somebody just me, somebody just give me, somebody just give me)
Cool out, chill out nigga, I’m cool
Cool out nigga, nah, nigga I’m through
Head down, ain’t no tellin’ what you gon’ do
(Somebody just me, somebody just give me, somebody just give me directions)
I don’t want to move backwards, and oh
Cops, killing us niggas everywhere, maybe we should get some guns too
She come around every now and a few
Man I hope she really loves you
Living high ain’t hard to do
She’ll be in the clouds somewhere
Feeling fresh, I’ll snatch your bitches out of here
Might even take your broad too
Oops, I’m ’bout to get kicked out here
Tell mama I’mma slide through, yeah
Still I, I’m trying to get out of here, but stuck in the same room
Too many open miles in here, sick of eating out at drive through