Workin Out by Jid Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Struggle for Success and the Irony of Life
Lyrics
I’m sure that I could possibly do nothin’ for you
I’m nearly on the edge, I’m bout to jump in the fuel
I’m really not afraid of nothin’
Look on everything, I gave everything and got nothing back
Ain’t looking for no pat on backs
That ain’t how we got where the fuck we at
Mama call, “Where the fuck you at?”
“On the road, and I ain’t coming back
Until my hundred stacks make a hundred racks
And that hundred racks bring a bundle back”
I was blowin’ gas like the Honey Badger
J.I.D, bitch, the money snatcher
C’est la vie, shit I’m coming after everybody
Don’t get the bloody splatter
I’m fly and I got my niggas fly too, shit is like buddy passes
I wanna cry cause I’m numb inside
If you wonder why, ask, “What’s the matter?”
‘Cause I been working hella hard, shit ain’t really working out
I been praying to the Lord, shit ain’t really working out
I been looking to the stars, keep my head up in the clouds
Shit ain’t really working out, shit ain’t really working out
Shit ain’t really working out
Quiet
Don’t explain
What is there to gain
Shit, shit ain’t really working out
Now I got a little bread, got my niggas working outta town
Baby your ass fat, shit, I can see you working out, shit
And you got a new job? Tell me, how that shit working out?
Heard you doing pretty good, yeah, people talk, word of mouth
Wasn’t ’round when you had the dirty house
Now they won’t leave when you kick ’em out
These type of people can’t stick around
Only down when there’s liquor ’round or the spliff around
That’s why I don’t fuck with niggas now
Well I fuck with all my niggas, you know the difference
You been living with tunnel vision
You and all of your friends are like wonder women, Wonder Woman
Working for it if you ever wanted something
Searching for a purpose, I see what you on
Difference in how you be using your gifts
In the midst of the shit that you dealing with
Really specific, you paid attention, panoramic
Got the vision like a fer-de-lance
You attack and you kill it, sinkin’ your teeth with the venom
Kinda like me with these instrumentals
Or the pen and the pencil
Or off the pimpin’ since been pimpin’, keep it sensible
Since you winning you a object of ridicule
Objects appearing closer than you ready for
Obviously you don’t know what’s ahead
But that’s the reason you can work ’til you dead
I been working hella hard, shit ain’t really working out
I been praying to the Lord, shit ain’t really working out
I been looking to the stars, keep my head up in the clouds
Shit ain’t really working out, shit ain’t really working out
Shit ain’t really working out
C’mon bruh, come to the booty club one time
Throw some of that Dreamville money
Throw some of that Dreamville money at these hoes, bruh
They got dreams too, nigga, ha ha
They got shit to do too nigga, ha ha ha
They got dreams too bruh bruh
Y’all Dreamville-uh aye aye, aye aye, uh uh
Next time you see that nigga J. Cole bruh
You tell that nigga the same thing man
I fuck with y’all niggas bro, why that nigga J. Cole
Got all this money, look like he ’bout to
Borrow somebody charger or something
“C’mon bruh, let me get your charger bruh
Let me get my shit to uh, uh 10% percent
And I’ll give this shit back to you bruh bruh”
C’mon bruh flex some of that Dreamville money, let me see it
In an era teeming with anthems of materialistic triumph and carefree lifestyles, JID’s ‘Workin Out’ stands distinct, weaving a nuanced tale of effort, pain, and the sobering reality that sometimes the hustle just doesn’t pay off as expected. It’s a meditation on the grind—the unremitting pursuit of success that’s as much a part of hip-hop’s DNA as the beats that underscore its poetry.
Through JID’s bars, we find a candid confession, a glimpse into the life of an artist fighting to break the mold, while tackling the duality of success and faltering steps. ‘Workin Out’ isn’t just a song; it’s a sonic tableau, painting the picture of a dream seemingly within grasp yet ever elusive, casting shadows of doubt on the promised ‘#1 spot’ that the music industry dangles before every aspiring artist.
The Relentless Grind: Success and Its Ghosts
JID delivers a visceral punch with ‘Workin Out’, encapsulating the grind culture that dictates we must push harder, reach higher, and never settle. This track embodies the frustration of effort without reward, its heavy bassline serving as an audible metaphor for the weight of expectation. Despite constant work—emotional labor, strategic connections, and personal sacrifices—the anticipated glory remains just out of reach.
When the artist raps, ‘I been working hella hard, shit ain’t really working out,’ you can almost hear the echo of every failed audition, every ignored demo, every door closed on a dream. It’s a line that resonates with artists and dreamers alike, understanding all too well the ghostly nature of success—haunting but never fully present.
A Glimpse Into Loneliness at the Top
There’s a poignant isolation expressed in ‘Workin Out’, laying bare the sentiment that the rise to the top can be a lonely one. Even when making strides, JID acknowledges the transient nature of affections ‘Wasn’t ’round when you had the dirty house / Now they won’t leave when you kick ’em out.’ Here lies the paradox of fame and fortune—it draws people in but doesn’t guarantee authenticity in relationships.
Again, the lyrics cut deeper, highlighting the superficial interactions that come with increased visibility. The sudden attention, the fake love—JID captures the emptiness that these interactions leave, ‘These type of people can’t stick around / Only down when there’s liquor ’round or the spliff around.’ The journey to success, it seems, is fraught with fair-weather friends and hangers-on, searching for their share of the limelight.
Deciphering JID’s Hidden Message: Perseverance Through Disillusionment
Beneath the surface of frustration, ‘Workin Out’ holds an undercurrent of perseverance. The repeated line about prayer and looking to the stars suggests a dual belief in effort and faith—even when faced with discouragement. This duality is a powerful undercurrent throughout the song, a hidden message to listeners that despite the hardships, the journey continues, perhaps out of sheer will or the inability to concede defeat.
JID’s verses, with their poetic turns of phrase and intricate storytelling, convey more than the eye can see or the ear can hear. They speak of a commitment to the craft, an understanding that in the abyss of the music industry, one’s passion is the only thing that can remain constant when external recognition falters.
Tackling the Realities of the Music Industry
At its core, ‘Workin Out’ is a candid critique of the music industry. It addresses the complex relationship between artists and their labels, the struggle for financial freedom (‘Throw some of that Dreamville money’), and the often misplaced priorities of big names (‘Next time you see that nigga J. Cole bruh / You tell that nigga the same thing man’).
Through JID’s storytelling, the track becomes a voice for many in the hip-hop community who feel overlooked or undervalued by the business side of music. He challenges the glamorizing of wealth and influence, turning the spotlight on the real dreams and aspirations of artists, not just their commercial success but their personal and artistic growth as well.
Quotable Quandaries: The Lines We Can’t Forget
It’s testament to JID’s lyrical prowess that certain lines from ‘Workin Out’ force us to pause and reflect. The biting irony of ‘C’mon bruh, let me get your charger bruh’ speaks volumes about the contrast between perceived wealth and actual needs. It’s an indictment of pretense and a call to authenticity.
Equally, ‘You and all of your friends are like wonder women, Wonder Woman’ captures the empowering yet burdensome expectation placed on the individual to carry the weight of their world. These lines linger long after the song’s end, influencing our thoughts on success, struggle, and the complexities of life’s journey.
