Chance achieved some success with his first mixtape 10Day, which details his 10 day long suspension from his high school. On April 30, 2013, Chance's second mixtape, Acid Rap dropped. It received diamond status from Datpiff. The Social Experiment, Chance's band with Donnie Trumpet, Peter Cottontail, and members of the O'My's, released their free album, Surf, on May 28, 2015.
SHELTER ft. Chance The Rapper
Chance the Rapper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That nobody's safe from
But here in my arms
I'll keep you from harm
There's no guarantee tonight
That we will wake up
When night takes the morning
But if no alarm rings
I'll be your shelter
Emergency
Please count on me, yeah, I
I'll be your superhero
When danger arrives
I'll be by your side (uh)
You're my lucky dime (uh)
Wyclef told me call 911
But who do you call when the ambulances don't come
Or watch as the ones sworn by law protect us
Wrongfully convict us then call it corrections
Next, they bail the banks out when we in recession
And hang us in the jail cell so they can swing the elections
I walk Chicago streets where pot holes is deep and Tahoes creep like TLC
Hospital workers in scrubs with no PPE
But they got money for riot gear, my nigga, we dying here, yeah
You tell me not to move with my gun
But we got more funeral homes than schools where I'm from
And on the news all you view is homicides
Tell me why it ain't no trauma units when everybody traumatized
Tryna get on your feet, playing the hand they dealt ya
If your house is not a home let this song be your shelter
I'll be your shelter
Emergency
Please count on me (yeah, I)
I'll be your superhero
When danger arrives
I'll be by your side
You're my lucky dime
It's a hundred bags under the underpass
Rumbling stomachs, cups jingle when Hummers pass
Brisk winds, summer's done, winter is coming fast
And then they Zoom teacher wonder why they don't come to class
The internet been out, the hot water been out
She moved to her aunt's house, then to her friend's couch
Abuser went to jail but that nigga been out
Producer was in house, they closer then pen pals
Homeless in the home of the slaves, I wonder how that would feel
The manifested destiny a bunch of land they could steal
Think about Kenneth Walker and Philando Castile
How they only wanted to protect their family
While it's niggas out here that make it worse for they folks
It's a deeper, hotter hell for the worst of these folks
It's a mystery, we never heard the murder she wrote
If we finally paid her back the whole earth would be broke
I'll be your shelter
Emergency
Please count on me (yeah, I)
I'll be your superhero
When danger arrives
I'll be by your side (uh)
I write for my niggas doing life with no possibility of parole
You playing Fortnite, that's how long you spent in a hole
Live from Death Row, free my nigga Julius Jones
I had a dream that Mumia was home, I speak freedom in songs
'Cause all I see is racist faces
Where hate lives and they rape kids in cages
What kinda nation lynch Elijah McClain?
Then send us to the Middle East to die for the flag
They drive us insane to sell us medication
We demand reparations and they tell us have patience
Instead of cash payments, we get minimum wages
They give us the black plague, then send us a white savior
I found faith when I lost hope
That's when Julius reminded me of a bar I wrote
Behind bars on the yard where they dream of the street
On death row singing we could be free (we could be free)
I know you'll be my shelter from the storm
I know you'll be my shelter from the storm
The song "Shelter," featuring Chance The Rapper, talks about the rough reality of the world we live in, where danger and uncertainty surround our everyday life, and how the person he's with will be protected from the chaos. The lyrics in the first part of the song focus on the fear of living in a world where safety is not guaranteed, especially due to current events like wars, and where the chances of waking up the next day aren't secure. However, he provides a sense of comfort by assuring the person that he will be their shelter and superhero when the danger comes, that they can count on him at all times. The lyrics then expand to the present world problems, such as racial inequality, abuse of power, and financial struggles that make it difficult to live a decent life.
The rapper explicitly mentions the racial injustice and the fact that the nation is divided, calling for fairness, reparations, and a change in mentality. He also points out the fact that instead of receiving help, people are given minimum wages, leading to an ongoing struggle to survive. The song's final lyrics include a dedication to those who are incarcerated, serving life sentences without any possibility of parole, and a reminder that even in the bleakest of times, hope still exists.
Overall, the song provides a raw glimpse of what it's like to live in a world full of uncertainty and chaos, speaking to the importance of finding solace in those around us and offering comfort and support to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a war going on outside
There is a conflict occurring outside of our personal space
That nobody's safe from
This conflict affects everyone, no one is truly safe
But here in my arms
In my embrace, I will protect you
I'll keep you from harm
I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety
There's no guarantee tonight
There is no certainty in what may happen during this evening
That we will wake up
We cannot be sure whether we will survive until morning
When night takes the morning
When night comes to an end and morning begins
But if no alarm rings
If we are not alerted by an alarm
You can count on one thing
Know that you can rely on me
I'll be your shelter
I will protect you from harm
Emergency
In a time of crisis, count on me
Please count on me, yeah, I
Please trust me, I am here for you
I'll be your superhero
I will be your savior in times of danger
When danger arrives
If danger arises
I'll be by your side (uh)
I will be there to support you
You're my lucky dime (uh)
You are my good luck charm
Wyclef told me call 911
Wyclef instructed me to call for emergency assistance
But who do you call when the ambulances don't come
What other option do we have when even emergency services fail us?
Or watch as the ones sworn by law protect us
Watch as the officials who have sworn to protect us...
Wrongfully convict us then call it corrections
...are the ones who falsely accuse and label it as correction
Next, they bail the banks out when we in recession
During financial crisis, banks receive aid before those in need do
And hang us in the jail cell so they can swing the elections
They imprison individuals to sway elections in their favor
I walk Chicago streets where pot holes is deep and Tahoes creep like TLC
I traverse the poorly maintained streets of Chicago where cars slowly pass like the TLC music video
Hospital workers in scrubs with no PPE
Medical workers are putting themselves at risk due to lack of protective gear
But they got money for riot gear, my nigga, we dying here, yeah
Despite the severe conditions, money is still available for weapons instead of life-saving resources
You tell me not to move with my gun
They advise against carrying a weapon
But we got more funeral homes than schools where I'm from
In my community there are more funeral homes than learning institutions
And on the news all you view is homicides
The media primarily covers cases of murder
Tell me why it ain't no trauma units when everybody traumatized
Why aren't there resources for those who face emotional trauma?
Tryna get on your feet, playing the hand they dealt ya
We try to make a living despite unfair disadvantage
If your house is not a home let this song be your shelter
If your living situation is unstable, let this song provide comfort
It's a hundred bags under the underpass
There are many homeless individuals residing below the underpass
Rumbling stomachs, cups jingle when Hummers pass
There is a hunger issue, and even the sound of a Hummer vehicle passing can be heard
Brisk winds, summer's done, winter is coming fast
The weather is changing quickly, catching people off guard
And then they Zoom teacher wonder why they don't come to class
Despite the shift to online classes during the pandemic, teachers still don't understand why students are not attending
The internet been out, the hot water been out
Essential resources like the internet and hot water have not been available
She moved to her aunt's house, then to her friend's couch
A woman has had to relocate to different living arrangements
Abuser went to jail but that nigga been out
Her abuser was imprisoned but is now released
Producer was in house, they closer then pen pals
A producer was once in close proximity and now they communicate like pen pals
Homeless in the home of the slaves, I wonder how that would feel
Being forced to live on the streets in the land that used to have slaves is a depressing thought
The manifested destiny a bunch of land they could steal
The western expansion of America was a way for colonizers to steal more land
Think about Kenneth Walker and Philando Castile
Reflect on the innocents like Kenneth Walker and Philando Castile who have suffered from police brutality
How they only wanted to protect their family
They were only trying to protect themselves and their loved ones
While it's niggas out here that make it worse for they folks
Those within our own community that worsen our situation
It's a deeper, hotter hell for the worst of these folks
The hardest situations are experienced by the most vulnerable individuals in our society
It's a mystery, we never heard the murder she wrote
It's unknown what happens to someone seeking revenge for a loved one's death
If we finally paid her back the whole earth would be broke
If we repaid for the damages of the oppressed, the entire world would be impacted
I write for my niggas doing life with no possibility of parole
I write for those facing life imprisonment without chance of release
You playing Fortnite, that's how long you spent in a hole
While you play a video game, someone else has been imprisoned for that same duration
Live from Death Row, free my nigga Julius Jones
Reporting live from death row, I call for the release of Julius Jones
I had a dream that Mumia was home, I speak freedom in songs
I dream of Mumia's freedom and through my music, I demand liberation
'Cause all I see is racist faces
Everywhere I look, there are faces filled with hatred and prejudice
Where hate lives and they rape kids in cages
An environment of hate leads to atrocities like child imprisonment
What kinda nation lynch Elijah McClain?
How can a nation allow a tragedy like the lynching of Elijah McClain?
Then send us to the Middle East to die for the flag
They send us to fight in a foreign war while our own country is in turmoil
They drive us insane to sell us medication
They use our own mental health issues to profit from medication sales
We demand reparations and they tell us have patience
We seek reparations for the wrongs done to us, yet they respond with apathy
Instead of cash payments, we get minimum wages
We receive meager pay rather than fair compensation
They give us the black plague, then send us a white savior
They inflict misfortune on us and then try to 'save' us through questionable means
I found faith when I lost hope
Even when all hope was gone, I found faith in something
That's when Julius reminded me of a bar I wrote
Julius inspired me to remember a specific lyric I wrote
Behind bars on the yard where they dream of the street
Prisoners long for the outside world when they are confined to the yard
On death row singing we could be free (we could be free)
Even those on death row still dream of the possibility of freedom
I know you'll be my shelter from the storm
I trust that you will protect me during difficult times
I know you'll be my shelter from the storm
I trust that you will protect me during difficult times
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Peter CottonTale, Victor Mensah, Aja Monet Brian Harrington, Alex Baez, Ali Shaheed Muhammed, Andrew De Caro, Chancelor J. Bennett, Carey Iceface, Darian Garcia, Johan Lenox, Malik Yusef, Nel Ust Wyclef Jean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vitek2k
"If your house is not a home, let this song be your shelter."
This is more than a song. This is a beautiful message. Thank you, Vic, Wyclef and Chance.
@samuel2pac72
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@TheActresspreneur
so beautiful
@itumelengmosito9230
Xx
@getmoney5209
ππ https://youtu.be/QJPvxKaBIZs ππ
@dubzzman1099
That hit me hard!! β€οΈ
@erboch7124
This a breath of fresh air for Chance and Vic honestly
@anthony98
Yh... Chano in his element song is beautiful
@getmoney5209
ππ https://youtu.be/QJPvxKaBIZs ππ
@brooklynn9306
Brooke meme mom. Like π