☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about a man fleeing from the police
- It describes the panic and adrenaline rushes during the chase
- The protagonist tries to keep his girlfriend safe and fights for his life
- It's about the fear of death and concern for the family
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "ATF" by
DMX are about a man who is fleeing from the police. He is being pursued by the cops and tries to hide and escape from them. The lyrics describe the panic and adrenaline rushes that the man experiences during the chase.
In the lyrics, it is made clear that the protagonist is in a dangerous situation and is trying to keep his girlfriend safe. He goes through different doors and manages to enter a neighbor's garden. There, he prepares for the fight and arms himself. He has a gun and opens a safe to access the gas bottles.
During the escape, he encounters a priest who is supposed to drive him. However, the police are close behind and he must react quickly to avoid being caught. There is a shootout where he nearly hits a woman. The situation is extremely dangerous and he is worried about his children waiting outside.
The man keeps running and has to fight his way through a shootout. He gets hit and hears the gunshots getting closer. At the end of the song, the door is broken down and the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) enters.
The lyrics convey the tension and risk that the protagonist is exposed to while trying to evade arrest. It is about the fear of death and concern for one's own family.