The track features five of the vocal members of the group. The members discuss topics ranging from Buddhist beliefs and an upbringing with monetary restrictions to their reaction to a Jehovah’s Witness approaching their door. Religion is a common theme within the track, and is also revealed in the title.
The phrase in the title was actually teased by Kevin Abstract multiple times before the album’s release, notably in Instagram posts and stories that were captioned with:
if you pray right, heaven belongs 2 you
It is a reference to the song “If You Pray Right (Heaven Belongs To You)” by Nina Simone which Kevin mentioned in an Instagram story. Another song on the album, “HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU”, completes the phrase.
IF YOU PRAY RIGHT
BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How I'm supposed to (Hey), trust what you say is the truest? (Right)
Haile Selassie (Uh), insha'Allah if I gotta (Woo)
Spin my words around as if you wanted a mandala for Nirvana
Singin' a sonata towards our karma
Did a rain dance, bringin' commas from Tacoma to Oaxaca
I got spirits in my heart that make my mind move like it's water
Flow into the moment and avoid the melodrama
Gotta breathe for a second, can't believe anybody still testin'
My whole team is a force to be reckoned with
Operatin' like specialists
One, to the two, to the who are you?
Sendin' out projections with prejudice
My attention to detail is in scale with classic impressionists
So the lesson is that prerequisites are irrelevant to my standards (Right)
It's a deficit in your settlement, you better learn to mind all your manners (Right)
My whole troop been goin' bananas
Try and step inside of my jungle (Right)
You can try to take all your chances
We won't help your ass if you stumble, nigga (Right)
Hidin' at my partner house
Couple bands inside the mouth
'Stead of feelin' trippy, dawg
You need to help your city out
Hidin' at my partner house
Couple bands inside the mouth
'Stead of feelin' trippy, dawg
You need to help your city out
Couple with that teflon
Couple with that teflon
Couple with that teflon
Couple bands ins-, couple bands ins-
Couple with that teflon
Couple with that teflon
Couple bands inside the mouth
Couple bands ins-, couple bands ins-
Watch your back (Ayy), don't leave your door cracked (Yeah, yeah)
Slither through your space and watch it all collapse (Yeah)
Watch your back (What?), don't leave your door cracked (Woohoo)
Slither through your space and watch it all collapse
(If you, if you, if you, if you, hey)
If you want a feature we can figure it out
Want a color for your album? We can figure it out
Have you noddin' by the boys who colored, you're all out
Then you copy-paste hard work from the BH house
I always got somethin' to say when you take food from my mouth
I begged my mommy for money until the day it ran out
They say we helped you win and win, now you should figure it out
(...Figure it out)
Hidin' at my partner house
Couple bands inside the mouth
'Stead of feelin' trippy, dawg
You need to help your city out
Hidin' at my partner house
Couple bands inside the mouth
'Stead of feelin' trippy, dawg
You need to help your city out
Couple with that teflon
Couple with that teflon
Couple with that teflon
Couple bands ins-, couple bands ins-
Couple with that teflon
Couple with that teflon
Couple bands inside the mouth
Couple bands ins-, couple bands ins-
Waste your breath, watch the tone though
Take you to the dojo
Roll up my doja, sticky fingers
At the door, bruh, Jehovah, you ho bitch
Witness sadistic shit, well, come again
Next time I'll take my belt off, spank you
Bad kid, back seat, not me, got beef
Finally, body blackout from rage
Childproof my pockets, don't need the options
Romanticizin' what I do if I ain't stop me
Can be off me, tread lightly
(Break the law, break the law)
(Break the law, break the law)
(Break the law, break the law)
(Break the law)
I'm tired of makin' a fool, out of me and you
Is there anythin' that I can do, that'll save us, baby?
Is there anybody lovin' lies and robbin' shotties
45's and still alive, and no drunk drivin'
That's how they killed my brother
You know, you know better, better, better, better, better
Better, better, better, better, better, better, better, bet on it
Better, bet on it, better, bet on it, hey
(Walkin' with Jesus)
You know, you know better
Better, better, better, bet, bet on it
Bet on it, ayy, ayy yeah
Ayy, yeah
I wanna sing, I wanna
I wanna sing, ooh
(Just tell 'em, tell 'em that)
Ah, cool
(Walkin' with Jesus Christ)
(Walkin' with the Lord)
The lyrics in BROCKHAMPTON's song "IF YOU PRAY RIGHT" create vivid images that reflect the group's artistic style. The opening line, "Hallelujah, holy lion, word to Judas," may refer to the idea of a savior (lion) who could also potentially betray (Judas). The next line, "How I'm supposed to trust what you say is the truest," suggests a skepticism towards the authenticity of religious figures, possibly extended to larger institutions in society as well.
The lyrics also mention Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia and a figure associated with Rastafarianism. The use of insha'Allah, an Arabic phrase meaning "God willing," may symbolize the idea of a higher power who determines one's fate. The lines "Spin my words around as if you wanted a mandala for Nirvana" and "Singin' a sonata towards our karma" suggest a focus on spiritual practices and a belief in karmic justice.
The rest of the lyrics touch on themes of team unity and strength, predatory behavior, self-reflection, and reflection on society's ills. The allusions to Jehovah and Christian concepts suggest notions of sin and punishment. The song ultimately seems to call for introspection and action, as the repeated reference to helping one's city out implies a responsibility to make a positive impact on one's surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
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
Writer(s): Jordan Houston, William Wood, Matthew Champion, Paul D. Beauregard, Jabari Manwarring, Patrick Houston, Clifford Simpson, Russell Boring, Otis Johnson, Romil Hemnani, Dominique Simpson
Contributed by Emily G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@clairejackson3223
Never thought I'd see Kevin Abstract on a treadmill ever again.
@Zwiddo
What are you talking about? There's no treadmill, he was just lagging
@avagrace2485
Tezbjian IM DEAD
@WisdomanPlaysMC
God loves you.
He sent his son so through him we can have eternal life.
Humbly seek him.
@maverickREAL
Yo sign my shit
@shirosaoris
joba blinks when he feels like it and i respect that
@geraldseydoux2252
it's called drugs
@SPIDER-de6ve
Gerald Seydoux nah it’s called being joba
@_iamnotsober
Gerald Seydoux its called maintaining a stage presence. the eerie vibe is part of his persona.
@satanm8c40
Beautiful