[Intro]
Watered down
( Mist where the oceans kissed )
( A thousand kisses or more on the sandy shore and )
( Come to the magical mist where the oceans kissed )
Shit, yeah ( A thousand kisses or more on the sandy shore and )
Look, huh
[Verse]
Watered down (Watered down), mine's more acidic (More acidic)
Since it's fortune now, my DMs gettin' more explicit (Explicit)
Come tour the towns (Tour the towns), explore the city (Explore the city)
They talkin' down, I see 'em, ain't no warrin' with me (No warrin' with me)
We just order rounds, this clinkin' got me short a kidney (Short a kidney)
Keep importin' pounds, this tree look like a waterlily (A waterlily)
Make Viola proud (Make Viola proud), call her Vicky (I call her Vicky)
That's my sister, treat her like my daughter really (My fuckin' family)
Try walk my route, believe me, you gon' call it quickly (You gon' call it quickly)
Go through all that doubt and grief, evadin' thoughts of envy (Oh yeah, I did)
Yeah, I talk to crowds, it's easy, but don't walk with many (Uh-uh, uh-uh)
They ain't thought of vouchin' me, I guess it cost a penny (Cost a bag)
I get dark at five for ten, yeah, I break laws for sinning (I'm on they ass)
Can't get dark without a blitz, so I take all you give me (All of that)
I get hotheaded and mean sometimes, my fault, forgive me
I got sparklers of the weed, sometimes, my heart get empty (My heart get empty)
[Chorus]
Can't barter crowns (Uh-uh, uh-uh), can't bargain with me (Can't bargain with me)
Your shit watered down (Watered down), mine, it's harsh to sip it (Harsh to sip it)
W-watered down (W-watered down), all acrylic (All acrylic)
Can't barter crowns, yeah, yeah, can't bargain with me (Huh, huh)
Yeah— down, mine's harsh to sip it (It's harsh to sip it)
Watered down (W-watered down), all acrylic (All acrylic)
Can't barter crowns (Can't barter crowns), can't bargain with me (Can't bargain with me)
Your shit watered down (W-watered down), mine, it's harsh to sip it (It's harsh to sip it)
W-watered down (Watered down), all acrylic (All acrylic, watered down)
[Outro]
You don't be a clown
And especially you don't be a clone either
Men have been killed out there tryna copy what I've done
It's not to put on a show, I'm not a stuntman
This is a sample from the 1977 song “La Costa” by Natalie Cole.
This line references how through his music, MIKE speaks to multitudes of people as well as his peers in the industry, but doesn’t fall into the trap of following them and stays in his own lane.
The chorus is all about distinguishing the real from the fake. He’s saying you can’t come at him with half-hearted attempts (“can’t barter crowns, can’t bargain with me”)—his worth isn’t negotiable. The “watered down” stuff is weak, easy to consume, but his is the real deal, strong and raw (“harsh to sip it”). “All acrylic” is a nod to things that look good, like fake glass on the surface but lack substance. He’s all about staying true to himself and his craft, no room for anything fake.
He’s loyal to the team, no matter how dirty things get. But even when it’s tough, he knows there’s always a little light at the end. He’ll take all the blows, keep pushing.
While others’ efforts or products may be watered down, his is stronger, more authentic. It’s a flex, showing that his rise to fame is real and powerful (“acidic”) rather than watered down. Fame also brings its own problems, like the influx of explicit attention in his DMs. This shows how quickly things change when you’re successful.
He’s indulging in the luxuries of his success, partying hard, drinking (clinkin' of glasses), and living it up, but it’s taking a toll on him. “Short a kidney” is a clever way to imply that the partying lifestyle is costing him more than he’s willing to admit.
if someone tried to follow in his footsteps, they’d quickly realize the challenges and struggles involved. It’s not as glamorous as it seems. He’s faced doubt and grief, but he’s learned to avoid being consumed by envy and negativity along the way.