The Remorse
Drake Lyrics

Look, me and Lil Sandra bagging CDs in the bubble wrap
When I was just starting out in the music industry, Lil Sandra and I were packaging CDs in protective bubble wrap.

People recognize me from the TV, but I'm done with that
Although people may know me from my appearances on television, I have moved on from that phase of my career.

People don't wanna see me succeed, this shit come with that
There are individuals who don't want me to accomplish my goals, but I understand that it's a part of the journey.

Even when I come back, I don't know if it's me that's gonna be coming back
Even if I take a break and return, there's uncertainty about whether I'll regain the same version of myself.

Soon as I left, I had to make peace with that
As soon as I departed from certain situations, I had to find inner peace and accept the changes.

Dropped out of school 'cause nobody was teaching that
I made the decision to leave school because the traditional education system wasn't providing what I needed to succeed.

The Best Western's where a nigga was sleeping at
There was a period where I had to stay at a Best Western hotel because I didn't have a stable place to sleep.

Daemen College booking me to pull up and speak the facts
Daemen College invited me to come and share my insights and speak about my experiences.

Even if they make a movie 'bout us, this shit'll be hard to reenact
Our story is so unique that it would be difficult for anyone to accurately portray it in a movie.

Dislocated shoulder, it's hard to be always reaching back
I've faced setbacks and obstacles that have made it challenging for me to constantly look back and revisit the past.

All these IOUs, it's hard for me to be keeping track
There are so many debts and obligations that I owe, making it difficult for me to keep track of them.

Friends that dedicated they life to just keeping me intact
I have friends who have devoted their lives to ensuring my well-being and success.

Hard to pay 40, pay Noel, pay Niko back
It's challenging for me to repay the debts and favors I owe to individuals like 40, Noel, and Niko.

All the nights I needed to vent to someone and CJ sat
During times when I needed someone to listen to my frustrations and struggles, CJ would be there for me.

All the nights Chubbs was pulling up where I need him at
Chubbs would always show up in the moments when I needed his support the most.

All the times Mark was making sure that my luggage packed
Mark would always take care of packing my belongings and ensuring that I had everything I needed.

At times he had to double back
There were instances where Mark had to go back and check on things he might have missed.

I mean even with a salary you can't put no prices on that
Even with all the money in the world, you can't truly measure the value of the support and loyalty I receive from these individuals.

There is no salary cap, there is no paying 'em back, for real
Their contributions to my life cannot be repaid monetarily, as their impact goes beyond any financial limit.

I wonder what it could've been if I had snakes in the mix
I sometimes contemplate how things would have turned out if I had disloyal individuals involved in my journey.

Actually, I never wanna know 'cause we made it like this
In reality, I have no desire to know the alternative because the current path we paved is the one that brought us success.

Shots gotta fly either way now, make it or miss
There will always be criticism and negativity, but I have to keep moving forward and take my chances, regardless of the outcome.

Overtime, I was all good, we take it in shifts
Throughout my career, I've had to endure long hours and hard work, but I've learned to handle it by taking breaks and dividing the workload.

What would you do if it wasn't this? That's a hard one
It's difficult to imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't pursued this career path.

The finish line is where I like to pull up and start from
I find motivation in reaching a goal and using it as a starting point for even greater achievements.

Pain is just a place that I go and get the bars from
I use my experiences of pain and hardships as inspiration to create meaningful and impactful lyrics.

Anxiety's a drug that I use to get the job done
I channel my anxiety into fuel for my productivity and use it to accomplish my goals.

Delusional is a space I like to think that I'm far from
I prefer not to consider myself delusional and strive to always stay grounded in reality.

My son is the one thing I hate to be apart from
Being separated from my son is the most difficult aspect for me to handle.

Bet against me, don't know where they're getting their odds from
Those who doubt my abilities and place bets against me have no valid reasoning for their lack of faith.

I know that when it's done, I'm going wherever God's from
Once my journey comes to an end, I believe I will go to a higher spiritual realm.

But I still don't know where I get the calm from
Despite the chaos and challenges I face, I have yet to understand where I find my inner peace.

I told you everything is fine, dawg, but I lied
I may have assured you that everything is okay, but in reality, I was not being truthful.

I be tryna draw the line, but it's a fine line
I attempt to set boundaries, but it's difficult because the line between certain things is very thin.

And I'm drowning out the noise from the sideline
I'm focusing on my own path and blocking out the distractions and criticisms from others.

Sometimes it's louder than the voice I got in my mind
The external noise and opinions can often overpower the voice within my own head.

I can't even hear myself when I get quiet time
Even during moments of solitude, the external influences are so strong that they drown out my own thoughts.

Like how they telling me I'm done when I'm in my prime?
It's baffling how some people are quick to declare my career over, even when I'm at the peak of my success.

They've been tryna push the narrative since '09
There have always been individuals attempting to shape the story of my life and career ever since 2009.

And they even had my ass convinced a couple times
There were instances when I started to believe the narratives that others were trying to dictate.

But that ain't even the half, I had tougher times
The challenges I faced go beyond what others perceive, as I have experienced even more difficult moments.

Only look for sympathy inside my mothers eyes
When seeking comfort and understanding, the only place I could truly find it was in my mother's eyes.

And it's whatever with them niggas on the other side
I have no concern or attachment to those individuals who oppose or dislike me.

We got problems we could never really put aside
There are deep-rooted issues between us that cannot be easily resolved or ignored.

I cracked the door for us all, put my foot inside
I provided opportunities for everyone, allowing them to step into the same realm of success.

I tried to kill them boys with kindness, but they wouldn't die
I attempted to handle conflicts and negativity with kindness, hoping that it would resolve the issues, but it didn't work.

So now I kill 'em all for acting like they couldn't die
In response, I no longer show mercy to those who acted invincible and believed they were untouchable.

My hard work doesn't just pay off, it pays all the family debts off
The fruits of my labor not only bring personal success but also allow me to support and clear the debts of my family.

I'm taking heads off, Future out here like Irving Azoff
I'm making bold moves and achieving victories, similar to how Future thrives in the music industry like Irving Azoff.

Houses paid off, label paid off, my soul for the money wasn't the trade off
I have acquired properties and settled my financial obligations, but I didn't sacrifice my artistic integrity for wealth.

Unlike most of you boys that fade off
Unlike other artists who lose relevance over time, I continue to thrive and maintain my influence.

I feel guilty taking some days off
I experience guilt when I take breaks or rest because I'm always driven to work and achieve more.

Please don't Google my net worth, the numbers are way off
I advise against searching for my estimated financial value online because the figures you find will be significantly inaccurate.

I mean if you comparing it to what I really made off with
If you were to compare my actual earnings, the numbers would far exceed what you might expect.

I'm more like Bernie with all the earnings that they came off
In terms of the vast earnings I've accumulated, I resemble someone like Bernie Madoff.

Trust me it was nothing light, holmes
Believe me, the journey to success was not easy or straightforward.

They tried to give me a slice of the pie and I took the knife home
Others attempted to offer me a small share of success, but I ended up seizing the entire opportunity for myself.

I know you love me
I am aware that I have a dedicated fan base who genuinely cares about me.

Can't picture being a hubby, finger too stubby to fit a ring on
I struggle to envision myself being a husband because my fingers are too short to comfortably wear a wedding ring.

Unless Kawhi wanna run it back
Unless someone like Kawhi Leonard - a successful and committed individual - wants to restart the relationship.

Other than that, the strings will be unattached
In any other scenario, I prefer to keep my connections and relationships loose and uncommitted.

Certified Lover Boy, I'm not the one for cuddling or none of that
As the Certified Lover Boy, I'm not interested in the affectionate and romantic aspects of relationships.

Y'all music gets watered down when you love 'em back
The artistry and quality of music often diminish when artists focus too much on receiving love and adoration from their fans.

And you know what I'm on, blowing past ya, owning masters
I continue to surpass others and assert my control and ownership over my own music masters.

Said you're like a father figure to me
You were once viewed as a significant mentor and guiding presence in my life.

But now daddy's not around, so I'm a bastard
However, since you are no longer present, I now lack the guidance and support that was expected from a father figure.

Oh, of course, the only villain that show remorse when I owe you more
Ironically, I'm the only one who feels guilty and regrets owing you more than I can repay.

Soft spot for all of the ones that came before, I can't ignore it
I have a special fondness for those who paved the way before me, and I can't disregard their impact on my career.

I'm always tryna rekindle
I constantly strive to ignite and reconnect with the passion and drive that initially inspired me.

From the bottom to the top, man, what's it like in the middle?
I'm curious about the experience and challenges of being in a position that's not the beginning nor the peak of success.

From the lemon-faced radio host that love to be bitter
Referring to radio hosts who often display sour attitudes and harbor resentment towards successful artists.

To my dawgs in the game who wasn't pick of the litter
Acknowledging fellow artists in the industry who were not initially chosen as favorites or top picks.

For the young Gs out here starting from the beginning
Giving recognition and encouragement to the young, aspiring artists who are just starting their careers.

Nobody praying for you when you winning, don't forget it
It's important to remember that when you're successful, people's support and prayers may start to dwindle.

Said it's hard when it starts to fade away
Expressing the difficulties and challenges that arise when memories and support gradually diminish.

Yeah (ooh, yeah)
Affirmation and agreement with the preceding statement.

Hard when it starts to fade away
The process becomes burdensome as the memories and support gradually disappear.

Hard when the memories start to fade away
The process becomes difficult when the cherished memories of the past begin to fade.

Its hard when the memories start to fade away
Expressing the hardships and challenges that arise when the meaningful memories of the past begin to diminish.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Reiteration and emphasis of agreement with the previous statements.

(Ooh, ooh) so beautiful
An appreciation and acknowledgement of the beauty in the struggle and journey.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Reiteration and affirmation of agreement with the preceding statements.