Eminem

Lyrics

[Intro]
Step by step, heart to heart
Left, right, left, we all fall down...

[Chorus]
Step by step, heart to heart
Left, right, left, we all fall down
Like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart
We never win, but the battle wages on
For toy soldiers

[Verse 1]
I'm supposed to be the soldier who never blows his composure
Even though I hold the weight of the whole world on my shoulders
I ain't never supposed to show it
My crew ain't supposed to know it
Even if it means goin' toe-to-toe with a Benzino
It don't matter, I never drag 'em in battles that I can't handle
'Less I absolutely have to, I'm supposed to set an example
I need to be the leader, my crew looks for me to guide 'em
If some shit ever does pop off, I'm supposed to be beside 'em
That Ja shit, I tried to squash it, it was too late to stop it
There's a certain line you just don't cross, and he crossed it
I heard him say Hailie's name on a song and I just lost it
It was crazy, the shit went way beyond some JAY-Z and Nas shit
And even though the battle was won, I feel like we lost it
I spent so much energy on it, honestly I'm exhausted
And I'm so caught in it, I almost feel I'm the one who caused it
This ain't what I'm in hip-hop for, it's not why I got in it
That was never my object, for someone to get killed
Why would I wanna destroy somethin' I helped build?
It wasn't my intentions, my intentions were good
I went through my whole career without ever mentionin' ****
And that was just outta respect, for not runnin' my mouth
And talkin' about somethin' that I knew nothin' about
Plus Dre told me stay out, this just wasn't my beef
So I did, I just fell back, watched and gritted my teeth
While he's all over TV, down-talkin' the man
Who literally saved my life, like fuck it, I understand
This is business, and this shit just isn't none of my business
But still knowin' the shit could pop off at any minute, 'cause—
[Chorus]
Step by step, heart to heart
Left, right, left, we all fall down
Like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart
We never win, but the battle wages on
For toy soldiers

[Verse 2]
There used to be a time when you could just say a rhyme and
Wouldn't have to worry about one of your people dyin'
But now it's elevated, 'cause once you put someone's kids in it
The shit gets escalated—it ain't just words no more, is it?
It's a different ballgame, you call names and you ain't just rappin'
We actually tried to stop the 50 and Ja beef from happenin'
Me and Dre had sat with him, kicked it and had a chat with him
And asked him not to start it, he wasn't gonna go after him
Until Ja started yappin' in magazines how he stabbed him
Fuck it, 50, smash him! Mash on him, let him have it
Meanwhile my attention's pulled in another direction
Some receptionist at The Source who answers phones at his desk
Has an erection for me and thinks that I'll be his resurrection
Tries to blow the dust off his mic and make a new record
But now he's fucked the game up 'cause one of the ways I came up
Was through that publication, the same one that made me famous
Now the owner of it has got a grudge against me for nothin'?
Well, fuck it, that motherfucker could get it too, fuck him then!
But I'm so busy bein' pissed off, I don't stop to think
That we've just inherited 50's beef with Murder Inc.
And he's inherited mine, which is fine, ain't like either of us mind
We still have soldiers that's on the front line
Who's willin' to die for us as soon as we give the orders
Never to extort us, strictly to show they support us
And maybe shout 'em out in a rap or up in a chorus
To show 'em we love 'em back and let 'em know how important
It is to have Runyon Avenue soldiers up in our corners
Their loyalty to us is worth more than any award is
But I ain't tryna have none of my people hurt or murdered
It ain't worth it, I can't think of a perfecter way to word it
Than to just say that I love y'all too much to see the verdict
I'll walk away from it all 'fore I let it go any further
But don't get it twisted, it's not a plea that I'm coppin'
I'm just willin' to be the bigger man, if y'all can quit poppin'
Off at the jaws, well, then I can, 'cause frankly I'm sick of talkin'
I'm not gonna let someone else's coffin rest on my conscience
'Cause—
[Chorus]
Step by step, heart to heart
Left, right, left, we all fall down
Like toy soldiers
Bit by bit, torn apart
We never win, but the battle wages on
For toy soldiers

If you are a fan of Eminem, then you may have heard of his song Like Toy Soldiers. This song, which was released in 2004, is widely loved for its relatable lyrics and its catchy chorus. One of the most interesting things about this song is the fact that Eminem sampled a children’s choir from Martika’s song “Toy Soldiers” for the chorus. This addition gives the song a unique sound and emphasizes the importance of friendship and loyalty, which are central themes of the song.

About Like Toy Soldiers

Like Toy Soldiers is one of Eminem’s most popular songs, and it's not hard to see why. The song is an emotional rollercoaster that explores the themes of conflict, friendship, loyalty, and loss. The song begins with Eminem rapping about a feud he had with another rapper that escalated quickly and led to Eminem receiving multiple death threats. He then goes on to explain how this feud destroyed his friendships and caused harm to those around him.

As the song progresses, Eminem emphasizes how he wants to put an end to the conflict and move forward. He talks about the importance of his relationships and how he doesn't want to lose any more friends to the senseless violence that often accompanies beefs in the rap industry. While the song is clearly personal to Eminem, its message is relatable to many people who have experienced conflict and loss of friendships.

In addition to its heartfelt message, Like Toy Soldiers is also known for the controversy that surrounded Eminem's early career. In his early days, Eminem often used his Slim Shady alter ego to deliver controversial lyrics that namedropped other rappers and criticized them. This caused a lot of beefs and controversies, which often led to physical violence.

This song, however, is a departure from that persona as Eminem chooses to take a more peaceful approach to the conflict. The song demonstrates the rapper's considerable growth in character and his desire for pacifism. Eminem was no doubt hoping to prevent further loss of human life by setting this example. Like Toy Soldiers, therefore, demonstrates Eminem's maturing perspective on conflict and his hope for a better hip-hop industry.

The music video for the song is also notable as it immortalizes icons and promising artists, such as The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and Bugz, who were killed in senseless violence. It's an eerie premonition as member Proof is shot and killed in the video and died just a year and a half later during a drunken altercation.

Overall, Like Toy Soldiers is an emotional and impactful song that touches on the often-overlooked themes of conflict and loss of friendships. Eminem's message of seeking peace instead of conflict is relevant to many people today, and his decision to walk away from his Slim Shady persona demonstrates his willingness to evolve as an artist. The song is a testament to the rapper's skill as a storyteller, and it's easy to see why it remains one of his most popular songs to date.

• Release Date: November 12, 2004
• Artist: Eminem