And now, allow me to examine the lyrics, line-by-line, of rapper, entrepreneur, and movie star Ice Cube's seminal solo work "It Was a Good Day." The track is not only an exercise in impressive rhymesmanship but bears the social significance of being released in the wake of the 1992 LA Riots. It framed a return to some normalcy. In addition, the song samples the very funky "
Footsteps in the Dark" by the Isley Brothers. So that's fun.
Shall we begin?
Let's.
Just wakin' up in the morning, gotta thank God / I don't know but today seems kinda odd / No barking from the dog, no smog / And momma cooked a breakfast with no hog
Right off the bat, Ice Cube establishes that this, in fact, will be a good day, which is nice because I hate it when songs have misleading titles. As a man of religion, it makes sense that Ice would thank the Good Lord. This is nothing new; especially amongst entertainers. But Ice does point out that it's somewhat unusual for today to be positive, as usually his dog is barking and making noise and Los Angeles is full of smog. I do take some umbrage with his claim that "no hog" is a good thing though. I'm sure a breakfast of eggs and toast and whatever (cold cereal for me) is delicious, but has bacon ever detracted from said breakfast? Or how about any meal? I'm willing to cut Ice some slack here because, again, he's feeling good about the day. I don't wanna burst his bubble this early in the track.
I got my grub on, but didn't pig out
Good. You don't wanna eat too much. It's important to be properly nourished without being bloated and weighed down.
Finally got a call from a girl I wanna dig out
Even better. You go, Ice.
Hooked it up on later as I hit the do' / Thinking, "Will I live another 24?"
In my experience with girls, appointments, and sales, it is important to establish a set time to meet and interact, so this is a sound strategy by Ice Cube. Though it is a sad statement on society that he must legitimately ponder if he's going to die today as he heads out the door. Gang violence in America's inner-cities is a real problem.
I gotta go 'cause I got me a drop top / And if I hit the switch, I can make the ass drop / Had to stop at a red light / Looking in my mirror, not a jacker in sight
Ice Cube clearly has a fly-ass whip. Also, his good day continues as he doesn't have to worry about someone stealing his car whilst he obeys the traffic laws of the United States.
And everything is alright / I got a beep from Kim and she can fuck all night
Ah, 1993...when people had beepers. Though I must warn Ice that if Kim has that reputation, you will want to proceed with caution as far as bodily interaction with her goes.
Called up the homies and I'm asking y'all / "Which park are y'all playing basketball?"
...at? Which park are y'all playing basketball at? I dunno, this has always seemed like an incomplete sentence to me. However, messing with it would destroy the rhyme scheme and most listeners can probably discern the mean of the question from context.
Get me on the court and I'm trouble / Last week, fucked around and got a triple double / Freaking niggaz everyway like MJ / I can't believe today was a good day
Clearly Ice Cube is a talented basketball player. His claims to be the Michael Jordan of his neighborhood seem to be solid. But, seriously, who keeps stats at a pick-up game?
Drove to the pad and hit the showers
Good. Don't want to be stinky and sweaty for your later endeavors.
Didn't even get no static from the cowards / 'Cause just yesterday them fools tried to blast me / Saw the police and they rolled right past me / No flexin', didn't even look in a niggaz' direction / As I ran the intersection
While I don't condone Ice's flaunting of authority, given the obviously troubled relationship between inner-city youths and the LAPD in the early 90s, one can hardly blame the chap. Plus, this continues with the song's theme of "it was a good day" rather nicely.
Went to Short Dog's house, they was watchin' Yo! MTV Raps / What's the haps on the craps / Shake 'em up, shake 'em up, shake 'em up, shake 'em / Roll 'em in a circle of niggaz and watch me break 'em / With the seven, seven-eleven, seven-eleven / Seven even back do' lil' Joe picked up the cash flow / Then we played bones, and I'm yelling "domino"
Ah, 1993...when MTV actually had something to do with music. I wonder if Short Dog was his friend's birth name? Maybe it's just a continuation of it being a good day or maybe Ice is a really talented gambler, but he does very well at both craps and dominoes. No doubt he made a little cabbage for his troubles.
Plus nobody I know got killed in South Central LA / Today was a good day
Yes. I believe that qualifies.
Left my niggaz' house paid / Picked up a girl been trying to fuck since the twelfth grade
Well good for Ice. He's got a little money in his pocket and he's set have a casual and friendly hang out session with a lovely young lady whom he's had a crush on since the end of high school.
It's ironic, I had the brew, she had the chronic / The Lakers beat the Supersonics
Not really irony there, Ice. Ah, 1993...when the Seattle Supersonics were a team.
I felt on the big fat fanny / Pulled out the jammy, and killed the punanny
Ah, well it appears Ice Cube has achieved his long-standing goal of creating an intimate physical relationship with this girl.
And my dick runs deep, so deep / So deep, put her ass to sleep
Oh my.
Woke her up around one / She didn't hesitate to call Ice Cube the top gun
Two questions: 1) Why not let the lady sleep? It's late. 2) Did she refer to you as Ice Cube or by your birth name, O'Shea?
Drove her to the pad and I'm coasting / Took another sip of the potion, hit the three-wheel motion / I was glad everything worked out / Dropped her ass off, then I chirped out
Well that was certainly nice of you to give the young lady a ride home, Ice Cube. I, too, am glad everything worked out. Still, drinking and driving is bad.
Today was like on of those fly dreams / Didn't even see a berry flashing those high beams / No helicopter looking for a murder / Two in the morning got the fat burger
More evidence of this being a good day. Things just really seem to be clicking for Ice Cube. And I'll agree with him: there is no better way to end a day than a nice greasy burger in the wee hours of the morning.
Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp / And it read Ice Cube's a pimp
In all my endeavors, and there has been some moderate success in just about everything I've done, I have never been called a pimp. By anyone. Let alone the world-famous Goodyear blimp. Well played, Mr. Cube.
Drunk as hell but not throwing up
Good. Everybody agrees that throwing up is no fun.
Halfway home and my pager's still blowin' up
Well isn't that nice? Ice Cube is so popular that even at 2 in the morning people want to chat with him.
Today I didn't even have to use my AK / I got to say it was a good day
I think this nicely sums up what it means to have a good day. Were you forced to use your AK? You've had a bad day, my friend.
