IF YOU PRAY RIGHT
BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics

Hallelujah, holy lion, word to Judas
Starting off with a religious tone, giving a shoutout to holy figures like Jesus and predicting betrayal as described in the story of Judas

How I'm supposed to (Hey), trust what you say is the truest? (Right)
Doubting the authenticity of someone's words and questioning the likelihood of them telling the truth

Haile Selassie (Uh), insha'Allah if I gotta (Woo)
Referencing a former Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie, and acknowledging the Muslim tradition that says 'God willing'

Spin my words around as if you wanted a mandala for Nirvana
Playing with words and using a metaphor to say that one can control their own destiny and reach a spiritual enlightenment similar to Nirvana

Singin' a sonata towards our karma
Suggesting that by recognizing one's life karma, one can feel at peace

Did a rain dance, bringin' commas from Tacoma to Oaxaca
Celebrating a financial windfall and attributing it to a magical rain dance

I got spirits in my heart that make my mind move like it's water
Feeling alive with creative inspiration that makes the mind flow like water

Flow into the moment and avoid the melodrama
Encouraging people to live in the present and not get bogged down by unnecessary drama

Gotta breathe for a second, can't believe anybody still testin'
Taking a moment to relax and acknowledging that people can still be testing one's limits even when they're doing well

My whole team is a force to be reckoned with
Expressing pride in one's team and their strength

Operatin' like specialists
Comparing one's team to professionals who excel in their chosen field

One, to the two, to the who are you?
Asking a rhyme question that emphasizes one's confidence and uniqueness

Sendin' out projections with prejudice
Making predictions with undue bias or preconceived notions

My attention to detail is in scale with classic impressionists
Comparing one's attention to detail with the level of skill found in classic impressionist paintings

So the lesson is that prerequisites are irrelevant to my standards (Right)
Stating that one's standards are so high that even the typical prerequisites are irrelevant and don't matter

It's a deficit in your settlement, you better learn to mind all your manners (Right)
Modifying one's behavior is necessary, otherwise, it can create a negative impact

My whole troop been goin' bananas
Saying that one's crew is very excited and active

Try and step inside of my jungle (Right)
Issuing a warning to not try and meddle in one's personal affairs or space

You can try to take all your chances
Acknowledging that people can still take risks and gamble despite the warning

We won't help your ass if you stumble, nigga (Right)
Making what seems to be a callous statement - no help will be given to anyone who falls or makes a mistake

Hidin' at my partner house
Indicating someone being protected by a friend by staying at their home

Couple bands inside the mouth
Possibly indicating someone carrying cash in their mouth for hiding purposes

'Stead of feelin' trippy, dawg
Suggesting that it's better to stay alert and focused instead of getting high

You need to help your city out
Encouraging people to give back to their community

Watch your back (Ayy), don't leave your door cracked (Yeah, yeah)
Issuing a warning that danger lurks and one should be careful not to let down their guard

Slither through your space and watch it all collapse (Yeah)
Possibly suggesting that someone will sneak around and bring down one's personal or professional space

(If you, if you, if you, if you, hey)
A repeated phrase that doesn't appear to have specific meaning in the context

If you want a feature we can figure it out
Offering collaboration to a fellow artist

Want a color for your album? We can figure it out
Offering a solution for a styling issue in someone's album art

Have you noddin' by the boys who colored, you're all out
Giving credit to the producers or team responsible for the track while motivating the listener to keep nodding or swaying as they listen

Then you copy-paste hard work from the BH house
Issuing a playful accusation that someone may have copied the song's content from their hard work

I always got somethin' to say when you take food from my mouth
Retaliating when someone tries to take credit for one's hard work or intellectual property

I begged my mommy for money until the day it ran out
Possibly indicating someone coming from a background of financial struggles and having to hustle for money

They say we helped you win and win, now you should figure it out
Possibly suggesting that someone has been helped by the artist or their team in the past and now it's time for them to give back

(...Figure it out)
Repeating the phrase as a continuation of the previous line to emphasize the need for figuring out a solution

Waste your breath, watch the tone though
Telling someone not to waste their time or energy speaking when their tone suggests otherwise

Take you to the dojo
Offering to teach someone how to behave better or change their ways

Roll up my doja, sticky fingers
Rolling up marijuana and indicating a possibility of thievery or being slippery in character

At the door, bruh, Jehovah, you ho bitch
Swearing and incorporating Jehovah into an insulting phrase aimed at someone at the door

Witness sadistic shit, well, come again
Describing violent acts and welcoming someone to come back if they want to see it for themselves

Next time I'll take my belt off, spank you
Issuing a violent threat if someone comes around acting inappropriately

Bad kid, back seat, not me, got beef
Describing someone as an antagonist or perpetrator, but not referring to oneself

Finally, body blackout from rage
Describing an intense emotion that causes a loss of control

Childproof my pockets, don't need the options
Suggesting that one doesn't need a lot of things in their life and should keep things simple

Romanticizin' what I do if I ain't stop me
Reinforcing the idea that one can control their own destiny, despite others' opinions or thoughts

Can be off me, tread lightly
Warning someone to avoid confrontation or back away

(Break the law, break the law)
Repeating a phrase that implies defiance or rebellion

(Break the law)
Repeating the same phrase but in a shorter form to strengthen its message

I'm tired of makin' a fool, out of me and you
Going back and forth in a relationship or situation, and feeling tired of both parties looking foolish

Is there anythin' that I can do, that'll save us, baby?
Asking if there's anything that can be done to salvage the relationship or situation

Is there anybody lovin' lies and robbin' shotties
Questioning if there's anyone out there who enjoys deceit and criminal activity

45's and still alive, and no drunk drivin'
Boasting about being alive and well despite being around for 45 years and stating that they don't drink and drive

That's how they killed my brother
Referencing a personal tragedy in which the artist's brother was killed in a similar scenario

You know, you know better, better, better, better, better
Repeating a phrase for emphasis that suggests the listener should know or do better

Better, better, better, better, better, better, better, bet on it
Repeating a phrase while adding extra words to emphasize that the listener should definitely believe in it

Better, bet on it, better, bet on it, hey
Repeating the same phrase with a danceable beat

(Walkin' with Jesus)
Adding a phrase that suggests a religious influence

(Walkin' with the Lord)
Adding another phrase that suggests religious influence and emphasizing the singer's personal faith