Children's Story

Vance Wright, Slick Rick

About Children's Story

"Children's Story" is a song recorded by British-American hip hop artist Slick Rick. Taken as the second single from his album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, the song was a Top 5 hit on both the Hot R&B Singles and the Hot Rap Tracks charts. It is one of the most sampled rap songs of all time.


Year:
1988
4:02
1,064 
#4

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Here we go
Once upon a time not long ago
When people wore pajamas and lived life slow
When laws were stern and justice stood
And people were behavin' like they ought ta good
There lived a lil' boy who was misled
By anotha lil' boy and this is what he said
"Me, Ya, Ty, we gonna make sum cash
Robbin' old folks and makin' tha dash"
They did the job, money came with ease
But one couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease
He robbed another and another and a sista and her brotha
Tried to rob a man who was a D.T. undercover
The cop grabbed his arm, he started acting erratic
He said "Keep still, boy, no need for static"
Punched him in his belly and he gave him a slap
But little did he know the lil' boy was strapped
The kid pulled out a gun, he said "Why did ya hit me?"
The barrel was set straight for the cop's kidney
The cop got scared, the kid, he starts to figure
"I'll do years if I pull this trigga"
So he cold dashed and ran around the block
Cop radioes it to another lady cop
He ran by a tree, there he saw this sista
A shot for the head, he shot back but he missed her
Looked around good and from expectations
So he decided he'd head for the subway stations
But she was coming and he made a left
He was runnin' top speed till he was outta breath
Knocked an old man down and swore he killed him
Then he made his move to an abandoned building
Ran up the stairs up to the top floor
Opened up the door there, guess who he saw?
Dave the dope fiend shootin' dope
Who don't know the meaning of water nor soap
He said "I need bullets, hurry up, run!"
The dope fiend brought back a spanking shotgun
He went outside but there was cops all over
Then he dipped into a car, a stolen Nova (?)
Raced up the block doing 83
Crashed into a tree near university
Escaped alive though the car was battered
Rat-a-tat-tatted and all the cops scattered
Ran out of bullets and he still had static
Grabbed a pregnant lady and out the automatic
Pointed at her head and he said the gun was full o' lead
He told the cops "Back off or honey here's dead"
Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong
So he let the lady go and he starts to run on
Sirens sounded, he seemed astounded
Before long the lil' boy got surrounded
He dropped the gun, so went the glory
And this is the way I have end this story
He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream
The cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream
This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh
Just another case 'bout the wrong path
Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets cast

Good night, knock em out the box Rick, knock em out Rick

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Slick Rick

Richard Walters (born 14 January 1965), better known by his stage name Slick Rick, is a Grammy-nominated British- American rapper. He has also been known as MC Ricky D and Rick the Ruler. He began his career in late 1983, in the hip hop genre, where he recorded a series of acclaimed recordings such as "La Di Da Di" and "Children's Story". He is known for the use of narrative in his raps and has been called "hip hop's greatest storyteller."” more »

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Written by: Ricky M. L. Walters

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release and Reception
"Children's Story" is a song by British-American rapper Slick Rick, from his debut studio album, "The Great Adventures of Slick Rick" released in 1988. The song has been critically acclaimed as one of the greatest rap songs ever.
Song Composition
This song is famous for its narrative format, where Slick Rick narrates a cautionary tale about two teenagers, using clear and story-book-like language. It's a great example of hip hop narrative storytelling at its best.
Unique Style
The song effectively utilized sound effects such as sirens, door hinges, and footsteps to complete the storytelling feel of the rap, which was pretty unique for its time.
Influence and Legacy
Slick Rick’s "Children's Story" has been sampled over 60 times, including songs by Montell Jordan, Everlast, Tricky, Black Star and Nas. It has highly influenced the hip hop genre and considered a classic.
Music Video
The music video for "Children's Story" has Slick Rick telling this tale to a group of children gathered around a storybook, emphasizing the story-like nature of his rap.
Commercial Success
The single was a top 5 hit on both the Hot R&B Singles and the Hot Rap Tracks charts.
Slick Rick's Criminal Background
The song, which talks about crime, seems to reflect Slick Rick's background, as he later served a prison sentence for attempted murder and other charges.
Hidden Messages
Though disguised as a simple fairy tale, "Children's Story" possesses hidden moral lessons and cautions against the consequences of crime and the abuse of power.
Live Performances
“Children's Story” is one of Slick Rick's most performed live songs and remains a staple in his performances.
Induction into Library of Congress
In March 2020, it was announced that the song would be inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry due to its cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.

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