Till It’s Gone by Yelawolf Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Anthem of Self-Respect and Limits
Lyrics
I’m not the shoulder for a bag. The one that carried a heavy load
I’m not the road that you take when you looking for a short cut, uh
I ain’t the stepping stone to be stepping on
I ain’t nobodies crutch
I ain’t the money man, with your money, man
You ain’t looking at me
I’m not the cheap one, looking at me son
You ain’t looking at free
I ain’t the dish rag to come clean up all the shit that you dish out
Ain’t got no check for em’
If you checking in, mothafucka, check this out
Ain’t much I can do but I do what I can
But I’m not a fool there’s no need to pretend
And just because you got yourself in some shit
It doesn’t mean I have to come deal with it
You handle your own when you become a man
And become a man when you handle your own
Ain’t much I can do, but I do what I can
But what can I do if I do ’til it’s gone? Oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh
What can I do if I do ’til it’s gone?
I’m not the the trash can. Not the last man at the finish line, now
I’m not the new kid on the block that you can just follow and push around
I’m not the fucking needle in the hay stack that you finally found
This ain’t no free rent
Come and pitch a tent, you ain’t tying me down
I’m not a bus ride you can hop inside and just roll away clean
Like the wheel on the wagon you wanna break
‘Cause I hold up the weight for the team
I’m not the gold watch
And the new truck that your scheming to check out
Unless your looking to check out
What a mess, now (come on)
Ain’t much I can do but I do what I can
But I’m not a fool there’s no need to pretend
And just because you got yourself in some shit
It doesn’t mean I have to come deal with it
You handle your own when you become a man
And become a man when you handle your own
Ain’t much I can do, but I do what I can
But what can I do if I do ’til it’s gone? Oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh
What can I do if I do ’til it’s gone?
I jump to the sky for my people
I walk through the fire. I give love when it’s equal
Don’t tell me not to complain about my money and fame
When you come around me telling me I’ve changed
Damn, right I’ve fucking changed
When there’s fucking change in my pocket hit the bucket
It was a rocking all a sudden
I went from shopping without nothing
To going shopping for my cousins
Now that the cops know that I’m buzzing,
They wanna drop me in the oven
Pull me over just to say “I’m a fan”
Hip hop, you gotta love it
Ain’t much I can do but I do what I can
But I’m not a fool there’s no need to pretend
And just because you got yourself in some shit
It doesn’t mean I have to come deal with it
You handle your own when you become a man
And become a man when you handle your own
Ain’t much I can do, but I do what I can
But what can I do if I do ’til it’s gone? Oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh, oh
‘Til it’s gone, oh
What can I do if I do ’til it’s gone?
At first glance, Yelawolf’s ‘Till It’s Gone’ could be dismissed as just another track layering rugged beats with spitfire verses. But beneath the surface, this song unravels as an intricate tapestry woven with threads of independence, resilience, and the human spirit’s unyielding quest for respect. It’s a modern-day manifesto that delves deep into the narrative of an individual pushed to the brink and their unwavering declaration of self-worth.
While anthemic in rhythm and grounded in rural influences, ‘Till It’s Gone’ epitomizes Yelawolf’s adept ability to convey a universal message wrapped in personal narrative. This article uncovers the nuanced layers of a song that holds a mirror to society’s transactional tendencies and the fight to protect one’s identity from being diminished to a mere commodity.
Asserting Boundaries in a Boundaryless World
Yelawolf, in ‘Till It’s Gone,’ boldly places limits on his contributions to others’ lives, asserting himself not as an instrument for others’ convenience but as an entity deserving autonomy. The song opens with a clear rejection of being used, refusing to become a proverbial table, shoulder, road, or stepping-stone for others. Amidst a culture of exploiting individuals for personal gain, Yelawolf draws his line in the sand, demanding due respect for his intrinsic value.
This message resonates with the zeitgeist of our time, one that heralds self-care and personal boundaries. ‘Till It’s Gone’ emerges not just as one man’s declaration but as an anthem for all who have felt disenfranchised or overextended, a call to reclaim their worth and detach from the draining demand to give too much.
The Hidden Meaning: Emancipation from Exploitation
Peeling back the lyrical layers, ‘Till It’s Gone’ uncovers a fundamental struggle between worth and exploitation. It isn’t just about not wanting to be used; it’s a battle cry against a system that routinely takes without giving. Yelawolf’s verses speak to the heart of someone who’s realized that being endlessly available strips one of dignity and the true essence of living freely.
The song touches on the narrative of changing from a state of passiveness to one of empowerment. When Yelawolf moves from talking about being taken for granted to actively setting the terms of engagement, he’s painting a picture of personal evolution. It’s a journey of recognizing the incessant demands of others and ultimately saying, ‘No more.’
Unforgettable Lines: A Testament to Resilience
‘Ain’t the money man, with your money, man / You ain’t looking at me / I’m not the cheap one, looking at me son / You ain’t looking at free.’ In this powerful delivery, Yelawolf captures the essence of individualism. These lines strut with a confidence that rebuffs any attempts to commercialize or cheapen his existence. It’s an iconic stanza that stays with you, reverberating with the fierceness of a person who knows their worth.
The refrain, ‘Ain’t much I can do, but I do what I can,’ further cements Yelawolf’s philosophy. While acknowledging the limitations of his influence, these lyrics affirm his commitment to act within his scope, underlining the human capacity to contribute without conceding self. This juxtaposition of ability and boundary is what makes ‘Till It’s Gone’ more than just a song – it’s a life lesson.
A Chronicle of Personal Growth and Transformation
As the song progresses, listeners witness Yelawolf’s evolution from enduring passivity to achieving an assertive gravitas. ‘When there’s fucking change in my pocket hit the bucket / It was a rocking all a sudden / I went from shopping without nothing / To going shopping for my cousins,’ testify to personal growth and achievement, illustrating a rise from scarcity to abundance, from being unseen to commanding recognition.
Yet this journey is not without its trials. The transformation navigates through layers of society’s pressure – the newfound fame that breeds both admirers and critics, and the odd intersection of trust and suspicion in celebrity’s shadow. Yelawolf’s experiences become a microcosm of anyone who has strained against their bindings, seeking to redefine their path.
An Ode to the Perseverance of the Undervalued
In ‘Till It’s Gone,’ Yelawolf elevates the plight of the underappreciated, becoming a voice for the unrecognized and undervalued. The song’s gritty determination encapsulates the feelings of those who labor thanklessly, those whose contributions are unnoticed until their absence is felt. It’s a reminder that respect is often only accorded in retrospect, a haunting thought that perhaps we don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone.
This track embodies the struggles of the everyman while championing the power of self-reliance and self-respect. It advocates for a balance between benevolence and self-preservation, encouraging listeners to stand their ground in an ever-demanding world. With ‘Till It’s Gone,’ Yelawolf crafts a timeless message, exhorting us all to hold fiercely to our worth and to let go of what diminishes us.
