Central Cee – Ruby Lyrics

On “Ruby”, the ninth cut of Central Cee’s debut mixtape Wild West, Cench raps about West London and how life there is not what it seems like on TV, he tells the story of two teens respectively, Ruby and Jack, and their navigation of a rough life including abuse, drugs and gang violence.

This song samples Foreigner’s 1977 song Cold as Ice in the hook and Cee also interpolates the lyrics in the start of each verse

“Ruby/Jack’s as cold as ice”

Ruby Lyrics
[Intro: Foreigner]
Sykes-Sykes
You’re as cold as Ice
Nastylgia

[Verse 1]
Ruby’s as cold as ice, what she’s been through in her life ain’t right
Mum and dad the addicted type, she was in care by the age of five
She moved out to the Isle of Wight, she moved four times by the time she was nine
She don’t trust no guys, they gotta get through but they keep on trying
Ruby don’t act her age, she fifteen but grown and wise
Fake love can’t heal the pain, she don’t go school, she smoke, get high
Her parents smoking white, how can I judge how you cope with life?
Chilling with older guys, they asked her age, she told them lies
You know what it’s like, you know how it goes
She’s young and she lost her virginity, now everyone call her a hoe
Started with problems at home, now all of the sudden the problem has grown
But Ruby grew up on her own, she don’t have a problem with being alone
[Chorus: Foreigner, Central Cee]
You’re as cold as ice (These roads are as cold as ice)
You’re willing to sacrifice (If you don’t wanna freeze, best stay inside)
You’re as cold as ice (Take that chance, roll the dice)
Broken hearts, broken homes, you’re not from here, you won’t know what it’s like

[Verse 2]
Jack’s as cold as ice, he’s lost his mum and most his guys
Way too young but holding knives, he’ll do that crime with no disguise
Retaliation how you cope with pride, no hesitating, go on a ride
You roll the dice, if it goes to plan then calm, if it don’t you di-
Don’t gamble your life, you don’t get that twice
I don’t think I’ll ever let that slide but I won’t get dough when I get that stripe, we get the worst advice
Think that you’re bad ’til you’re locked in a can and now you wanna turn to Christ
It costs to be a boss but death ain’t worth that price
Jack got caught with a shank and Jakes linked him to a local murder
Jack’s eighteen and his co-d’s Max, he’s young so he’s moving nervous
Jack been in the station multiple times, he’s moving quiet on purpose
Max kept it quiet aswell, now they’re both in jail and they just got birded

[Chorus: Foreigner, Central Cee]
You’re as cold as ice (These roads are as cold as ice)
You’re willing to sacrifice (If you don’t wanna freeze, best stay inside)
You’re as cold as ice (Take that chance, roll the dice)
Broken hearts, broken homes, you’re not from here, you won’t know what it’s like

[Verse 3: Central Cee]
The roads as cold as ice, you’re not from here, you won’t know what it’s like
TV shows don’t show what it’s like, I’ve seen it with my own two eyes
Two sides, you’ll see the divide, freedom of speech, I’m speaking my mind
Saying too much, get disqualified, get fed to the lions, eat you alive
Grew in a detrimental place, deteriorating your mental state
It’s all good ’cause we still kept faith
Making it work but we still want change
These days, it’s all fabricated
Got to the point being real looks fake
Th-The fiends don’t have no shame
Crackheads smoke crack where the children play
You know this, it’s all a bit strange
Showbiz ’cause they all look staged
Selfishness is a foolish game
It would all change if it’s all at stake
This ain’t just for the gang, I feel like we all can relate
On my side, we’re all the same, my hood don’t discriminate

[Chorus: Foreigner, Central Cee]
You’re as cold as ice (These roads are as cold as ice)
You’re willing to sacrifice (If you don’t wanna freeze, best stay inside)
You’re as cold as ice (Take that chance, roll the dice)
Broken hearts, broken homes, you’re not from here, you won’t know what it’s like

[Outro: Foreigner, Central Cee]
You’re as cold as ice
You’re willing to sacrifice
You’re as cold as ice
You’re willing to sacrifice, You’re not from here, you won’t know-
But death ain’t worth that price