Wonderful
Childish Gambino Lyrics


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[Hook: Josh Osho]
We finally made it
And now we sailin'
I never dreamed we'd get this far
My heart keeps asking
How did it get so wonderful? So wonderful
How did it get so wonderful? So wonderful
[Verse 1: Childish Gambino]
You can call the shots, I'm going to my aunt's house
What's it all about? Lookin' like I'm Millhouse
What's it all about? I ain't get my bike back
I ain't get my bike back, I know where he live at
I know what he look like, I know what I live like
Five to a bed, head to toe, that's a good night
Five to a bed, head to toe, with the fan on
I don't think these other niggas know what your man on
I used to have to sneak just to get my food
Free lunch made it feel like they don't approve
Sell a car for a dollar used to be the mood
I wanna be Jabari man that nigga cool
I wanna lash out nigga keep your cool
All my friend did was draw something now he outta school
'Cuz everything was always "Show me what you're made of"
And everybody knew somebody who was laid up
I didn't need it, momma said it's a lesson
Some people will never like you
Don't let'em catch you stressin'
You know a code's a code, the world can't stop'em
Eating out rat holes and Cheerios boxes
This nigga think he hot shit, he think he good at everything
I just didn't wanna get left out more
My little sis' mom got shot, she in the newspaper
Prayers couldn't save her, she died a day later
Like my cousin got the HIV
When she bust the leg open playing jump rope
Should I tell them kids what the fuck's up?
They gone judge her and me
Man fuck them, we livin', all is forgiven
I fucked up royally
But now that's who we are man you gotta use the royal "we"
This is royalty, and this is all I ever wanted 'cuz





[Hook x2]

Overall Meaning

The song "Wonderful" by Childish Gambino featuring Josh Osho is a reflective and introspective piece that reflects on the sometimes-confronting experience of growing up and overcoming diverse challenges. The heart of the song lies in Gambino's stories about his difficult childhood, living in poverty, and trying to find his place in the world while dealing with heartbreaking personal tragedies. He has a deep sense of appreciation for the successes that he has achieved, although reflecting on his challenging origin makes these successes even more remarkable.


In the opening lines of the hook, Josh Osho reflects on how far he and Gambino have come, expressing both a sense of pride at their triumphs while still being somewhat incredulous that they managed to overcome such significant challenges. Gambino then jumps in, taking a traditional rap form, reflecting on his challenging origins, how they shaped him as a person, and ultimately enabled him to achieve success in his life. He tells stories of growing up in poverty, sleeping five to a bed, and not having enough food, which made free school lunches a worthwhile luxury. He goes on to explain that 'some people will never like you' and how his mother taught him the importance of not stressing about the opinions of those who don't matter.


Overall, the song's central message is that all our experiences, both good and bad, are integral to defining our identity and strength, and if we can keep progressing, we can go on to achieve remarkable things. Gambino reminds listeners that, even when things are tough, it pays to be resilient and focused to get to the top.


Line by Line Meaning

We finally made it
After struggling with past hardships, we have now achieved a level of success


And now we sailin'
We are now living comfortably and have reached a new level of prosperity


I never dreamed we'd get this far
I did not expect to achieve this level of success from where we came from


My heart keeps asking
Despite our success, I still ponder how we got to where we are


How did it get so wonderful? So wonderful
I am amazed at how great our lives have become despite our past hardships


You can call the shots, I'm going to my aunt's house
I am not concerned with following societal norms and will do what makes me happy


What's it all about? Lookin' like I'm Millhouse
I question the meaning of life, despite trying to keep up a facade of being carefree


What's it all about? I ain't get my bike back
I am still bothered by past injustices, such as not being able to retrieve my stolen bike


I know where he live at, I know what he look like
Despite not getting my bike back, I am aware of the thief's identity and appearance


Five to a bed, head to toe, that's a good night
Sharing a bed with multiple people was a common occurrence, but we found comfort in this routine


Five to a bed, head to toe, with the fan on
Despite the cramped living situation, we found relief in using a fan to cool down during hot nights


I don't think these other niggas know what your man on
I do not believe others understand my struggles or how determined I am to succeed


I used to have to sneak just to get my food
I had to scheme and find ways to procure food to survive


Free lunch made it feel like they don't approve
Receiving free lunch at school made me feel like an outcast and like I did not belong


Sell a car for a dollar used to be the mood
At one point in time, I was so financially destitute that I had to sell a car for just one dollar


I wanna be Jabari man that nigga cool
I look up to Jabari and admire his cool and confident demeanor


I wanna lash out nigga keep your cool
While I may feel the urge to act out, I remind myself to remain composed


All my friend did was draw something now he outta school
My friend was so talented at drawing that he was able to leave school to pursue art


'Cuz everything was always "Show me what you're made of"
I grew up in an environment where toughness and resiliency were valued traits


And everybody knew somebody who was laid up
Many people in my community were injured or sick and unable to work


I didn't need it, momma said it's a lesson
Although I did not want to hear it at the time, my mother taught me valuable lessons through difficult situations


Some people will never like you
I have come to terms with the fact that not everyone will accept or like me, and that's okay


Don't let'em catch you stressin'
I remind myself not to worry or stress over the opinions of those who do not like me


You know a code's a code, the world can't stop'em
I live by a strict code of ethics and morals that cannot be compromised by outside forces


Eating out rat holes and Cheerios boxes
I have experienced immense poverty and have had to resort to eating food in unsanitary conditions


This nigga think he hot shit, he think he good at everything
I know someone who is overly confident and thinks they're skilled at everything


I just didn't wanna get left out more
I went along with this person's boasts because I did not want to feel left out or inferior


My little sis' mom got shot, she in the newspaper
My younger sister's mother was shot and made headlines in the news


Prayers couldn't save her, she died a day later
Despite our desperate prayers, my sister's mother passed away the following day


Like my cousin got the HIV
My cousin was diagnosed with HIV, a dire and life-threatening illness


When she bust the leg open playing jump rope
She contracted the virus through a simple injury while playing jump rope


Should I tell them kids what the fuck's up?
I am unsure about whether or not to tell children about the harsh realities of life


They gone judge her and me
I fear that the children will form negative opinions and unfairly judge my cousin and me


Man fuck them, we livin', all is forgiven
I am no longer concerned with the opinions of others and am focused on enjoying life


I fucked up royally
I made a significant mistake and am fully aware of the consequences


But now that's who we are man you gotta use the royal "we"
Despite my mistake, I still consider myself a valuable member of the group and use 'we' instead of 'I'


This is royalty, and this is all I ever wanted 'cuz
Despite my hardships, I always dreamed of achieving a sense of royalty and success in life




Contributed by Bailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Dap Bino

I remember listening to this track on repeat while on the bus to school in the morning... Passing out, waking up and repeat

Dennisd1122

I literally did the same thing lol thought I was the only one

Eric Barrier III

Those still some of the chillest moments of my life I swear

Vigorous Vigilante

Back in 2014 😂

Austino Casino

I swear this will be the song I play the day i finally set out to sea. I'll make it...one day.

Daniel

did you ever make it?

Del Flanary

I am also curious!

Austino Casino

I made it. And how wonderful it is.

Durell Patterson

Best of luck my guy... 🙌🏽

Joe Murphy

@Austino Casino I knew you could do it!! Look out for the Childish tycoon

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