Déjà Vu
Beyoncй feat. Jay-Z Lyrics

Bass
Starting with the bass sound

Uh
Making an acknowledgement sound

Hi hat
Adding hi hat sound to the mix

808
Adding the sound from Roland TR-808 drum machine

Jay (uh huh)
Introducing Jay-Z and confirming his presence with 'uh huh'

Ready? (Uh huh)
Asking if the listener is ready, confirming with 'uh huh'

Let's go get 'em
Let's get started and get them

Uh huh, come on
Encouraging the listener with 'uh huh' and inviting them to come along

I used to run base like Juan Pierre
I used to play baseball like Juan Pierre (for the Colorado Rockies)

Now I run the bass, hi hat, and the snare
Now I produce music and run the bass, hi hat, and the snare drum sounds

I used to bag girls like Birken bags
I used to pick up girls easily (like picking up a Birkin bag)

Now I bag B (Boy, you hurtin' that)
Now I'm with Beyoncй (I have her) and hurting it (making great music)

Brooklyn Bay where they birthed me at
I was born in Brooklyn, New York, near the bay

Now I be everywhere, the nerve of rap
Now my music is popular and I'm everywhere. It takes nerves to be a rapper.

The audacity to have me whipping curtains back
People are surprised by my talent and it's like I'm whipping curtains back to show them

Me and B, she about to sting
Beyoncй and I are about to make a hit song (like a bee sting)

Stand back
Watch out, something great is coming

Baby, seems like everywhere I go
Everywhere I go, I feel like I see you (referring to Beyoncй)

I see you, from your eyes, your smile
Every time I see you, I see your eyes and your smile

It's like I breathe you, helplessly I reminisce
I feel like I'm breathing her, and I can't help but remember good times we had

Don't want to compare nobody to you
I don't want to compare anyone else to Beyoncй (who I'm talking about in the song)

Boy, I try to catch myself
I'm trying to control my feelings

But I'm out of control
But I can't help feeling what I'm feeling

Your sexiness is so appealing
I find her sexy and attractive

I can't let it go, oh
I can't stop feeling this way

You know that I can't get over you
I can't get over Beyoncй and my feelings for her

'Cause everything I see is you
Because everything I see reminds me of Beyoncй

And I don't want no substitute
I don't want anyone else, I only want her

Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
I feel like I've experienced this before with her (referring to the feeling of being in love with her)

Know that I can't get over you
I can't move on from her

I'm seeing things that I know can't be
Things that I see that I know aren't real

Am I dreaming? When I saw you walking past me
I'm questioning if I'm dreaming when I see her walk past me

Almost called your name
I wanted to call out to her

Got a better glimpse and then I looked away
I took a better look at her and then looked away quickly

Feels like I'm losing it
I feel like I'm going crazy

'Cause everything I see is you (ohh)
Because everything I see reminds me of her

Yes, Hova's flow so unusual
Jay-Z's rap flow is unique and unconventional

Baby girl, you should already know
Beyoncй should already know that Jay-Z thinks she's special

It's H-O, light up the dro'
Referring to a type of marijuana and asking someone to light it up

'Cause you gon' need help tryin' to study my bounce
You'll need help to understand how to rap like me

Flow, blow, what's the difference?
Referring to rapping and sniffing cocaine as having the same outcome

One you take in vein while the other you sniffin'
Different ways to take drugs

It's still dough, po-po try to convict him
Referring to money and how the police try to make arrests in order to take it away

That's a no-go, my dough keep the scales tipping
His money keeps him afloat and helps him avoid getting caught

Like four-fours, like I'm from the H-O-U-S-T-O-N
Referring to both guns and Houston (his hometown)

Blow, wind so Chicago of him
Referring to guns again and also to Chicago (where he has connections)

Is he the best ever? That's the argument
Questioning if he is the best rapper ever

I don't make the list, don't be mad at me
He isn't responsible for who is considered the best rapper ever

I just make the hits like a factory
He focuses on making successful songs like a business (factory)

I'm just one-to-one, nothin' after me
He is unique and there will never be anyone like him

No déjà vu, just me and my, oh
He isn't feeling déjà vu, just working on his music and his flow

Baby, I can't go anywhere
He feels like he can't go anywhere without thinking of Beyoncй

Without thinking that you're there
Without feeling like she is there with him

Seems like you're everywhere, it's true
She is everywhere in his thoughts

Gotta be having déjà vu
He feels like he's experiencing the same thing again and again, like déjà vu

'Cause in my mind I want you here
He wants her to be with him

Get on the next plane, I don't care
He doesn't care what it takes, he just wants her there with him

Is it because I'm missing you
He feels like déjà vu because he is missing her

That I'm having déjà vu?
He is questioning why he feels like he's experiencing the same things over and over again

I can't let it go (woo)
He can't let go of his love for Beyoncй