Freedom
Beyoncé Kendrick Lamar Lyrics


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Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder
Tell the storm I'm new
I'm a wall, come and march on the regular
Painting white flags blue

Lord forgive me, I've been running
Running blind in truth
I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love
Tell the sweet I'm new

I'm telling these tears, go and fall away, fall away
May the last one burn into flames

Freedom
Freedom
I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Singin', freedom
Freedom
Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom, too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters
Tell the tide, "Don't move"
I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders
Call me bulletproof

Lord forgive me, I've been runnin'
Runnin' blind in truth
I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love
Tell the deep I'm new

I'm telling these tears, go and fall away, fall away
May the last one burn into flames

Freedom
Freedom
I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Singin', freedom
Freedom
Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom, too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice
Channel nine news tell me I'm movin' backwards
Eight blocks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona
Six headlights wavin' in my direction
Five-o askin' me what's in my possession
Yeah I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts
Fire hydrants and hazardous
Smoke alarms on the back of us
But mama don't cry for me, ride for me
Try for me, live for me
Breathe for me, sing for me
Honestly guidin' me
I could be more than I gotta be
Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy
Code on me, drive on me
Wicked, my spirit inspired me
Like yeah, open correctional gates in higher desert
Yeah, open our mind as we cast away oppression
Yeah, open the streets and watch our beliefs
And when they carve my name inside the concrete
I pray it forever reads

Freedom
Freedom
I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Singin', freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
'Cause I need freedom, too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

What you want from me?
Is it truth you seek?
Oh, Father, can you hear me?
What you want from me?
Is it truth you seek?
Oh, Father, can you hear me?
Hear me out

"I had my ups and downs




But I always find the inner strength to pull myself up
I was served lemons, but I made lemonade"

Overall Meaning

The song "Freedom" by Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar is about the struggle for freedom and equality, particularly for black people. The song starts with Beyoncé trying to assert herself against the storm and the thunder, asserting her presence and strength. She's not going to be beaten, and she wants everyone to know it. She's done with a bitter love and is looking for something new. Beyoncé then talks about her tears, telling them to go away and burn in flames, moving on from the past to focus on achieving freedom. The chorus mentions freedom repeatedly, expressing Beyoncé's desire for it and the frustration she feels for not being able to achieve it.


In the second verse, Beyoncé wades and waves through the waters, telling the tide not to move, arming herself with the power of the riot and becoming bulletproof. She's done with shallow love and wants the deep, something more meaningful. Beyoncé's message in this song is clear: she wants freedom, and she won't let anyone hold her back. Kendrick Lamar's verse brings in a religious message, with the lyrics about Hail Marys and his mother's prayers for him. He mentions the oppression black people face and the need to open the streets and our beliefs to cast away that oppression. The song's final line mentions Beyoncé's strength and resilience, despite being handed lemons.


Line by Line Meaning

Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder
Trying to bring me down, but I won't let it affect my power and confidence


Tell the storm I'm new
I refuse to let negative situations control me and bring me down


I'm a wall, come and march on the regular
I am strong and capable, and I won't let anyone bring me down


Painting white flags blue
I am taking control of my surrender and turning it into a source of strength


Lord forgive me, I've been running
I admit my flaws and seek forgiveness for my mistakes


Running blind in truth
I have been trying to escape reality and face the truth


I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love
I will overcome the negativity in my love life


Tell the sweet I'm new
I am moving on from the bitterness and looking for new, positive experiences


I'm telling these tears, go and fall away, fall away
I am determined to move on from my past pain and find happiness


May the last one burn into flames
I want my past sorrow to be destroyed completely


I can't move
I feel trapped and need to break free


Freedom, cut me loose
I need freedom to escape the constraints and limitations holding me back


Singin', freedom
I am celebrating my desire for freedom and my hope for its attainment


Where are you?
I am questioning the whereabouts of freedom, and calling for its presence in my life


'Cause I need freedom, too
I am asserting that I need and deserve freedom like everyone else


I break chains all by myself
I am strong enough to overcome the obstacles in my life on my own


Won't let my freedom rot in hell
I will not allow my dreams of freedom to be crushed or destroyed


Hey! I'ma keep running
I will not give up in my pursuit of freedom and happiness


'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
I am determined to be a winner and persevere through tough times


I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters
I am willing to endure difficult situations and keep moving forward


Tell the tide, "Don't move"
I am asserting control over the obstacles I face, and not letting them control me


I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders
I am willing to challenge the limitations and boundaries others try to impose on me


Call me bulletproof
I am impervious to the limitations and criticism of others


Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice
I turn to spirituality for guidance and growth


Channel nine news tell me I'm movin' backwards
The media and society may try to criticize or limit me, but I refuse to be held back


I break chains all by myself
I am independent and strong enough to overcome any obstacle


Won't let my freedom rot in hell
I refuse to let my dreams and desires fade away into misery or failure


Hey! I'ma keep running
I will not give up or back down in my pursuit of happiness and success


'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
I am a winner, and I will not let anything defeat me


What you want from me?
I am questioning what others expect from me or why they criticize me


Is it truth you seek?
I am challenging others to be honest with themselves and with me


Oh, Father, can you hear me?
I am turning to a higher power for guidance and support


Hear me out
I am asking for others to listen to and understand my perspective


"I had my ups and downs
I have had struggles and challenges in my life


But I always find the inner strength to pull myself up
But I am resilient and always find a way to overcome adversity


I was served lemons, but I made lemonade"
I turned a negative situation into a positive one and found happiness despite my challenges




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alan Lomax, Beyonce Gisselle Knowles, Carla Maria Williams, Dean Carlos Mcintosh, Frank Tirado, John A. Lomax, Jonathan Charles Coffer, Kendrick Duckworth, Robert Crenshaw

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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