Touch The Sky
Kanye West Lyrics

I gotta testify
I must speak/witness to my success and accomplishments

Come up in the spot lookin' extra fly
I enter the room in a way that demands respect and attention

'Fore the day I die, I'ma touch the sky
Before the end of my life, I will achieve greatness

Gotta testify
I have to speak/witness to my success and accomplishments

Back when they thought pink Polos would hurt the Roc
Back when people didn't believe in me and my style would not benefit the Roc-A-Fella Records company's success

Before Cam got the shit to pop
Before Cam'ron gained popularity

The doors was closed, I felt like Bad Boy's street team
I faced rejection many times and felt like I was part of a failing team, similar to Bad Boy Records' acts before their success

I couldn't work the locks
I couldn't enter the industry and achieve success

Now let's go, take 'em back to the plan
Let's revisit what we initially planned to do

Me and my mama hopped in that U-Haul van
My mother and I got in a U-Haul van and left our old life behind

Any pessimists, I ain't talk to them
I did not entertain any negative people or thoughts

Plus I ain't have no phone in my apart-a-ment
I did not even have a phone in my apartment because I was financially struggling

Let's take 'em back to the club
Let's revisit my early days when I only wanted to have fun and dance at the club

Least about an hour I stand on line
I spent a lot of time waiting in line to enter the club

I just wanted to dance, I went to Jacob an hour
I only wanted to dance, but I ended up spending a lot of money on jewelry, probably from Jacob & Co.

After I got my advance, I just wanted to shine
After I received my financial advance, I wanted to show off my success and wealth

Jay favorite line, "Dawg, in due time"
Jay-Z's favorite phrase was "it'll happen when the time is right."

Now he look at me, like, "Damn, dawg! You where I am"
Now Jay-Z is impressed with my success and looks up to me

A hip-hop legend
I achieved legendary status in the hip-hop industry

I think I died in that accident, 'cause this must be heaven
My success is so great that it feels like heaven, and I must have died to get here.

Now let's take 'em high (top of the world, baby)
Let's bring the listeners to the highest level of success and happiness

(Top, top of the world)
The highest point of success and achievement

Back when Gucci was the shit to rock
When Gucci was trendy and fashionable to wear

Back when Slick Rick got the shit to pop
When Slick Rick was gaining popularity and influence in the hip-hop industry

I'd do anything to say I got it
I was willing to do anything to show off my wealth and success

Damn, them new loafers hurt my pocket
My new shoes hurt my bank account (were expensive)

Before anybody wanted K. West beats
Before other artists wanted to work with me to produce beats for them

Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC
My girlfriend and I had to share one inexpensive meal at KFC

Dog, I was having nervous breakdowns
I was having severe anxiety and panic attacks

Like "Man, these niggas that much better than me?"
I questioned my talent and ability compared to other hip-hop artists

Baby, I'm going on an airplane
I told my girlfriend I would be traveling for work

And I don't know if I'll be back again
I'm not sure if I will ever see her again

Sure enough, I sent the plane tickets
I followed through and sent the tickets to her

But when she came to kick it, things became different
When she arrived things were not as good as I had promised or hoped they would be

Any girl I cheated on, sheets I skeeted on
I was unfaithful to my partners and would leave evidence of infidelity

Couldn't keep it at home, thought I needed a Nia Long
I could not remain faithful in relationships and thought I needed someone as beautiful as Nia Long to be happy

I'm tryna right my wrongs
I'm trying to correct my past mistakes and be a better person

But it's funny them same wrongs helped me write this song, now
My past mistakes and struggles inspired me to create this successful song

Yes, yes, yes, guess who's on third?
I am now in a high position in the hip-hop industry

Lupe steal like Lupin the 3rd
Lupe Fiasco steals the show with his talent, similar to the anime/manga character Arsène Lupin III

Here like ear 'til I'm beer on the curb
I am clued in and listening, like an ear, until I am relaxing (drunk) on the sidewalk

Peachfuzz buzz but beard on the verge
My facial hair gives the appearance of being older, but my youthfulness suggests otherwise

Let's slow it down like we're on the syrup
Let's relax and take it slowly, like we are intoxicated on cough syrup

Bottle shaped body like Mrs. Butterworth
My body has a shape similar to a bottle of Mrs. Butterworth

But, before you say another word
Before you judge me or criticize me further

I'm back on the block like I'm laying on the street
I have returned to where I started, and I am willing to fight for success like I am fighting on the street

I'm tryna stop lyin' like I'm Mumm-Ra
I'm trying to stop lying like the cartoon villain Mumm-Ra who used deception to trick others

But I'm not lyin' when I'm laying on the beat
I am honest and true when I am rapping on a beat

En garde, or touche, Lupe cool as the unthawed
I am ready for a verbal fight, but Lupe Fiasco is as calm and cool as frozen items

But I still feel possessed as a gun charge
I still feel trapped by my problems, like someone who has been charged with a gun crime

Come as correct as a porn star
I come to rap as well-prepared and skillful as a professional pornographic actor

In a fresh pair steps in my best foreign car
I arrive in a new pair of shoes, stepping out of my high-end foreign car

So, I represent the first
I represent a new and innovative generation in hip-hop

Now let me end my verse right where the horns are like, uh
Let me finish my contribution to this song with a strong and powerful statement, where the horns are loudest

We back at home, baby
We have returned to our roots, where we began

Uh, sky high (yeah)
I have achieved great success and am on top of the world

I'm, I'm sky high
I have reached the highest level of success

Yeah, keep it rollin'
Let's keep this momentum and success rolling

Feels good to be home, baby
It feels great to be back where I started.