Santeria
Pusha T Lyrics

Now the tears dry and the pain takes over
I am going through a very difficult time right now and it feels like the pain is too much to bear.

Let's talk this payola (payola)
Let’s discuss the money that was paid and the consequences of our actions.

You killed God's baby when it wasn't his will
You caused the death of an innocent person against God’s wishes.

And blood spill, we can't talk this shit over (this shit over)
There has been violence and bloodshed that we cannot simply talk away or ignore.

The Lord is my shepherd, I am not sheep
I am a free-thinking individual and will not be blindly led by others.

I am just a short stone's throw from the streets
I am still connected and close to the realities of the streets, even if I have achieved some success in life.

I bring my offering, I will not preach
I am not preaching to anyone, I am simply offering my perspective or opinion.

Awaken my demons, you can hear that man screaming
I am unleashing and confronting my inner demons, which are becoming overwhelming.

I'm no different than the priest, priest
In some ways, I am similar to a religious leader or a priest, as I am offering guidance and insight to my followers or fans.

Santeria (Santeria, Santeria, Santeria)
Santeria is a type of Afro-Caribbean religion that combines elements of Yoruba beliefs with Roman Catholicism. The repetition of this word in the lyrics emphasizes the theme of religion and spirituality in the song.

They say that death comes in threes, how appropriate
There is a superstition that when people die, it happens in sets of three. The singer is acknowledging this superstition and its relevance to their own situation.

Triple back, they rush in like Soviets
The enemies are attacking in a coordinated and aggressive manner, like Soviet soldiers.

At the Kremlin
This is a reference to the government headquarters in Moscow, Russia. The enemies are attacking with military-style precision and force.

Searching for the green like a Gremlin, presidential emblem
The enemies are looking for money and wealth, like a gremlin searching for food in the movie Gremlins. They are also seeking to take down someone with power, symbolized by the presidential emblem.

Presidential tint on this shit that I'm driven in
The car that the singer is driving is tinted with a presidential-level of privacy and security.

Woo! I just place orders and drop dollars
The artist is very wealthy and can make things happen by simply placing orders and using money to influence people.

Rotweillers roam the ground, the Glock hollers
The artists have guard dogs and are also carrying guns for self-defense.

The three of y'all are too accessible
The singer believes that their enemies are too easy to find and reach, making them vulnerable to attack.

Seen all the wrong moves, watching The Untouchables
The singer is aware of all their enemies’ mistakes and is using their knowledge to their advantage, much like how law enforcement officers used their knowledge of the criminal underworld to take down mob bosses in the movie The Untouchables.

We don't do vegetables, niggas get flatlined
The artist and their crew do not engage in peaceful or diplomatic solutions, they are more violent and ruthless. People who oppose them may be killed.

Welcome all beef, then we heat 'em with flat irons
The artist is ready for any kind of conflict and uses weapons like flat irons (usually used for hair styling) as makeshift weapons against their enemies.

Your plans are backfiring, think of double-crossing a priest
The artist is aware that their enemies’ plans are failing, and that the enemies made the mistake of double-crossing someone who is like a spiritual guide, a priest.

Hail Mary, repeat after me
Hail Mary is a prayer in the Catholic faith. The singer is taunting their enemies by telling them to recite the prayer, implying that it won’t save them from the singer’s wrath.

(Santeria) Ya te vas en la mañana (mañana)
This is a repeated chant in Spanish that means ‘you're leaving in the morning.’ The repeated use of the chant throughout the song emphasizes the themes of mortality and death.

Of all the things I've ever paid for
The singer is reflecting on all the things they have spent money on throughout their life.

Know that it's no price tag when I wage war
The singer is willing to spend any amount of money to achieve their goals, especially when it comes to violence and battle.

It's no more to pray for, niggas get preyed on
The situation has become so dire that prayer is no longer effective. People are being taken advantage of and exploited.

Darken my doorstep, they told me the day's gone
The artist’s enemies have come to their door, indicating that they are running out of time to make things right.

You listening, De'von? As I'm talking to your spirit for God's sakes
The artist is speaking to someone named De'von, who may be listening to the song or may be a real person. The artist is addressing his spirit or soul, even if De'von is not physically present.

I'm dealing with heartbreak
The singer is going through emotional pain and heartbreak, possibly caused by the actions of their enemies or other personal issues.

Checking my ego, I'm livin' with lost faith
The singer is humbling themselves and reflecting on their past actions and beliefs. They may be feeling lost or uncertain in their own faith or spirituality.

I'm back in this shit, nigga, you ever seen Shark Tank?
The artist is re-entering a situation that they have dealt with before, indicating that this might be a recurrent theme in their life. The reference to Shark Tank, a show about entrepreneurship, implies that the situation is competitive and possibly dangerous.

I paid 'em in small bills, all of 'em small face
The artist has paid off someone, possibly their enemies or someone who is in their favor. They used small bills, which are worth less individually, to make the payment seem less significant.

I bet when we draw blood, you niggas will draw blank
When the artist’s crew draws blood, their enemies will not be able to react or fight back, implying that they will be caught off guard or incapacitated.

Dress you in all black, partnered with All Saints
The singer will force their enemies to dress in black like they are going to a funeral; this is partnered with the brand All Saints to emphasize that the singer is deadly and powerful.

Our numbers is all facts, my shooters give all thanks
The artist’s crew is large and factual, meaning they have evidence and information on their side. The ‘shooters’ in the crew are thankful and grateful for the opportunity to use their skills to protect or serve the artist.

And all praise, no jail bars can save
The singer is receiving praise and respect, but even if they are imprisoned, they will not be stopped or silenced.

Leave you like Malcolm where X marks your grave
Malcolm X was a prominent African American activist who was killed. The singer is implying that their enemies will be killed and buried with a marker to show that justice was served.

Hey, it's probably better this way
The singer acknowledges that killing their enemies might be the only way to resolve the situation, even if it is not ideal or morally right.

It's cheaper when the chaplain prays
When someone is dead or dying, it is cheaper to have a chaplain pray over them than to pay for their medical care or other expenses. The artist is implying that it is more economical to kill their enemies than to try to negotiate with them or let them live.

(Santeria)
A final repetition of the Santeria chant, emphasizing the themes of mortality and spirituality in the song.