You & The 6 – English Lyrics

• By: Drake
• Album: If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of modern North American colloquialisms and intimate storytelling through Drake's 'You & The 6.' This song is an excellent study in conversational rap, perfect for learners looking to understand how rhythm, flow, and personal slang are used to express complex family dynamics.

[English]

Rider shit

Having conversations with mama, man, my life is a mess

Ain't been returning the texts, so she been reading the press

She got Google Alerts, them shits go straight to her phone

She worry 'bout me from home, you know she raised me alone

She said, "I heard you back with you know who"

I told her, "Girl, I'm always back with you know who," yeah

And she like, "Who are we kidding? You're 27, you're just being you

You're your father's child, man, thank God you got some me in you"

At least I always, at least I always see it through

At least I'm always being true to what you taught me

Retired teacher, but your words still got me evolvin'

Never get sloppy drunk, but alcohol is problem solvin'

And look, I hate it when you hate on all my girlfriends and assistants

Always convinced that there's someone better

Like that girl from your gym who trains you

I know you wanna arrange it, you told me she's free Thursday

And I'm sure that she's an angel, but she don't want this life

The timing ain't right

Maybe one day, but even one day with us is the time of her life

We do things that people pay to document

You got the sweetest heart, but I'm not here to give out compliments

Or boost nobody's confidence, momma

I got no friends in this, momma

I don't pretend with this, momma

I'on joke with this, momma

I pull the knife out my back and I cut they throat with it, momma

I'm Game of Thrones with it, momma

I'm Home Alone with it, momma, I'm t-

I really hate using this tone with you, momma

I really hate gettin' aggressive on this phone with you, momma

I really hate wasting your time to check a clone or two, momma

It's just they cloning me, momma

Them niggas wannabes, momma

It's like-, I'm the one they wanna be, momma

I just-, I can't be out here being vulnerable, momma

I mean, I kill 'em every time they do a song with me, momma

I sing a hook, they sing along with me, momma

What more they want from me, momma?

Yeah, this is a crazy life

But you and the six raised me right

"Don't ever take advice," that was great advice

You and the six raised me right, that shit saved my life

...

Yeah

Having conversations with momma, we start talkin' 'bout dad

You know he dropping a single, he saying this is his window

That nigga still wearing linen, that nigga still in the club

Call him after we get off the phone and show him some love

That nigga Memphis for real, girl, he love you to death

He made mistakes throughout his life that he still doesn't accept

But he just want our forgiveness, and fuck it, look how we're living

I'm content with this story, who are we not to forgive him?

At least I been to a prison, at least I know what it's like

I used to rap on the phone with one of his friends doing life

And now I got me a Grammy, that could be part of the reason

Let's just call this shit even, we got some things to believe in

Do you remember back to Weston Road, Scarlett Road?

Hangin' with Aaron Bell and Reny

Shit could've gone south for me, he looked out for me, ma

He never let me do drugs

He let me shoot a gun one summer, but out there everyone does

He made me listen to his music, old music, soul music

Shit that can only be created if you go through it

I used to get teased for being black, and now I'm here, and I'm not black enough

'Cause I'm not acting tough or making stories up 'bout where I'm actually from, yeah

But I just roll with it, momma

Rolling stone with it, momma

Gotta be careful around Rolling Stone

Or anyone that's tryna throw stones at me, momma

I'm not condoning it, momma

They will not tear nothing down, I built this home for you, momma

Know I don't call enough, momma

I just been working with so little time for personal, momma, yeah

Hard labor let me pay the price

You and the six raised me right, that shit saved my life

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
conversations /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənz/ A2	noun - Informal talk involving two or more people
evolvin' /ɪˈvɒlvɪn/ B2	verb - Developing gradually
aggressive /əˈɡrɛsɪv/ B2	adjective - Ready or likely to attack or confront
vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbəl/ C1	adjective - Susceptible to physical or emotional harm
forgiveness /fəˈɡɪvnəs/ B2	noun - The action of forgiving someone
content /kənˈtɛnt/ B2	adjective - In a state of peaceful happiness
document /ˈdɒkjʊmənt/ B1	verb - Record something in written, photographic, or other form
confidence /ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ B1	noun - The feeling that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something
condoning /kənˈdəʊnɪŋ/ C2	verb - Accept and allow behavior that is considered morally wrong
assistant /əˈsɪstənt/ A2	noun - A person who ranks below a senior

Key Grammar Structures

• Ain't been returning the texts, so she been reading the press

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous (Informal/AAVE)

  ➔ The use of "been returning" and "been reading" indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing.

• You're 27, you're just being you

  ➔ Continuous aspect with state/identity

  ➔ Using "being" here emphasizes the current behavior as a temporary expression of his inherent personality.

• I hate it when you hate on all my girlfriends

  ➔ Object pronoun + Subordinate clause (Object of 'hate')

  ➔ The pronoun "it" acts as a placeholder (expletive) for the "when..." clause.

• I'm not here to give out compliments

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "To give out" explains the purpose or reason for his presence in the conversation.

• It's like-, I'm the one they wanna be, momma

  ➔ Relative clause (implied 'that/who')

  ➔ "They want to be [the one]" involves a relative clause structure describing the identity.

• He made mistakes throughout his life that he still doesn't accept

  ➔ Relative clause with object pronoun 'that'

  ➔ "That" replaces "mistakes" as the object of the verb "accept".

• Shit could've gone south for me

  ➔ Modal perfect (Possibility in the past)

  ➔ "Could've gone" indicates a hypothetical outcome that was possible in the past but did not happen.

• I used to get teased for being black

  ➔ 'Used to' + Passive Gerund

  ➔ "Used to" describes a past habit, while "being teased" is the passive form of the gerund describing an action done to him.