A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier
Title | A Ballad for the Fallen Soldier |
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Artist | JAY-Z |
Album | The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse |
Release Date | 2002-11-12 |
Description | Typical Neptunes production layers a dense re-telling of life in the ghetto, juxtaposed with the life of a combative soldier. It carries on Jay’s tradition of trying to bring meaning through metaphor and simile to a hustler’s lifestyle. It closes the album on a somber note, perfectly detailing the “curse” of the life he has chosen. Jay was never a fan of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, writing: I was against the war, but wanted to be clear that I felt for the soldiers out there fighting it. I know people who joined the military, sometimes just because they didn’t have a better option, sometimes because they genuinely thought they were doing something for the good of the country. It’s the perfect embodiment of the gift and the curse. The curse is you are entering another country with the intent to do damage, but the gift is the protection of your loved ones at home. The same is true for a hustler. You are causing pain to strangers in order to better the situation for you and your family. It’s a potent simile. |
Lyrics | [Intro: Jay-Z] This here's a ballad for all the fallen soldiers (This ain't music) I'm 'bout to show you how a hustler's life (This is life man) And a soldier's life parallel And the one thing they got in common is a mother's pain (Forget about music for a second) Picture a split screen (Forget musicians) On one side, you got a hustler getting ready for the block (Human beings) Other side, you got a soldier getting ready for boot camp (People, it's life) They're both at war, stay with us [Chorus: Marc Dorsey] Did you ever notice, before you blink Life goes fast? So don't you worry, about what you see It will pass [Verse 1: Jay-Z] You lost him mama, the war's calling him Feel it's his duty to fall in line with all of them He's a soldier Rose through the ranks as the head of your household Now it's time to provide bank, like he's supposed to Now just remember why he's gone 'til November It's part of him growing up His shirt soaks up your tears as he holds ya Your heart beating so fast, speeding his pulse up Yeah, I know it sucks, life ain't all rosebuds A couple of speed bumps, you gotta take your lumps Off to boot camp, the world's facing terror Bin Laden been happening in Manhattan Crack was anthrax back then, back when Police was Al'Qaeda to black men While I was out there hustling, sinning with no religion He was off to war, killing for a living [Chorus: Marc Dorsey] Did you ever notice, before you blink Life goes fast? So don't you worry, about what you see It will pass You might also like[Verse 2: Jay-Z] Days turn to nights, nights turn to years Years turn to "How the fuck we make it in here?" My barracks average couple fights a day Get you locked in a hole, won't see the light of day And I feel like I'm just writing my life away I never thought shit could end up quite this way There's a war going on outside no man is safe from I'm here for the good fight, only the fakes run I'm here for the purple heart, if I can't take one For my team or my siblings, what's my reason for living? I love my niggas more than anything else This war's about my family, me needing the wealth You don't understand how useless as men we felt 'Til you become a five-star general Shout out to my niggas that's locked in jail P.O.Ws that's still in the war for real, for real [Chorus: Marc Dorsey] Did you ever notice, before you blink Life goes fast? So don't you worry, about what you see It will pass [Bridge: Pharrell Williams & Jay-Z, Marc Dorsey] Your baby boy is getting grown So your baby boy is moving on (I've gotta chase it) I'm gon' chase it (And I'm gon' make it, yeah) I'ma make it Your baby boy is getting grown So your baby boy is moving on (I'm gonna make it) I'm gon' make it (Even if I gotta chase it) You gotta take it Woo, yeah [Verse 3: Jay-Z] Mama say a prayer, your son's becoming a man This war's taxing to him like Uncle Sam He ain't gon' always make the right choice, understand Every choice that he make, he make 'em for his fam It's death before dishonor And if he's gone, you should honor his memory Don't cry, we all gon' die eventually But if he's locked in the penitentiary, send him some energy They all winners to me, what's up Emory? [Chorus: Marc Dorsey] Did you ever notice, before you blink Life goes fast? So don't you worry, about what you see It will pass [Outro: DJ Clue?] Yeah, DJ Clue?, Desert Storm The Blueprint, Part Two Time for bonus coverage, c'mon |