CAN WE LIVE? Lyrics – NLE Choppa, B.O.A Mook

CAN WE LIVE? Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
The intro paints a heartbreaking picture of how kids in rough neighborhoods are exposed to violence before they even get a chance to experience childhood. Instead of learning simple things like tying their shoes, they’re forced into a life where carrying guns and surviving the streets is the norm. The loss of innocence is real—bedtime stories are replaced by real-life tragedies. The artist expresses frustration over how young lives are being lost before they can even dream of a future. He wants to live out his aspirations, just like Martin Luther King Jr., but the reality around him makes it hard.

[Chorus]
The chorus is a plea for survival. The artist is asking, “Can we live?” because death seems to be everywhere. Every day, people are losing their lives to senseless violence, and the fear of becoming another victim is real. He’s trying to stay out of trouble, just to make it through another day, but even that isn’t easy. The repetition of “Can we live?” emphasizes the desperation for a life free from violence, where people don’t have to constantly worry about their safety. It’s not just about existing—it’s about wanting to truly live without the constant threat of death.

[Verse 1]
This verse dives into the pain of losing loved ones to street violence. The artist reflects on how crime has become a cycle—everyone is armed, and death feels inevitable. He points out how mothers are left grieving for their children, asking why they had to die so young. He also highlights the hypocrisy in society, where people protest police brutality but often ignore violence within their own communities. He questions whether the media is actually informing people or just distracting them from the real issues. The verse is a call for unity—he believes the world could be better if people came together instead of tearing each other apart.

[Chorus]
Once again, the chorus reinforces the message of survival. The artist repeats the heartbreaking reality—people are dying every day, and all he wants to do is stay out of the way and live. The constant repetition makes the message hit harder, showing how exhausting and never-ending this cycle of violence feels. He’s not asking for much—just the chance to live a normal life without constantly fearing death.

[Verse 2]
In this verse, the artist expresses the sadness of constantly losing people close to him. He says he hears “long live” and “rest in peace” more than words of love or success, showing how common death has become in his world. The line about needing an 808 to recreate a heartbeat is symbolic—music is his way of keeping the memory of his fallen friends alive. He also questions God, wondering if he will even live to see 21, because where he comes from, making it to adulthood is a rare achievement. He talks about loved ones who are either in jail or have no hope for the future. One of the most heartbreaking moments is the mention of a 10-year-old already carrying a gun because his parents aren’t there for him. For kids like him, the only options seem to be prison or death, and that’s the harsh reality the artist is speaking against.

[Chorus]
The chorus once again repeats, reinforcing the urgency of the message. He doesn’t want to keep living in fear, and he doesn’t want to keep watching people around him die. The cycle needs to stop, but for now, all he can do is try his best to stay alive.

[Outro]
The outro wraps up the song with a reflection on the meaning of life and death. Dying young feels like an unfinished story, while growing old is the ultimate goal, something he hopes for but isn’t sure he will achieve. He encourages people to be the change they want to see in the world, but he also acknowledges how dangerous the streets are. He prays for protection, hoping that karma won’t catch up to him for the things he’s done to survive. He’s tired of hearing “rest in peace” and just wants to find some peace for himself. The final words—”Can we live? I don’t wanna die”—sum up the entire song’s message: the desperate hope to escape a life where death feels inevitable.