Back Then – English Lyrics

• By: Sav NDO
• Album: Back Then

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and authentic storytelling of Sav NDO's 'Back Then'! This powerful UK Hip Hop track offers a compelling narrative of personal growth and resilience, contrasting past challenges with present achievements. By listening to its evocative lyrics, you can gain insight into contemporary street language and expressions from the UK, making it an engaging way to connect with real-life experiences and expand your English vocabulary through a unique artistic lens.

[English]

Pick up, you went crazy.

I've been in this trap for so long.

All my soul's gone.

Double back, fully black back then I used to bully man.

I'm in a Euro, spray out wide, about no bully van.

I'm looking for them undercover Volvos and Astras.

5 thou's on purple notes, I'll show you what this trap does.

A hundred thousand went into my bank, I said I'm finished,

with them trap spots and dinners.

I just called up for some brizicks, said I wouldn't but I did it.

Old fiends pay a visit, yeah my label shouldn't have never gave me money, calm with it.

Buying four hammers, G17's and XDs, you're talking my language.

Porsche GTs and Golf R's, they used to leave me stranded.

Trap boss before it happened, me and White were sat and planned it.

If I told you 'bout my past, you'd laugh, wouldn't understand it.

I've been in this trap for so long.

I'm thinking 'bout all the niggas that done me so wrong.

Yeah, yeah.

Two of my friends are both gone.

I'm about to make it out the trap, the Most High's telling me to hold on.

To this knife I need to hold on, my mind and my soul's gone.

That's what I thought until I got it back.

They raided all my traps, left me flat with just half my stack.

Essay, where you been? Different trap, different batch.

Sat up on this dirty sofa, breaching all my times on tag.

Essay, where you been? Told them that I'm back and better.

This bando's hot, my skin sticking to the sofa.

Never, she didn't even know I brought my gun with me the first time I ever met her.

She never knew but she asks how she does.

Got her family members asking her what he actually does.

Mr. NDO.

They can't believe that I actually won.

I used to live in old, won't believe what I actually done.

Some run, some died, some fell off, some cried, some sped off.

Bullets fly, take your head off.

No heart, don't step out, some tried, then they bled out.

Take her L.V.

I don't see the problem.

Double back, fully black back then I used to bully man.

I'm in a Euro, spray out wide, about no bully van.

I'm looking for them undercover Volvos and Astras.

5 thou's on purple notes, I'll show you what this trap does.

A hundred thousand went into my bank, I said I'm finished,

with them trap spots and dinners.

I just called up for some brizicks, said I wouldn't but I did it.

Old fiends pay a visit, yeah my label shouldn't have never gave me money, calm with it.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
trap /træp/ B1	noun - a dangerous or difficult situation from which it is hard to escape
bully /ˈbʊli/ A2	verb - to use superior strength or influence to intimidate noun - a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate
spray /spreɪ/ A2	verb - to scatter or be scattered in fine drops
undercover /ˌʌndərˈkʌvər/ B1	adjective - engaged in espionage or secret operations
stack /stæk/ A2	noun - a pile of objects, typically one that is neatly arranged
hammer /ˈhæmər/ A1	noun - a tool with a heavy metal head mounted at right angles to a handle, used for jobs such as breaking things apart or driving in nails
stranded /strændɪd/ B1	adjective - left in a difficult or helpless position
planned /plænd/ A2	verb - to make preparations for an event or activity in advance
past /pæst/ A1	noun - the time before the present
knife /naɪf/ A1	noun - a cutting tool with a sharp blade and a handle
raid /reɪd/ B1	verb - to enter a place by force, especially to search for something or to make an arrest
batch /bætʃ/ A2	noun - a quantity or group of things dealt with together
sofa /ˈsoʊfə/ A1	noun - a long, comfortable seat with a back and arms, for two or more people
gun /ɡʌn/ A1	noun - a weapon that discharges bullets or other missiles
family /ˈfæməli/ A1	noun - a group of people who are related to each other, such as parents, children, and siblings
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A1	verb - to accept that something is true, especially without proof

Key Grammar Structures

• Double back, fully black back then I used to bully man.

  ➔ Used to for past habits

  ➔ The phrase "used to" indicates a habit or state in the past that is no longer true, as in "back then I "used to" bully man" showing past behavior.

• I've been in this trap for so long.

  ➔ Present perfect continuous for ongoing experiences

  ➔ "I've been" combines "have" with "been" to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing duration with "for so long".

• If I told you 'bout my past, you'd laugh, wouldn't understand it.

  ➔ Second conditional for hypothetical situations

  ➔ The sentence uses "if I "told" ... you'd "laugh"" structure to discuss an unreal situation in the present, implying the past isn't shared.

• They raided all my traps, left me flat with just half my stack.

  ➔ Past simple for completed actions

  ➔ "Raided" and "left" are past tense verbs describing events that happened and ended in the past, contrasting with current state.

• I'm thinking 'bout all the niggas that done me so wrong.

  ➔ Present continuous for current mental actions

  ➔ "I'm thinking" uses the present continuous to show ongoing thought process in the present moment.

• I'm about to make it out the trap, the Most High's telling me to hold on.

  ➔ About to for imminent future

  ➔ "About to" indicates something is going to happen very soon, like "I'm "about to" make it out" expressing immediate future intention.

• Some run, some died, some fell off, some cried, some sped off.

  ➔ Parallel structure with verbs

  ➔ The sentence repeats "some..." with verbs like "run", "died", "fell off" in past tense to list contrasting fates.

• I used to live in old, won't believe what I actually done.

  ➔ Used to vs. simple past contrast

  ➔ "Used to" for past habit, while "done" is simple past, showing completed action and surprise with "won't believe".