Publish date: 2024-03-16
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(Sonic)
You ever woke up out your sleep like is you gon' die in the trenches?
You ever thought it'd be your dawg when they described the witness?
I wrote a letter to authorities when they threw out the tenants
To claim that shit that bronem claim, you know that shit a privilege
For Pat I'll throw them tears, I remember the night they took him
They had gave police them guns, when they pulled up, they booked 'em
We catch a opp, he get baptized like I was never Muslim
Like wipe your nose, I love you, bro, stop fuckin' with Ashton Kutcher
Funeral home be extortin' me 'cause I be paying for bookings
Won't send no hunchos to the county 'cause you be paying for pussy
Could've went to college, but instead I'm in this van with hoodlums
And that shit all facts
I tried to give my dawg a pound but he want all crack
Like fuck the feds, you threaten my kids, I'm gettin' 'em all whacked
I spent like ninety on a Cuban, that shit prong set
Most of them OG's get out the feds, they know they all rats, nigga
All these niggas tryna live my life
They don't know what I go through
They ain't gon' do what they supposed to
I had to get it out that mud 'cause we was pain and suffering
And we was stuck inside the hood, we mix our Percs with 'Tussin
I know a killer got in that jam, we call him David Ruffin
And they didn't even use his statement, so he sang for nothing
They had a bitch up on that case but she the lamest bustin'
I fucked her but she still showed up at court, I came for nothing
I appreciate my war scars, show me I came from nothin'
My daddy got back off that L, like who get life for hustlin'?
I'm still a voice inside the trenches, don't make me say it again
DJ playin' the opps inside this club, he better not play it again
See dissin' me and go OT gon' get your hood shot
I can tell the streets what I been through just off my mugshots
And that shit all facts
I tried to give my dawg a pound but he want all crack
Like fuck the feds, you threaten my kids, I'm gettin' 'em all whacked
I spent like ninety on a Cuban, that shit prong set
Most of them OG's get out the feds, they know they all rats, nigga
All these niggas tryna live my life
They don't know what I go through
They ain't gon' do what they supposed to
Overall Meaning
In Lil Durk's song David Ruffin, he delves into the harsh realities of life in the streets and the constant fear of violence and betrayal. Lil Durk opens the song with a haunting question, "You ever woke up out your sleep like is you gon' die in the trenches?". This sets the tone for the rest of the song, as he reflects on the difficult situations he and those around him face. He also touches on the theme of loyalty, specifically the betrayal of a friend-turned-snitch, "I know a killer got in that jam, we call him David Ruffin, and they didn't even use his statement, so he sang for nothing". Lil Durk seems to allude to the famous R&B singer David Ruffin, who was known for his struggles with addiction and being kicked out of his famous group, The Temptations.
Lil Durk also references his financial success, but acknowledges that his past struggles still linger on him, "Could've went to college, but instead I'm in this van with hoodlums". He describes paying for bookings at the funeral home and not sending "hunchos" to jail due to paying for sexual favors, highlighting the harsh reality that money can buy freedom in the hood.
Overall, Lil Durk's David Ruffin is a vivid portrayal of the struggles of living in the streets and the constant fear of violence and betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
You ever woke up out your sleep like is you gon' die in the trenches?
Have you ever woken up in fear that you may lose your life while fighting in the streets?
You ever thought it'd be your dawg when they described the witness?
Has it ever crossed your mind that your closest companion could turn against you and rat you out to the police?
I wrote a letter to authorities when they threw out the tenants
I penned down a letter to the authorities when they evicted the people from their homes
To claim that shit that bronem claim, you know that shit a privilege
Asserting or laying claim to something that another person has already claimed is not honorable.
For Pat I'll throw them tears, I remember the night they took him
I'll shed tears for Pat since I remember the night when he was taken away.
I treat them hoes with a lil' respect 'cause that could be my sister
I show some respect to the women I engage with because they could be someone's sister.
They had gave police them guns, when they pulled up, they booked 'em
Someone gave the police the guns and the moment they showed up, they arrested them.
We catch an opp, he get baptized like I was never Muslim
When we catch an enemy, we baptize him as if I were never Muslim.
Like wipe your nose, I love you, bro, stop fuckin' with Ashton Kutcher
Stop messing with Ashton Kutcher, my brother, and clean your nose.
Funeral home be extortin' me 'cause I be paying for bookings
The funeral home extorts me because I pay for bookings.
Won't send no hunchos to the county 'cause you be paying for pussy
I won't send any powerful men to jail because they paid for sex.
Could've went to college, but instead I'm in this van with hoodlums
Even though I had the opportunity to attend college, I chose to be in a van with thugs instead.
And that shit all facts
And that is all true.
I tried to give my dawg a pound but he want all crack
I attempted to give my friend a greeting, but he only wants drugs.
Like fuck the feds, you threaten my kids, I'm gettin' 'em all whacked
If you threaten my children, I will kill all of you and not care about getting caught by the authorities.
I spent like ninety on a Cuban, that shit prong set
I spent around $90 on a Cuban necklace, and it's of superior quality.
Most of them OG's get out the feds, they know they all rats, nigga
The majority of older gangsters who exit the detention center are aware that they are informants.
All these niggas tryna live my life
All these people attempt to live the life I have.
They don't know what I go through
They do not comprehend the struggles I endure.
They ain't gon' do what they supposed to
They will not do what is expected of them.
I had to get it out that mud 'cause we was pain and suffering
I had to escape that mess because we were experiencing intense agony.
And we was stuck inside the hood, we mix our Percs with 'Tussin
We were trapped in the ghetto and had to combine our Percocet pills with cough syrup.
I know a killer got in that jam, we call him David Ruffin
I know someone who has been imprisoned for murder, and we refer to him as David Ruffin.
And they didn't even use his statement, so he sang for nothing
They didn't need to use his confession, so he betrayed his friends for no reason.
They had a bitch up on that case but she the lamest bustin'
They put a woman on that investigation, but she is the worst detective.
I fucked her but she still showed up at court, I came for nothing
I had sex with her, but she still testified against me in court, so I gained nothing.
I appreciate my war scars, show me I came from nothin'
I cherish my battle wounds since they indicate my humble beginnings.
My daddy got back off that L, like who get life for hustlin'?
My father got discharged from serving time for drug dealing, and he wonders who would get a life sentence for that offense.
I'm still a voice inside the trenches, don't make me say it again
I am still a leader among the soldiers fighting in the streets, and I won't repeat myself.
DJ playin' the opps inside this club, he better not play it again
The DJ is playing songs from my enemies, and he better not do it again.
See dissin' me and go OT gon' get your hood shot
If you disrespect me and leave town, I will retaliate against your community.
I can tell the streets what I been through just off my mugshots
Simply by examining my mugshots, the streets can tell what hardships I have endured.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Durk D. Banks, Einer Banks, Eric Anthony Sandoval
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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