George Clinton

Lyrics

[Intro: DMX]
There we go, okay, okay
Don't do me greasy, okay
Uh, ay-yo, you know what a dog needs?
Do you really know what a dog needs?
A dog needs a bitch (What, what?)
A dog needs a bitch (Come on)
Not just any bitch, but a real bitch
That's gon' hold that dog down

[Verse 1: DMX]
Baby, I am what I am, I'm gon' be who I be
Everything from chasin' a cat to pissin' on a tree
Let me see what I gotta to see, do what I gotta to do
Dog for life, but keep it true
Every once in a while I'll break out the backyard to roam
And get reckless, but I still know that home is home
And when I get there I'ma sit there
Take a shit there, put my dick there
Do I handle my business? Shit, yeah
I'ma run 'til I bust my gun and empty the clip
Then when I come home
And gotta go, just give me the whip
I ain't got time for the lip, just open the fence
Let me go, I'll come back, I ain't got time to convince
Ever since I was a pup, I've been stuck with the street shit
Keep the heat shit, fuck it, nigga gotta eat shit
I pass on a weak shit, if it's out there I want it
All at one time, so when it's my time I've done it
[Verse 2: Aaliyah]
I know you'd kill for me, you'd die you for me
I know you like to rip and run the streets
But I get nervous sometimes
Baby, I can't help to think
You might not make it home to eat, I barely sleep
Could you pick up a phone and call me at home?
And let me know you ain't in some heat
And don't go cryin', you're grown
You know I'm lookin' out for you
'Cause you be lookin' out for me, me, me

[Chorus: Aaliyah]
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
So you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
I know you up in it all, if you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece

[Verse 3: Aaliyah]
And, oh boy, I know you got to do what you do
You're making moves
I'm making moves, yo, we cool
Lay on your paws, I got your back if you fall
Nothing's too big
Nothing's too small, just go ball
[Verse 4: DMX]
Dog tags around my neck, the streets are mine
I might leave the heat behind
‘Cause in the streets I'm fine
That's why a nigga sleep 'til nine, out by ten
Back by ten, sleep 'til nine, do it again
If you love something, let it go
If it comes back to you it yours
If it doesn't, fuck it, you never know
You got me, I got you, dog with a dog
Ride 'til we die, if it's on then it's on

[Chorus: Aaliyah]
Yo, you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
So you can go with your dogs
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
'Fore you go bending the law
If you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece
I know you up in it all, if you make this promise to me
You make it back in one piece

When it comes to the R&B music scene, very few artists have managed to make as big an impact as Aaliyah. With her angelic voice and captivating personality, she managed to charm audiences all over the world. In her tragically short career, she managed to create some of the most memorable and influential tracks in the industry. One of those songs is "Come Back in One Piece", an emotional duet between the late singer and the legendary rapper DMX.

About Come Back in One Piece

Released in June 2000, "Come Back In One Piece" was the third single from the “Romeo Must Die” soundtrack, which was also Aaliyah's debut acting role. The song, which features rapper DMX, was a commercial success, reaching number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

The song was written by Stephen Garrett, Tank, and Jovonn Alexander and produced by Stephen Garrett. It has a runtime of 4 minutes and 22 seconds and was released under the Blackground Records label. It samples Parliament's 1977 song "Sir Nose d'voidoffunk" and features Aaliyah and DMX's signature musical styles, highlighting their unmatched talent.

"Come Back in One Piece" is a touching love song with a melancholic tone. It touches on the subject of a woman expressing her fear to her significant other of losing him to the dangers of the world and her anxieties around that. The lyrics express Aaliyah's desire to have her lover return home safe and unscathed, "If you love me, love me, but you never let me go. When the roof caved in and the truth came out, I just didn't know what to do. But when I become a star, we'll be living so large, I'll do anything for you."

DMX's contributions to the song provide the perfect complement to Aaliyah's vocals, creating a perfect balance and a memorable collaboration between the two artists. His lyrics are poignant and honest, reflecting on his own struggles as a black man in America, "I'm the type that's always catchin' a flight. And sometimes I gotta be out at the height of the night. And that means I'm missin' your love. And gotta be out for the rest of the stuff, but it's all gravy baby. I'm the type that's worth waitin' for."

The song's music video, directed by Little X, features footage from the film "Romeo Must Die," starring Aaliyah herself and martial arts superstar Jet Li. It also portrays the romance between the lead characters, which is woven seamlessly around the song's lyrics. The video's futuristic theme and sleek visual design put Aaliyah's glamorous fashion sense and elegant dance moves on full display, cementing her status as a true icon of the era.

"Come Back in One Piece" is undoubtedly one of Aaliyah's most significant works. With its soulful melody, emotional lyrics, and its perfect collaboration between Aaliyah and DMX, it perfectly encapsulates the essence of her distinctive style and talent. The song remains a fan favorite to this day and will undoubtedly remain a timeless classic for years to come.

• Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Artist: George Clinton