Potholes in My Lawn

De La Soul

About Potholes in My Lawn

"Potholes in My Lawn" is the second single by hip hop group De La Soul, released in 1988 from their album 3 Feet High and Rising. The songs were mastered by record mixer and engineer Herb Powers Jr. The song samples "Magic Mountain" by Eric Burdon & War as well as the signature yodeling and jaw harp on Parliament's "Little Ole Country Boy" off 1970's Osmium. The song was released in some territories as a double A-side with "Jenifa (Taught Me)". The song is notable for being the first hip-hop song to be played on Mars, by NASA's Opportunity Rover in 2004.  


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(Yo, something's wrong here, no, not again!)
(Get the daisies for the)

Potholes in my lawn

Everybody's sayin'
What to do when suckin' lunatics start diggin' and chewin'
They don't know that the Soul don't go for that
Potholes in my lawn
And that goes for my rhyme sheet
Which I concentrated so hard on, see
I don't ask for maximum security
But my dwellin' is swellin'
It nipped my bud when I happened to fall
Into a spot
Where no ink or an ink-blot
Was on a scroll
I just wrote me a new 'mot'
But now it's gone
There's no
Suckers knew that I hate
To recognise that every time I'm writin'
It's gone

(Yodel-a-hee, Yodel-oh-hee, Yodel-a)
(Yodel-a-hee, Yodel-oh-hee, Yodel-ee-hee-hee-hee)

Potholes in my lawn

I've found that it's not wise
To leave my garden untended
Cause eyes have now pardoned all laws of privacy
Even paws are after my writer
See, I've found that everyone's sayin'
What to do when suckers are preyin'
On my well-guarded spreadsheets
Oh why, hell does it send up fleets
Of evil-doers through the big hole
To get to evil-doers who dig holes
Which leaves my lawn with lawn-chew
I think I'd better plant traces to give clues
Or better yet call 911
And when they get here I inform them I'm the Plug One
Open a chair and let them realize the reason
For concern of the Soul
Cause we've come down with a case of potholes

(Yodel-a-hee, Yodel-oh-hee, Yodel-a)
(Yodel-a-hee, Yodel-oh-hee, Yodel-ee-hee-hee-hee)

Potholes in my lawn

(Who stole, who stole, who stole the cookie
From the cookie jar?)

Now you got the message
What to do when you die
The death that I predict in 'Plug Tunin'
It's a shame that you deny to claim
That you stole my words of fame
That I wrote in my rhyme sheet
Which I concentrated so hard on, see
I don't ask for a barbed wire fence, B
But my dwellin' is swellin'
It nipped my bud when I happened to fall
Into a spot
Where no ink or an ink-blot
Was on a scroll
I just wrote me a new 'mot'
But now it's gone there's no
Suckers knew that I hate
To recoginse that every time I'm writin'
It's gone

Potholes in my lawn

(Yodel-a-hee, Yodel-oh-hee, Yodel-a)
(Yodel-a-hee, Yodel-oh-hee, Yodel-ee-hee-hee-hee)

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De La Soul

De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres. The members are Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicoeur and Vincent Mason, known under a variety of nicknames. The three formed the group in high school and caught the attention of producer Prince Paul with a demo tape of the song "Plug Tunin'". more »

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Written by: CHARLES MILLER, DAVID J. JOLICOEUR, HAROLD RAY I. BROWN, HOWARD E. SCOTT, JERRY GOLDSTEIN, KELVIN MERCER, LE ROY L. JORDAN, LEE OSKAR, MORRIS DEWAYNE DICKERSON, PAUL E. HUSTON, SYLVESTER ALLEN, VINCENT L. MASON

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Classification
"Potholes in My Lawn" is a song from De La Soul's debut album titled "3 Feet High and Rising," released in 1989. The LP is often regarded as one of the best hip-hop albums of the time.
Song Theme
The song talks metaphorically about the issues the group deal with in their daily lives, referring to them as "potholes" in their "lawn."
Pioneering Approach
De La Soul was known for their sampling approach. "Potholes in My Lawn" includes samples from acts like The Turtles, Steely Dan, and Sly and the Family Stone among others.
Art Style
De La Soul along with their producer, Prince Paul, used comedy sketch interludes in their songs. "Potholes in My Lawn" is one of those tracks which effectively integrates this art style, reflecting the group's sense of humor and fun outlook on their music.
Music Video
A music video was made for "Potholes in My Lawn," displaying a cartoonish comic book style of animation. It also gave the group exposure on early 90's MTV programming.
Influence on Hip Hop
De La Soul, with songs such as "Potholes in My Lawn," helped solidify the new school hip hop genre, which broke from the traditional straightforward rhymes and focused more on metaphors and abstract storytelling.
Popularity and Ranking
The single didn't chart as high as some of their other songs, but it has been critically acclaimed and has remained a fan favourite since its release.
Lyrics and Rapping Style
"Potholes in My Lawn" showcases the unique lyrical style of De La Soul, which blended abstract and fun lyrics with socially conscious themes.
Live Performances
The song remained a staple in De La Soul's live shows and continues to be a crowd-pleaser due to its catchy hook and memorable lyrics.
Cover Art
The cover artwork for "Potholes in My Lawn" was designed by British art collective Grey Organisation, it features colourful geometric designs maintaining the playful simplicity that De La Soul is known for.

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