13th Floor/Growing Old – English Lyrics

• By: Outkast

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a lyrical journey with Outkast's "13th Floor/Growing Old," a deeply reflective song that showcases the duo's poetic prowess and unique Southern hip-hop style. Through its poignant verses about aging and societal introspection, you can explore rich, metaphorical English expressions and intricate storytelling, making it a perfect track to deepen your understanding and appreciation of nuanced language in music.

[English]

Conceive true deception multiply it a million fold

Visualize the yin and yang in a battle so intense

That we get 'em confused

The resident evil specialize in misconstruin'

We wanna be at a presidential level, what are we doin'?

Foolin' ourselves, clownin' ourselves, playin' ourselves

By not bein' ourselves

We can't babble no more than we can bob our head offbeat

Nimrod by the time we 40 'cause we can't get off meat

While we ask no reason for the misplacement of the season

Look at the picture that's painted

Tainted as the mind who's blinded to the point

Where Sodomites get all the rights

We fall for fights with fisticuffs

Get pissed enough to miss the bus

It disgusts me to see my folks run up on

I say stand upon this section of time marked Revelations

And recognize this mind-numbin' reality of horror

Known as mankind

Jesus and his twelve disciples make thirteen

A righteous number of righteous men

Even Judas the Betrayer came true in the end

The Devil say the end is the beginnin'

They teach that we were the product of incest

Invest no level of self into their system of Paganomics

Stand with us and don't look back upon it

Just face this mindstate

Otherwise Babylon

Like memories of yesterday

'96 gon' be that year

'96 gon' be that year

'96 gon' be that year

'96 gon' be that year

I bet you never heard of a player with no game

Told the truth to get what I want, but shot it with no shame

Take this music dead serious while others entertain

I see they makin' they paper so I guess I can't complain

Or can I? I feel they disrespectin' the whole thang

Them hooks like sellin' dope to black folks

And I choke when the food they servin' ain't tastin' right

My stomach can't digest it even when I bless it

I'm confessin' one more lesson from the South, we in the house tonight

Now hootie who wants to oppose? Suppose

We rolls through Headland and Delowe

Where me and my niggas would pass the flow

And got down for ours like hind catchers

My mind catches flashbacks to the black past

While mind close niggas laugh at

The Southern slang, finger waves and Mojo chicken wangs

I grew up on booty shake we did not know no better thang

So go 'head and, diss it, while real hop-hippers listen

Started by Afrika Bambaata, so you and your partner

Gather your thoughts

Something's gotta change

Sounds of laughter and happiness turn my teardrops to rain

Been bearin' this burden for too many of my days

Looks like breezes of Autumn done finally blew my way

Like memories of yesterday

Uh, born Antwan Patton but my partners they call me Big Boi

It's the nigga the B-I-G, be speakin' the truth not talkin' that shit boy

I'm thinkin' of checkin' my traps and bustin' my raps

And throwin' them craps

7 Eleven is no convenience, you pumpin' your gas but watchin' your back

For the robbin' crew, thinkin' they robbin' you, you must be cautious

To stayin' up on your game and pimpin' these crows, you must be flawless

Like Mortal Kombat, but fuckin' these wombats got you dizzy

My nigga you know if I wanna be playin'

But runnin up on me like you miss me

You catchin' the wrong vibe, packin' your shit and rollin' your eyes back

Flexin' up on the corner tossin your dice and rollin' your Cadillac

But man it seems I'm reachin' out and touchin' the wrong nigga

Don't expect it to be pimpin' get your index off the trigger

As we bust, us, we leavin' 'em in the dust

So keep that caine up out of your nose

I said my piece and then I hush

As the calendar keeps flippin', niggas dippin'

Something's gotta change

Sounds of laughter and happiness turn my teardrops to rain

Been bearin' this burden for too many of my days

Looks like breezes of Autumn done finally blew my way

Like memories of yesterday

Our dearly beloved, we are gathered like soap is to lather we come clean

Some issues need to be addressed like envelopes I mean

Oh, like Liberty Bells, yes them bullets keep on ringin'

On fire like the Georgia Mass Choir, we keep on sangin'

Bringin' our folks closer together 'cause they severed us from the get green

Light and we ain't gon' stop until we hit the big screen

Psych, because no one is free when others are oppressed

So, we hit the stage and then we fly back to our nest

Growin' old

Like some eagles, people don't understand

Just like their parents don't be carin'

I'm speakin' about you playin' with that phony stuff you sharin'

In your raps Mercedes Benz and all your riches

Thinkin' you got it but get it, get it but you ain't pimpin' no bitches

'Cause you flaugin', fallin' like leaves into driveways

Isn't it lovely smokin' good and sloppy head on highways

Fridays are tight but Saturday just makes it old

Winter nights are hot warm enough to feed your soul

Growin' old

Something's gotta change

Sounds of laughter and happiness turn my teardrops to rain

Been bearin' this burden for too many of my days

Looks like breezes of Autumn done finally blew my way

Like memories of yesterday

Something's gotta change

Sounds of laughter and happiness turn my teardrops to rain

Been bearin' this burden for too many of my days

Looks like breezes of Autumn done finally blew my way

Like memories of yesterday

...

See all them leaves must fall down, growin' old

Fat titties turn to teardrops as fat ass turns to flab

Sores that was open wounds eventually turn to scab

Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown

Autumn caught 'em, see all them leaves must fall down, growin' old

Fat titties turn to teardrops as fat ass turns to flab

Sores that was open wounds eventually turn to scab

Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown

Autumn caught 'em, see all them leaves must fall down, growin' old

Fat titties turn to teardrops as fat ass turns to flab

Sores that was open wounds eventually turn to scab

Trees bright and green turn yellow-brown

Autumn caught 'em, see all them leaves must fall down, growin' old

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
deception /dɪˈsɛpʃən/ B2	noun - the act of deceiving or misleading
visualize /ˈvɪʒuəlaɪz/ B1	verb - to form a mental image of something
confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ A2	adjective - unable to think clearly; unsure
specialize /ˈspɛʃəlaɪz/ B1	verb - to focus on a particular subject or activity
misconstruing /ˌmɪskənˈstruɪŋ/ C1	verb - to interpret something incorrectly
presidential /ˌprɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl/ B2	adjective - relating to a president or presidency
tainted /ˈteɪntɪd/ B2	adjective - contaminated or spoiled
blinded /ˈblaɪndɪd/ A2	verb - to lose the ability to see
fisticuffs /ˈfɪstɪkʌfs/ C1	noun - a fight with the fists; a punch-up
disgusts /dɪsˈɡʌsts/ B1	verb - to cause someone to feel strong dislike or revulsion
revelations /ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃənz/ B2	noun - the act of revealing or being revealed
horrors /ˈhɔrərz/ A2	noun - intense fear or distress
righteous /ˈrɪtʃəs/ B1	adjective - morally right or justifiable
mindstate /ˈmaɪndsteɪt/ C1	noun - a person's way of thinking or mental attitude
babylon /ˈbæbəlɒn/ B2	noun - a symbol of oppression or exile
flab /flæb/ A2	noun - loose, fatty tissue

Key Grammar Structures

• Conceive true deception multiply it a million fold

  ➔ Infinitive (to conceive) and Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb 'conceive' is in its base form, acting as an imperative command, urging the listener to imagine something.

• Visualize the yin and yang in a battle so intense

  ➔ Present Tense Verb (visualize) with Adjective Clause

  ➔ The verb 'visualize' is in the present tense, and 'in a battle so intense' is an adjective clause modifying 'battle'.

• While we ask no reason for the misplacement of the season

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction (while) with Present Tense

  ➔ The subordinating conjunction 'while' introduces a dependent clause, and 'ask' is in the present tense.

• We fall for fights with fisticuffs

  ➔ Present Tense Verb (fall) with Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The verb 'fall' is in the present tense, and 'for fights with fisticuffs' is a prepositional phrase indicating purpose.

• I say stand upon this section of time marked Revelations

  ➔ Present Tense Verb (say) with Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb 'say' is in the present tense, and 'stand' is an imperative command.

• Even Judas the Betrayer came true in the end

  ➔ Past Tense Verb (came) with Adverbial Phrase

  ➔ The verb 'came' is in the past tense, and 'in the end' is an adverbial phrase indicating time.

• Something's gotta change

  ➔ Contraction (Something's) and Modal Verb (gotta)

  ➔ 'Something's' is a contraction of 'something has,' and 'gotta' is a modal verb expressing necessity.

• Like memories of yesterday

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase (Like memories of yesterday)

  ➔ The phrase 'like memories of yesterday' is a prepositional phrase used for comparison.