Shine – English Lyrics

• By: Meek Mill
• Album: DC4

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Meek Mill's "Shine," a powerful narrative of resilience and ambition, perfect for English language learners. Its compelling storytelling and vivid vocabulary offer an authentic glimpse into the artist's personal journey and the socio-economic realities often reflected in hip-hop. By exploring this track, you can enhance your understanding of idiomatic expressions, street vernacular, and the emotional depth of modern English, all while experiencing a truly inspiring musical tale of overcoming adversity.

[English]

Wasn't for this music, I'll proly be dead

Instead I'm on top and I'm countin' this bread

Sittin' in the mansion, could've been in the feds

Drop top even with a price on my head, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

I was born poor, but Ima die rich

Ridin' in the 7 like I'm Pac in 96

Still rockin' with the clique I had to grind with

Went to war, flip nickels and sold them dimes with

Yea, I used to sell nicks of reggie nigga

I get the chills every time that lil' confetti hit us

North Philly skinny bull but I'm heavy nigga

They switched sides they was never with us

And petty niggas wanna mention my name

To get acknowledged

Hoppin' that we act like a fool and get in violence

I'd rather kill 'em all with success and give 'em knowledge

Then throw it all away for a sucker cause we the hottest

My momma crib big as a church I'm bein' modest

No sleep puttin' in work that's how she got it

Bout it bout it I started grindin' when niggas doubted

Now I got it I'm drippin' in diamonds a nigga got it that's gangsta

Wasn't for this music, I'll proly be dead

Instead I'm on top and I'm countin' this bread

Sittin' in the mansion, could've been in the feds

Drop top even with a price on my head, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

Out in Hollywood trying not to get caught up in it

Struggle was brought up in it, hustle, we gonna get it

This one is for my youngins going to school with corner niggas

Don't get caught up in that boxing corner nigga

Times changed, it's feeling like live niggas versus corny niggas

They building more jails I'm warning niggas, shots fire

Momma crying, traumatizing their mourning niggas

Them cops killing us like it's war with niggas, it's on with niggas

I did shed so many tears at that corner store

Man I spent so many years at that corner store

I see my niggas disappear at that corner store

When they was sleepin' we was there at that corner store

Ya and we was eating at the corner store

Coppers catch us and they beat us at that corner store

Shit we was toting on them heaters at that corner store

Cause they was ploting tryna leave us at that corner store

Wasn't for this music, I'll proly be dead

Instead I'm on top and I'm countin' this bread

Sittin' in the mansion, could've been in the feds

Drop top even with a price on my head, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

Its no roof so they can see me shine

Whole city came out just to see me rhyme

Started off in Impalas now its DB9

In the Aston like he James Bond

Who he think he is?

Diamonds dancing all on me doing the stanky leg

I hear them whispers niggas talkin' what they think he made

Think what you want you gon' think I'm paid

Shit he balling I don't think he saved, shit all I did was [?] and pray

I got young niggas in the grave

They got murdered by a nigga that got bitter ways

They don't give a fuck about us put us in a cage

Let us out with that parole man this shit a maze

RIP to Snupe, RIP to Scooter

RIP to Dex told him I could be his shooter

I tell Snupe they don't love ya they just want to do ya

You see that truck that's the feds watchin' not an Uber

Wasn't for this music, I'll proly be dead

Instead I'm on top and I'm countin' this bread

Sittin' in the mansion, could've been in the feds

Drop top even with a price on my head, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

It's no roof so they can see me shine

No roof so they can see me shine

Only a matter of time

It's dedicated, put it all to the grind

It's no roof so they can see me shine, woah

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shine /ʃaɪn/ A1	verb - to emit light
grind /ɡraɪnd/ B1	verb - to work hard or persistently noun - hard work or effort
dedicated /ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd/ B1	adjective - devoted to a task or purpose
mansion /ˈmænʃən/ A2	noun - a large, impressive house
success /səkˈsɛs/ A1	noun - achievement of desired goals
hustle /ˈhʌsəl/ B1	verb - to work hard or move quickly noun - busy or energetic activity
corner /ˈkɔrnər/ A1	noun - the point where two lines meet
traumatizing /ˈtrɔːməˌtaɪzɪŋ/ C1	adjective - causing emotional shock or distress
knowledge /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ A2	noun - information or understanding
violence /ˈvaɪələns/ A2	noun - physical force with intent to harm
drippin' /ˈdrɪpɪn/ B2	verb - wearing stylish or expensive clothing
gangsta /ˈɡaŋstə/ B1	noun - a member of a gang
whispers /ˈhwɪspərz/ A2	noun - soft, quiet speech
grave /ɡreɪv/ A2	noun - a place where a dead body is buried
parole /pəˈroʊl/ B2	noun - temporary release from prison
maze /meɪz/ B1	noun - a complex system of paths or tunnels

Key Grammar Structures

• Wasn't for this music, I'll proly be dead

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Implicit 'If')

  ➔ This sentence expresses a hypothetical past condition and its consequence, similar to a Type 3 conditional. "Wasn't for this music" functions like "If it hadn't been for this music," implying that music saved him from a negative outcome.

• Sittin' in the mansion, could've been in the feds

  ➔ Modal Perfect ('could've been')

  ➔ "Could've been" (could have been) expresses a past possibility or an alternative past situation that did not happen. Here, it indicates that being in the feds (federal prison) was a possible outcome, but it was avoided.

• It's no roof so they can see me shine

  ➔ Causative Verb ('see' + bare infinitive)

  ➔ The verb "see" is used as a causative verb here, followed by an object ("me") and a bare infinitive ("shine"). This structure indicates direct perception of an action as it happens.

• I was born poor, but Ima die rich

  ➔ Passive Voice ('was born') & Informal Future ('Ima')

  ➔ "Was born" is the passive voice, indicating that the subject received the action of being born. "Ima" is an informal contraction of "I'm going to," expressing a future intention or prediction.

• I'd rather kill 'em all with success and give 'em knowledge

  ➔ 'Would rather' + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ "Would rather" is used to express preference. It is followed by a bare infinitive ("kill") and then another bare infinitive ("give") without "to," indicating a choice between two actions.

• Don't get caught up in that boxing corner nigga

  ➔ Phrasal Verb ('get caught up in') & Negative Imperative

  ➔ "Get caught up in" is a phrasal verb meaning to become involved in something, often unwillingly or to one's detriment. The sentence uses the negative imperative form "Don't get caught up" to give a warning or advice.

• This one is for my youngins going to school with corner niggas

  ➔ Present Participle Phrase (Reduced Relative Clause)

  ➔ "Going to school with corner niggas" is a present participle phrase acting as a reduced relative clause. It modifies "youngins" (young ones), meaning "young ones who are going to school with corner niggas."

• They building more jails I'm warning niggas, shots fire

  ➔ Ellipsis (Omission of 'are') & Present Continuous for Ongoing Action

  ➔ The sentence omits the auxiliary verb "are" before "building," which is common in informal English. "Building" (are building) uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing action or trend.

• I did shed so many tears at that corner store

  ➔ Emphatic 'Did' (Simple Past)

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "did" is used here before the main verb "shed" to add emphasis to the statement, highlighting that the action definitely occurred, despite any doubt or disbelief.