Don't Look Down
Big Sean/Kanye West/Lupe Fiasco/Mos Def Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

Head to the sky, wings raised and
She's about to fly and take her place in
Out there in the stars when she leaves the ground
She'll see a broken heart, if she turns around
But ain't no going back, this is how it must be
He told her she'll be burned alive, she just told him "trust me"
If funerals are beautiful, this ugly
Knowing that, he told her you wouldn't leave me if you loved me
And he knows that, because he knows her
Hard to hide his feelings, as it engulfs her
Now she's a bright blaze, light rays
A shooting out, a phoenix on fire burning up the nightscape
So let's hear it for our heroine
Applaud as her spirit just flies into the never-end
One closed chapter, it opens up another part
So this is more like the end, question mark

Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

Don't let me hold you back, I only hold you back
We're on a dead-end street, this block has got a cul-de-sac
So fly baby, my baby so high
Sometimes it's so hard to say bye
We made it from the alley straight up to the valley
We pulled up to the valet, we'll teach our daughter ballet
We'll raise us a Beyonce, maybe she'll be a Halle
You would've been the best mom, I would have been the best 'Ye
You see it all in my veins, like varicose
I know that's very gross but we getting very close
To our end, though I killed most with a pen
Soon as this flow end, I'mma let Mos begin

Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

How could you do it, how could you do it
Okay now baby here we go, we go, no baby, me go
You got my heart, baby this what it beat for
I give it all, walk as far as my feet go
What you mean "me go", why can't it be "we go"?
What happens when people turn to tears (huh?)
Dreams turn to memories and weeks turn to years, huh?
Standing in the same spot for a couple of weeks
Give me my feelings back, wish love came with a couple receipts
Man, our vacation was coming next week
Girl, I swear you was a trip, let's make it a couples' retreat
How could my girl do this to me
Woke up to a note saying "the world did this to me"
Now I'm testing, one-two, reporting live from the rubble
Drinking all I can so I can turn to fire when I hug you
One, two, three, four, five models on the double
Give me head all at once, look like they lying in a huddle
But it's not even half the feeling as hearing your "Seans, you know I love you"
Shedding tears everyday, and I'm tired of lying in these puddles
I ask why sometimes, like a fucking vowel
Been hitting trees everyday, like a fucking owl
Trying to get high enough to cut the clouds
Of the phoenix sun to Nash it out, I mean ash it out
So I could see you smile
I know you can see me now

Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do




Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

Overall Meaning

The song "Don't Look Down" by Big Sean, Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Mos Def is about taking risks and living life to the fullest, even if it means leaving behind past hardships and heartbreaks. The song opens with the lyrics "Don't look down, it's an impossible view" which symbolizes the fear that can come with going against the norm and chasing one's dreams. The chorus encourages the listener to "fly like an eagle" and "spread your wings" as they soar high and pursue their goals.


Throughout the song, the verses highlight different characters and their journeys towards a brighter future. The first verse describes a woman who is determined to leave behind a toxic relationship and pursue her passions, despite the naysayers and doubters. The second verse is from Kanye West's perspective, where he expresses regret over a lost love and wishes they could have lived their best lives together. The final verse features Mos Def, where he raps about persevering through hardships and using the pain to motivate and inspire himself to succeed.


Overall, the song is a powerful anthem that encourages listeners to take risks, follow their hearts, and live without regrets, even in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Looking down will only make things seem impossible


Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Keep soaring towards your goals like an eagle in flight


Don't let me hold you back, I only hold you back
I can't be the reason for holding you back from achieving your dreams


We're on a dead-end street, this block has got a cul-de-sac
We've hit a dead end, there's no more progress to be made here


So fly baby, my baby so high
Reach new heights and chase your dreams, my love


Sometimes it's so hard to say bye
Parting ways is difficult sometimes


What happens when people turn to tears (huh?)
What happens when our emotions get the best of us?


Dreams turn to memories and weeks turn to years, huh?
Over time, our experiences turn into cherished memories


But it's not even half the feeling as hearing your 'Seans you know I love you'
Being loved by you means more to me than anything else in the world


Shedding tears everyday, and I'm tired of lying in these puddles
Crying constantly is draining and I need to move on


Trying to get high enough to cut the clouds
I'm trying to escape my reality and reach a state of pure happiness


Of the phoenix sun to Nash it out, I mean ash it out
I want to rise from the ashes of my past and start anew


I know you can see me now
Even though you're gone, I hope you can still see and feel my love for you




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@yeezusc8900

Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
Head's in the sky, wings raised and
She's about to fly, and take her place in
Out there in the stars, when she leaves the ground
She'll see a broken heart, if she turns around
But ain't no going back, this is how it must be
He told her she'll be burned alive, she just told him, "Trust me"
If funerals are beautiful, this ugly
Knowing this, he told her, "You won't leave me if you love me"
And he knows that, because he knows her
Hard to hide his feelings, as it engulfs her
Now she's a bright blaze, light rays
A shooting out, a phoenix on fire burning up the nightscape
So let's hear it for our heroine
Applaud as her spirit just flies into the never-end
One closed chapter, it opens up another part
So this is more like, "The end, question mark"

[Hook: Mos Def]
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial


[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Don't let me hold you back, I only hold you back
We're on a dead-end street, this block has got a cul-de-sac
So fly baby, my baby so high
Sometimes it's so hard to say bye
We made it from the alley, straight up to the valley
We pulled up at the valet, we'll teach our daughter ballet
We'll raise us a Beyonce, maybe she'll be a Halle
You woulda been the best mom, I woulda been the best 'Ye
You see it all in my veins, like varicose
I know that's very gross, but we getting very close
To our end, though I kill most with a pen
Soon as this flow end, I'ma let Mos begin

[Hook: Mos Def & Kanye West]
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

[Hook: Kanye West & Big Sean]
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
How could you do it? How could you do it?


[Verse 3: Big Sean]
Okay now baby here we go, we go, no baby, me go
You got my heart, baby this what it beat for
I give it all, walk as far as my feet go
What you mean "me go?" Why can't it be "we go"?
What happens when people turn to tears? (huh?)
Dreams turn to memories and weeks turn to years, huh?
Been standing in the same spot for a couple of weeks
Give me my feelings back, wish love came with a couple receipts
Man, our vacation was coming next week
Girl, I swear you was a trip, let's make it a couples' retreat
(Do it!) How could my girl do this to me?
Woke up to a note saying "The world did this to me"
Now I'm testing, one-two, reporting live from the rubble
Drinking all I can so I can turn to fire when I hug you
One, two, three, four, five models on the double
Give me head all at once, look like they lying in a huddle
But it's not even half the feeling
As hearing your "Seans, you know I love you"
Shedding tears everyday (I know you do)
And I'm tired of lying in these puddles
I ask "Why?" sometimes like a fucking vowel
Been hitting trees everyday like a fucking owl
Trying to get high enough to cut the clouds
Of the Phoenix Sun and Nash it out
I mean ash it out so I could see you smile
I-I know you can see me now

[Hook: Mos Def]
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, it's an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial



@zoneloveszonetta0115

Don't look down, its an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

[Lupe Fiasco]
Head to the sky, wings raised in
Shes about to fly and take her place in
Out there in the stars, when she leaves the ground
She'll see a broken heart, if she turns around
But ain't no going back, this is how it must be
He told her, she'll be burned alive
She just told him trust me
If funerals are beautiful, this ugly
Knowing she told her you'll leave me if you loved me
And he knows that, because he knows her
Hard to hide his feeling's as it engulfs her
Now she's a bright blaze, light rays
A shooting out Phoenix on fire buring up the night scape
So lets hear it for our heroine, applaud as our spirits fly into the never end
One closed chapter, it opens up another part
So this is more like, the end, question mark (question mark, question mark)

[Mos Def]
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

[Kanye West]
Don't let me hold you back
I only hold you back
We on a dead-end street, this block has got a cul-de-sac
So fly baby, my baby, so high, sometimes its so hard to say bye
We made it from the alley straight up to ballet
We pulled up to the valet, we'll teach our daughter ballet
We'll raise us a Beyonce, maybe she'll be a Halle
You woulda been the best mom
I would have been the best 'Ye
You see it all in my veins, like varicose
I know thats very gross but we getting very close
To our end, though I killed most with a pen
Soon as this flow end, I'ma let Mos begin

[Mos Def]
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

Don't look down, its an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial

How could you do it
How could you do it

[Big Sean]
Okay now baby here we go, we go
No baby, me go
You got my heart
Baby this what it be for
I give it all as far as my feet go
What do you mean, me go
Why can't it be, we go
What happens when people turn to tears
Dreams turn to memories
And weeks turn to years
Huh? standing in the same spot for a couple of weeks
Give me my feelings back, wish it came with a couple reciepts
Man, our vacation was coming next week
Girl I swear you was a trip, lets make it a couples retreat (do it)
How cud my girl do this to me
Woke up sayin no, the World did this to me
Now I'm testing one two
Reportin live from the rubble
Drinking all I can so I can turn to fire when I hug you
One, two, three, four, five models on the double
Give me head all at once look like they line in a huddle
But its not even half the feeling as hearing you shine
She know I love ya, shedding tears everyday
And I'm tired of lying in these puddles
I ask "Y" sometimes like a fucking vowel
But hitting tree's everyday like a fucking owl
Trying to get high enough to cut the clouds
Caught the Phoenix Sun to Nash it out, I mean ash it out.
So I could see you smile
I-I know you can see me now

[Mos Def]
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Fly like an eagle, whatever you do
Don't look down, its an impossible view
Spread your wings, aerial



All comments from YouTube:

@MrXotilweoverdose

in the future we will wish this kinda hiphop back

@zzz-re9sh

.... definitely do

@mateoa3

Truuuu

@wavy7303

You were so right

@RexDoesStuff101

Man you called it

@DuckFart

Prolific

33 More Replies...

@mwood341

This was my track in fall 2010. Brought me through some of my best and worst times. I remember when Kanye was dropping tunes every week, then the film Runaway came out. Greatness.

Lupe verse is one of his best btw.

@ImJuice225

Lupe is always so deep. My #1 of all time

@b3at2

Crazy how time flys...

@gardenstatePR

@@b3at2 word 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

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