pad lock by 21 Savage Lyrics Meaning – An In-depth Dissection of Savage’s Hustle and Resilience

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for 21 Savage's pad lock at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Yeah, yeah, dawg
This shit real, dawg
Niggas kill, dawg
Keep your steel, dawg
Or be a long-live dog
Straight up

I’m hangin’ with killers, serial (Straight up)
Still in the hood eatin’ cereal (Straight up)
I pray to these streets like they biblical (Straight up)
Jump off the rope, Rey Mysterio (Straight up)
Two ounces stashed in my stereo (On God)
You can get killed for subliminals (On God)
I’m a big dog, you a Cheerio (On God)
I don’t gotta talk loud, bet you hear me though (Straight up)
Catch me now, I’m bad in traffic (21)
Way before the deal, I was trappin’ (21)
Way before the deal, I was puttin’ that fire on niggas just to feed my family (On God)
21 gang, I’m a bandit (Straight up)
I ain’t have a father, he abandoned (21)
Me and mine, swear I went and picked up a lil’ bit of weed and a nine (Yeah)
Partner damn near did a dime (Yeah)
And he still got another nine (Yeah)
Sent my boy 100 racks in the chain gang, nigga, ’cause money is time (On God)
Lately, I been on my grind (Straight up)
2500 on wine (Facts)
50 thousand on a suit, it’s a good investment
Yeah, ’cause the deal worth dyin’ (21)

Heart so cold, got a padlock, padlock
(Padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock)
He ain’t in the field, he a mascot, mascot
(Mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot)
Chasin’ this money, I can’t stop, won’t stop
(Can’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop, won’t stop, won’t stop)
Chasin’ this money, I can’t stop, won’t stop
(Can’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop, won’t stop, won’t stop)
Heart so cold, got a padlock, padlock
(Padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock)
He ain’t in the field, he a mascot, mascot
(Mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot)
Chasin’ this money, I can’t stop, won’t stop
(Can’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop, won’t stop, won’t stop)
Make more than a teacher, I’ma drop out, drop out

I got rich nigga problems (Rich nigga)
Tryna put a 50 in my joggers (Won’t fit nigga)
Knew you was a rat when we was toddlers (You a snitch, nigga)
You was always the cop, I was the robber (Lil’ bitch nigga)
Born to be a leader, not follow (Follow)
Seventeen with a Monte Carlo (Carlo)
Y’all was in the house playin’ Mario (Mario)
I was sellin’ weed and went hollow (Went hollow)
That’s just how we was raised (On God)
Before we came of age (Straight up)
Y’all niggas wanted some pets (21)
My niggas wanted some Ks (On God)
I had to sell a lil’ weed to hit the flea market and buy some fake Ye’s (Straight up)
That’s where I bought my first grill (On God)
That’s where I bought my first Js (On God)
‘Member my mama was stressed (Damn)
Look at your son, now I’m paid (Goddamn)
She ain’t really worry ’bout harm
She worry ’bout jail ’cause she know I don’t play (Yes, ma’am)
She remember days, two-bedroom, Mini-14, and a SK (21)
I could leave today, she know that I’ma take a nigga with me ’cause she know I’m gon’ spray (On God)

Heart so cold, got a padlock, padlock
(Padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock)
He ain’t in the field, he a mascot, mascot
(Mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot)
Chasin’ this money, I can’t stop, won’t stop
(Can’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop, won’t stop, won’t stop)
Chasin’ this money, I can’t stop, won’t stop
(Can’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop, won’t stop, won’t stop)
Heart so cold, got a padlock, padlock
(Padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock, padlock)
He ain’t in the field, he a mascot, mascot
(Mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot, mascot)
Chasin’ this money, I can’t stop, won’t stop
(Can’t stop, won’t stop, can’t stop, won’t stop, won’t stop)
Make more than a teacher, I’ma drop out, drop out

The landscape of hip-hop is often dotted with tales of hustle, struggle, and eventual triumph. In this labyrinth, 21 Savage emerges as a narrator of the raw and unfiltered street chronicles that many relate to but few can genuinely articulate. His track ‘pad lock’ from the 2018 album ‘I Am > I Was’ offers an introspective yet fierce glimpse into the heart and mind of a man whose experiences are etched deep within each lyrical confession.

‘pad lock’ is more than just a rap song; it’s an archive of pain, survival, and the relentless pursuit of success amidst life’s harshest realities. Decoding its verses leads us through a journey that’s undeniably gritty, sometimes chilling, but always brutally honest. Let’s lock in and dissect the complex narratives that 21 Savage lays bare, bar by bar.

The Icy Heart of the Streets: Interpreting 21’s Metaphorical Padlock

One cannot delve into ‘pad lock’ without confronting the emblematic chorus where 21 Savage’s heart is so ‘cold,’ it has a ‘padlock.’ This metaphor speaks volumes of his emotional defenses, forged from a past tarnished by abandonment and the rigors of street life. The padlock symbolizes the closing off of vulnerability, the necessity to stay tough in a world where the weak-hearted are swallowed whole. As we explore the echoing refrain, we understand that 21’s heart is not just protected by a padlock, but possibly frozen over, rendering it impenetrable and shielded from further trauma.

Yet, the song doesn’t merely lament this emotional lockdown; it also glorifies the strength it represents. In a world where showing emotion is often equated with weakness, the padlock becomes a badge of honor–a testament to 21 Savage’s resilience and ability to keep charging forward despite the metaphorical weight hanging from his chest.

Harsh Realities: The Street Narratives and Their Authenticity

The truth woven into ‘pad lock’ comes from a place of gritty authenticity that sandpapers away any sense of glamour from the ‘thug life.’ Verses like ‘Jump off the rope, Rey Mysterio’ not only pay homage to the masked luchador but echo the sentiment of fighting off adversaries by any means necessary. It’s a reality where survival often means staying on guard (‘Keep your steel, dawg’) and where life’s value can depreciate rapidly over ‘subliminals.’

21 Savage doesn’t just recount these stories; he lived them. His past—a tapestry of loss, struggle, and the street code—is embedded within each line. When he raps, ‘Sent my boy 100 racks in the chain gang, nigga, ’cause money is time’ he articulates the cold truth of incarceration, where support from the outside world is a lifeline measured by more than just sentiment—it’s literally the currency of hope and patience.

Bravado and Beneath: The Dichotomy of Confidence and Vulnerability

A surface scan of ‘pad lock’ brings forth an air of bravado that 21 Savage is well-known for. The declaration ‘I’m a big dog, you a Cheerio’ dismisses the insignificant, positioning Savage as the apex predator in a hierarchy dominated by the ferocity of reality’s wolves. But this bravado is not arrogance without substance; it’s an armor constructed from the fires of his trials and tribulations.

Beneath this steel resolve, however, is a narrative of vulnerability. He speaks of selling weed to make ends meet, the abandonment by his father, and living in conditions that are far from lavish. This dichotomy paints a picture of a man who has been forced to be strong because his environment gave him no other choice—a child quickly molded into a figure that others now look to for inspiration and guidance.

Defiant Wisdom: The Song’s Hidden Meanings and Eulogies

Unraveling the layers of ‘pad lock,’ we stumble upon the wisdom that 21 Savage imparts through his story-telling. Lines like ‘Make more than a teacher, I’ma drop out’ hit with a double-edged sword—both critiquing the societal valuation of education versus street economics and parading the success that can be found outside conventional norms.

Yet, the hidden messages within the track extend beyond societal commentary. They are eulogies to fallen friends, homage to the codes of the streets, and recognition of the sacrifices made. Every mention of guns, money, and the stress endured is also a reminder of the lives that were intertwined with his, the ones who didn’t make it out, and the youth still trapped in cycles of violence and desperation.

Echoing Beyond the Beat: The Most Memorable Lines of ‘pad lock’

Despite ‘pad lock’ being an anthem of survival, it’s the raw and unapologetic honesty in lines like ‘She worry ’bout jail ’cause she know I don’t play’ that resonate deeply with listeners. This is more than braggadocio; it’s the stark reality of a mother’s fear, a testament to the fact that despite the fame and fortune, the ‘streets’ are not just a backdrop for 21 Savage’s art—they are the canvas.

And it’s not just the gritty lines that make their mark. The scope of reflection in ‘Remember my mama was stressed / Look at your son now I’m paid’ encapsulates the journey from past hardships to present triumphs. It validates the toil and underscores the transformative power of ambition and steadfastness—themes that make ‘pad lock’ a memorable testament in the canon of 21 Savage’s musical legacy.