englishHip-Hop, R&B

ATM Lyrics

by J. Cole

Lyricist: J. Cole

21 views • Published on Sep 27, 2026

ATM Lyrics

Life can bring much pain There are many ways to deal with this pain Choose wisely Will I fall? Will I fly? Heal my soul Fulfill my high Cross my heart (Count, count, count, count it) And hope to die (Count, count, count, count it) With my slice (Count, count, count, count it) Of Devil's pie Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it I know that it's difficult I'm stackin' this paper, it's sort of habitual I blow the residual And fuckin' yo bitch like its part of my ritual Pardon the visual But money, it give me a hard-on it's typical I want it in physical A million dollars, I count up in intervals Without it I'm miserable Don't wanna fall off so I'm all in my bag Thankin' God like it's biblical I know it's gon' solve every problem I have I balled on the principal Remember the teachers was all on my ass Now look all of them, pitiful And all of a sudden I'm so good at math Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Can't take it when you die, but you can't live without it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Can't take it when you die Uno, dos, tres Big bills, big bills I fell in love with big wheels and quick thrills My niggas runnin' tip drills, can't sit still Don't give a fuck if it kills, it mix well I'm only countin' Big bills, big bills I fell in love with big wheels and quick thrills My niggas runnin' tip drills, can't sit still Don't give a fuck if it kills, it mix well I'm only countin'... Uno, dos, tres, quatro Proceed with caution I heard if you chase it only results in A hole in your heart Fuck it, I take the whole cake and I won't leave a portion It's only an organ Thank God mama couldn't afford the abortion The loneliest orphan I flip my misfortune and grow me a fortune My Rollie is scorchin' Them niggas that hated is slowly endorsin' Now Cole, he important My niggas beside me like Tommy and Martin We ball on your court and Escape with your bitch like we Tonya Harding She don't need her garments She horny from all the money we countin' Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Can't take it when you die, but you can't live without it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Count it up, count it up, count it up, count it Can't take it when you die Uno dos Will I fall? Will I fly? Heal my soul Fulfill my high Cross my heart And hope to die With my slice of Devil’s pie

Meaning of ATM

“ATM” by J. Cole is a darkly compelling exploration of the corrosive nature of wealth and the cyclical pain that often accompanies its pursuit. The song’s core revolves around a desperate, almost frantic obsession with money—represented by the repeated “count it up,” echoing the mechanical process of an ATM – fueled by a history of hardship and resentment. Cole lays bare the raw emotions of someone who has experienced systemic failure and now seeks solace in material success, but finds only a temporary and ultimately hollow fix. The lyrics detail a transformation: from being targeted and oppressed (“the teachers was all on my ass”) to wielding power and indulging in hedonistic behaviors – “fuckin’ yo bitch like its part of my ritual”– driven by an almost primal need for validation and control. The “Devil's pie,” a potent metaphor, suggests that the pursuit of wealth is inherently tainted with corruption and self-destructive tendencies; one can ‘hope to die’ while counting it all up. Cole doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth revealed within this cycle: chasing money often leads to a "hole in your heart," mirroring the initial pain he sought to escape. The frenetic repetition of “uno, dos, tres” and the emphasis on “big wheels and quick thrills” highlights the addictive and unsustainable nature of this pursuit. Ultimately, “ATM” isn't simply about acquiring wealth; it’s a brutally honest reflection on the psychological traps within the American dream and J. Cole’s own struggle to reconcile ambition with genuine fulfillment, leaving the listener pondering whether the relentless counting is truly bringing peace or merely deepening the initial wound.

Tags:

j colepainintrospectionhip hopcount it

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