Sing About Me
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

When the lights shut off
When everything goes dark and I am left alone

And it's my turn to settle down
When it's my time to rest and find peace

My main concern
My biggest worry

Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will remember and tell my story

I woke up this morning and figured I'd call you
I realized today might be my last day, so I wanted to reach out to you

In case I'm not here tomorrow
Because there is a chance I won't be alive tomorrow

I'm hoping that I can borrow a piece of mind
I am seeking some peace and tranquility

I'm behind on what's really important
I have lost focus on what truly matters

My mind is really distorted
My thoughts and emotions are in chaos

I find nothing but trouble in my life
I am constantly surrounded by difficulties and problems

I'm fortunate you believe in a dream
I am grateful that you have faith in my aspirations

This orphanage we call a ghetto is quite a routine
Life in this impoverished neighborhood feels like a never-ending cycle

And last night was just another distraction
The events of last night were just another diversion

Or a reaction of what we consider madness
Or a response to the chaos and insanity around us

I know exactly what happened
I am fully aware of the situation

You ran outside when you heard my brother cry for help
You rushed out to assist my brother when he called out for aid

Held him like a newborn baby and made him feel
You embraced him tightly, providing comfort and reassurance

Like everything was alright
As if the world was perfect and problem-free

And a fight he tried to put up, but the type
And although he attempted to resist, the kind

Of bullet that stuck had went against his will
The bullet that struck him went against his wishes

As blood spilled on your hands
And blood stained your hands

My plans rather vindictive
My intentions are full of vengeance

Everybody's a victim in my eyes
I see everyone as a casualty of the circumstances

When I ride it's a murderous rhythm
When I rap, it has a deadly and aggressive tone

And outside became pitch black
And the world turned completely dark

A demon glued to my back whispering, 'Get 'em'
A malicious presence stuck to me, urging me to harm others

I got 'em, and I ain't give a fuck
I got them, and I didn't care about the consequences

That same mentality that told my brother not to duck
The same mindset that led my brother to not take cover

In actuality it's a trip how we trip off of colors
In reality, it's absurd how we let colors divide us

I wonder if I'll ever discover
I question if I will ever find

A passion like you and recover
A passion and purpose like yours and regain what I've lost

The life that I knew as a young'n
The life I experienced during my childhood

In pajamas and Dun-ta-duns
In my childhood clothes and sneakers

When thunder comes it rains cats and dogs
When trouble occurs, it comes down pouring

Dumb niggas like me never prosper
Ignorant individuals like me never succeed

Prognosis of a problem child
Diagnosis of a troubled youth

I'm proud and well devoted
I am proud and fully committed

This Piru shit been in me forever
This gang affiliation has always been a part of me

So forever I'ma push it, wherever whenever
So I will always represent it, no matter the time or place

And I love you 'cause you love my brother like you did
And I appreciate you because you cared for my brother as you did

Just promise me you'll tell this story when you make it big
Just assure me that you will share this narrative when you achieve success

And if I die before your album drop I hope
And if I pass away before your album is released, I hope

Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will memorialize me through your music

You wrote a song about my sister on your tape
You composed a track about my sister on your record

And called it Section.80, the message resembled Brenda's Got a Baby
And titled it Section.80, drawing similarities to 'Brenda's Got a Baby'

What's crazy was, I was hearin' about it
What's shocking is that I was hearing about it

But doubted your ignorance, how could you ever
But questioned your lack of understanding, how could you

Just put her on blast and shit?
Just expose her and her personal struggles?

Judging her past and shit?
Criticizing her history and all that?

Well it's completely my future
But it reflects on my own future

A nigga behind me right now asking for ass and shit
A man behind me is currently demanding sexual favors

And I'ma need that forty dollars even if I gotta
And I'm expecting that payment of $40, even if I have to

Fuck, suck and swallow in the parking lot
Engage in sexual acts in the car park

Gonzales Park, I'm followed by a married man, a father of three
At Gonzales Park, I am pursued by a married man with children

My titties bounce on the cadence of his tingling keys
My breasts move in sync with the sounds of his car keys

Matter of fact he my favorite 'cause he tip me with E's
In fact, he is my favorite because he gives me ecstasy pills as tips

He got a cousin named David and I seen him last week
He has a cousin named David, whom I saw recently

This is the life of another girl damaged by the system
This is the story of another girl harmed by the societal structure

These foster homes, I run away and never do miss 'em
I always escape from these foster homes and never long for them

See, my hormones just run away and if I can get em back
You see, my hormones are out of control and if I can regain control

To where they used to be then I'll probably be in the denim
To their previous state, then maybe I'll be in a better situation

Of a family gene that show women how to be woman, or better yet a leader
Of a lineage that teaches women how to be strong and influential

You need her to learn something, then you probably need to beat her
If you want a woman to learn a lesson, then you likely resort to violence

That's how I was taught
That's the twisted lesson I learned

Three niggas in one room, first time I was tossed
Three men in one room, the first time I was sexually abused

And I'm exhausted
And I am mentally and emotionally drained

But fuck that 'Sorry for your loss' shit
But forget about all those insincere condolences

My sister died in vain, but what point are you trying to gain
My sister's death was pointless, so why are you trying to benefit

If you can't fit the pumps I walk in?
If you can't understand the struggles I face?

I'll wait
I'll be patient

Your rebuttal a little too late
Your response is coming too late

And if you have an album date, just make sure I'm not in the song
And if you have an album coming out, make sure not to include me in the lyrics

Cause I don't need the attention bring enough of that on my own
Because I don't want any more attention, I already attract enough on my own

And matter fact did I mention that I physically feel great?
And by the way, did I mention that I feel physically fine?

A doctor's approval is a waste of time, I know I'm straight
A doctor's validation is pointless, I know I'm healthy

I'll probably live longer than you and never fade away
I'll likely have a longer lifespan than you and never be forgotten

I'll never fade away, I'll never fade away
I will always be remembered, I will always be remembered

I know my fate, and I'm on the grind for this cake
I know my destiny, and I am working hard for success

I'ma get or die trying, I'm eyeing every male gender with intentions of buying
I will either achieve my goal or die trying, I am observing every man with intentions to control them

You lying to these motherfuckers, talking 'bout you can help with my story
You are deceiving these people, claiming that you can assist with my narrative

You can help me if you sell this pussy for me, nigga
You can assist me if you sell my body for profit, my friend

Don't ignore me, nigga, fuck your glory, nigga, you ain't shit
Don't overlook me, my friend, disregard your own fame, my friend, because you are nothing

Sometimes I look in a mirror and ask myself
Sometimes I stare at my reflection and question myself

Am I really scared of passing away
Am I truly afraid of dying

If it's today I hope I hear a
If it's today, I hope I hear

Cry out from Heaven so loud it can water down a demon
A loud cry from Heaven that has the power to cleanse a demonic presence

With the Holy Ghost 'til it drown in the blood of Jesus
With the Holy Spirit until it is defeated by the sacrifice of Jesus

I wrote some raps that make sure that my lifeline
I wrote some lyrics that ensure my legacy

Reekin' the scent of a reaper, ensuring that my allegiance
Carrying the essence of a grim reaper, guaranteeing my loyalty

With the other side may come soon
With the afterlife may arrive soon

And if I'm doomed, may the wound
And if I'm destined for failure, let the injury

Help my mother be blessed for many moons
Benefit my mother with blessings for a long time

I suffer a lot
I endure significant pain

And every day that glass mirror get tougher to watch
And each day, that reflection in the mirror becomes harder to face

I tie my stomach in knots
I feel intense anxiety

And I'm sure not why I'm infatuated with death
And I'm not sure why I am fascinated with death

My imagination is surely an aggravation of threats
My thoughts are certainly an amplification of danger

That can come about
That can occur

'Cause the tongue is mighty powerful
Because words hold immense power

And I can name a list of your favorites that probably vouch
And I can mention a group of people whom you admire, and they would probably support me

Maybe 'cause I'm dreamer and sleep is the cousin of death
Perhaps because I am a dreamer and sleep symbolizes the proximity to death

Really stuck in the scheme of, wondering when I'ma rest
Truly caught in the cycle of pondering when I will find peace

And you're right, your brother was a brother to me
And you're correct, your brother was like a family to me

And your sister's situation was the one that put me
And your sister's circumstances were what motivated me

In a direction to speak on something that's realer than the TV screen
To address a topic that is more genuine than what is shown on television

By any means, wasn't trying to offend or come between
In any way, I was not attempting to insult or create division

Her personal life, I was like 'It need to be told'
Her personal story, I believed it needed to be shared

Cursing the life of twenty generations after her soul
Criticizing the hardships that will affect future generations

Exactly what'd happened if I ain't continue rappin'
Exactly what would occur if I had ceased pursuing my career in music

Or steady being distracted by money drugs and four
Or consistently being consumed by wealth, substance abuse, and material possessions

Fives, I count lives all on these songs
Five-dollar bills, I consider the value of lives through my music

Look at the weak and cry, pray one day you'll be strong
Observe those who are vulnerable and cry, hoping one day they will find strength

Fighting for your rights, even when you're wrong
Advocating for your rights, even in situations where you may be at fault

And hope that at least one of you sing about me when I'm gone
And hoping that at least one person will remember and write songs about me when I have passed away

Am I worth it?
Is my existence valuable?

Did I put enough work in?
Have I put in sufficient effort?

Promise that you'll sing about me forever
Promise that you will continue to remember and sing about me for eternity

Promise that you will sing about me for- (ooh)
Promise that you will always remember me, ooh

Ay, ay, ay, Where you 'bout to go?
Hey, hey, hey, where are you about to go?

Nigga, the homie's brother
My friend, the brother of my friend

Nigga, right here, he gone, my nigga, he gone!
My friend, right here, he is gone, my friend, he is gone!

We on the block right now my nigga
We are on the street right now, my friend

Like we, nigga we right here
As if we are here, my friend, we are right here

'Nigga, they just killed the homie's brother, my nigga
'My friend, they just killed the brother of my friend, my friend

We right here on the block, my nigga
We are here on the street, my friend

Al-alright, nigga, nigga just call me, alright, alright
Alright, my friend, my friend just call me, alright, alright

Just call me back, man, just call me back
Just return my call, man, just call me back

Arghh! Fuck!
Arghh! Fuck!

So what we gon' do, my niggas? What we gon' do?
So what are we going to do, my friends? What are we going to do?

Bro, we can go back right now, my nigga
My brother, we can go back right now, my friend

Like nigga, I don't give a fuck, my nigga, we can go back right now
As if I don't care, my friend, we can return right now, my friend

Fuck! I'm tired of this shit! I'm tired of fuckin' runnin'
Fuck! I'm tired of this situation! I'm tired of constantly running away

I'm tired of this shit! My brother, homie!
I'm tired of this situation! My brother, my friend!

Tired of running
Exhausted from constantly fleeing

Tired of hunting
Fatigued from constantly searching

My own kind
My own people

But retiring nothing
But achieving nothing

Tires are steady screeching, the driver is rubbing
Tires are screeching loudly, the driver is grinding them

Hands on the wheel, who said we wasn't
Hands on the steering wheel, who claimed we weren't

Dying of thirst
Desperately longing for a change

Dying of thirst
Desperately yearning for a transformation

Dying of thirst
Desperately craving for a different life

Dope on the corner
Drugs being sold on the street corner

Look at the coroner
Observing the coroner

Daughter is dead
A young girl is deceased

Mother is mourning her
Her mother is grieving for her

Strayed bullets
Bullets that missed their intended target

Ak bullets
Bullets from an AK-47

Resuscitation was waiting patiently but they couldn't
Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful

Bring her back
Revive her

Who got the footage?
Who captured the incident on video?

Channel 9
Local news station

Cameras is looking
Cameras are observing the scene

It's hard to channel your energy when you know you're crooked
It's difficult to focus your energy when you know you're morally corrupt

Banana clip, split his banana pudding
Large ammunition clip, splitting open his head like a banana dessert

I'm like Tre, that's Cuba Gooding
I'm like Tre, referring to Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character in the movie 'Boyz n the Hood'

I know I'm good at
I know I am skilled at

Dying of thirst
Longing for a change

Dying of thirst
Yearning for a transformation

Dying of thirst
Craving for a different life

How many sins?
How many wrongdoings?

I'm running out
I am running out of count

How many sins?
How many wrongdoings?

I lost count
I have lost track

Dreams of ballin' like Spalding
Dreams of achieving success like Spalding basketballs

But only shotty bounce
But only end up with a rebound shot

The reaper calling
Death is beckoning

I'm cottonmouth
I am parched

Money is power, yours is ours
Wealth equals power, and your wealth belongs to us

Lay with a snitch, die with a coward
Associate with an informant, die in the company of a coward

Hope we get rich, hope we can tower
Hoping to become wealthy, hoping to rise above others

Over the city with vanity with the music louder
Dominating the city with arrogance and loud music

The same song
The same tune

A black flower
A symbol of darkness and beauty

I'll show you how to
I will demonstrate to you

Dye your thirst
Satisfy your craving for change

Dye your thirst
Quench your yearning for transformation

Dye your thirst
Satiate your desire for a different life

What are we doing?
What are we accomplishing?

Who are we fooling?
Who are we deceiving?

Hell is hot, fire is proven
Hell is a scorching place, proven by the intensity of fire

To burn for eternity, return of the student
To burn forever, the return of the learner

That never learned how to live right just by how to shoot it
Who never learned how to live morally, only how to use a firearm

Tired of running, choirs is humming
Exhausted from fleeing, the choirs are singing

Tell us to visit, we lying about coming
Telling us to come, while we deceive them and don't show up

Now back to business, loading the guns in
Now back to the main concern, loading the weapons

Back of the Buick, your hood is viewed
In the back of the Buick, observing your neighborhood

And the beef is bubbling
And the conflict is intensifying

It's no discussion, hereditary
There's no need to talk, it's a family trait

All of my cousins
All of my relatives

Dying of thirst
Longing for a change

Dying of thirst
Yearning for a transformation

Dying of thirst
Craving for a different life

Too many sins
Too many wrongdoings

I'm running out
I am running out of count

Somebody send
Somebody send

Me a well for the drought
A source of water for the dryness

See, all I know, is taking notes
You see, all I know is to observe and learn

On taking this life for granted
On not appreciating this existence

Granted, if he provoke
Granting that someone provokes me

My best days, I stress days (Lord forgive me for all my sins for I not know)
My best moments are also moments of immense stress (Lord forgive me for all my sins for I don't understand)

My best days, I stress days
My best moments are also moments of immense stress

Say 'Fuck the world,' my sex slave
Saying 'Fuck the world' as if the world is controlling me

Money, pussy and greed was my next crave
Wealth, sex, and greed were my next desires

Whatever it is, know it's my next grave
Whatever it is, it will lead to my downfall

Tired of running, tired of running
Exhausted from constantly fleeing, exhausted from constantly fleeing

Tired of tumbling, tired of running
Weary from falling, exhausted from constantly running

Tired of tumbling
Exhausted from falling

Back once my momma say
Once my mom says again

"See a pastor, give me a promise
"Go see a pastor, make a promise to me

What if today was the rapture, and you completely tarnished
What if today was the day of judgment, and you had completely deviated from the right path

The truth will set you free, so to me be completely honest
The truth will bring you freedom, so please be completely honest with me

You dying of thirst
You are longing for a change

You dying of thirst
You are yearning for a transformation

So hop in that water, and pray that it works
So dive into that water, and hope that it brings you what you need

Fuck! I'm tired of this shit!
Fuck! I'm exhausted from this situation!

I'm tired of fuckin' runnin', I'm tired of this shit!
I'm tired of constantly fleeing, I'm tired of this situation!

My brother, homie!
My brother, my friend!

Is that what I think that is?
Is that what I believe it is?

I know that's not what I think that is
I understand that it is not what I thought it was

Why are you so angry?
Why are you so furious?

See, you young men are dying of thirst
You young men are longing for change

Do you know what that means?
Do you understand what that signifies?

That means you need water, holy water
That means you need water, sacred water

You need to be baptized, with the spirit of the Lord
You need to be immersed in the holy spirit of God

Do you want to receive God as your personal savior?
Do you want to accept God as your own savior?

Okay, repeat after me
Alright, say after me

"Lord God, I come to You a sinner."
"Lord God, I approach You as a sinner."

(Lord God, I come to You a sinner)
(Lord God, I approach You as a sinner)

"And I humbly repent for my sins"
"And I humbly apologize for my wrongdoings"

(And I humbly repent for my sins)
(And I humbly apologize for my wrongdoings)

"I believe that Jesus is Lord"
"I believe that Jesus is the Lord"

(I believe that Jesus is Lord)
(I believe that Jesus is the Lord)

"I believe you raised Him from the dead"
"I believe You resurrected Him"

(I believe you raised Him from the dead)
(I believe You resurrected Him)

"I would ask that Jesus come into my life"
"I request that Jesus enter my life"

(I would ask that Jesus come in my life)
(I request that Jesus enter my life)

"And be my Lord and Savior"
"And be my ruler and rescuer"

(And be my Lord and Savior)
(And be my ruler and rescuer)

"I receive Jesus to take control of my life"
"I accept Jesus to take charge of my life"

(I receive Jesus to take control of my life)
(I accept Jesus to take charge of my life)

"And that I may live for Him from this day forward"
"And that I may live for Him from now on"

(And that I may live for Him from this day forward)
(And that I may live for Him from now on)

"Thank you, Lord Jesus
"Thank you, Lord Jesus

For saving me with Your precious blood"
For rescuing me with Your valuable sacrifice"

(For saving me with Your precious blood)
(For rescuing me with Your valuable sacrifice)

"In Jesus name, amen"
"In Jesus' name, amen"

(In Jesus name, amen)
(In Jesus' name, amen)

Alright now, remember this day
Alright now, remember this day

The start of a new life, your real life
The beginning of a new life, your true life