Lost Ones
J. Cole Lyrics

Baby girl, I can't imagine what it's like for you
J. Cole empathizes with a girl he got pregnant.

I got you pregnant now inside there is a life in you
He acknowledges that there is a life inside the girl he got pregnant.

I know you wonderin' if this gon' make me think 'bout wifing you
He acknowledges the girl's worry about whether he will marry her.

Like if you had my first child would I spend my whole life with you
He acknowledges the girl's thoughts on whether he will be committed in their relationship.

Now I ain't tryna pick a fight with you, I'm tryna talk
He clarifies that he is not picking a fight, but rather trying to have a conversation.

Now I ain't tryna spend the night with you
He clarifies that he wants to talk but not engage in physical intimacy.

I'm kinda lost see
He admits to being confused.

I've been giving it some thought lately and frankly
He has been thinking about the situation and wants to be honest.

I'm feelin' like we ain't ready and it's hold up now
He feels that they are not yet ready to handle the responsibilities of having a child.

Let me finish
He asks for a chance to explain.

Think about it baby me and you we still kids ourself
He views himself and the girl he got pregnant as inexperienced and not yet fully mature.

How we gon' raise a kid by ourself?
He questions their ability to raise a child together.

Handle biz by ourself
He acknowledges that they will have to handle the situation on their own.

A nigga barely over twenty, where the hell we gon' live?
He admits that he is not yet financially stable and does not know where they will live.

Where am I gon' get that money
He questions how he will provide for the child.

I refuse to bring my boy or my girl in this world When I ain't got shit to give 'em
He does not want to bring a child into the world if he cannot provide for them.

And I'm not with them niggas who be knocking girls up and skate out
He does not want to be like other men who get girls pregnant and leave them.

So girl, you gotta think 'bout how the options weigh out What's the way out?
He asks the girl to consider their options and figure out what to do.

And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes I cry sometimes about it And girl I know it hurt but if this world was perfect Then we could make it work but I doubt it
He admits to feeling emotional about the situation and does not believe that everything can be fixed.

She said, "Nigga, you got some nerve to come up to me talking about abortion This my body nigga, so don't think you finna force shit
The girl responds angrily to J. Cole's suggestion of abortion and asserts her autonomy over her own body.

See I knew that this is how you act, so typical Said you love me, oh, but now you flipping like reciprocals
She accuses J. Cole of acting in a predictable way and being hypocritical.

It figures though, I shoulda known that you was just another nigga No different from them other niggas
She generalizes J. Cole as being like other men who do not take responsibility for their actions.

Who be claiming that they love you just to get up in them drawers Knowing all the right things to say, I let you hit it raw, mothafucka!
She accuses J. Cole of seducing her and not truly loving her.

Now I'm pregnant, you don't wanna get involved, mothafucka? Tryna take away a life, is you God, mothafucka?
She accuses J. Cole of not wanting to be involved in the situation and challenging his right to make decisions about her body.

I don't think so! This a new life up in my stomach Regardless if I'm your wife, this new life here I'mma love it
She chooses to love and care for the life growing inside her regardless of J. Cole's involvement.

I ain't budging I just do this by my mothafuckin' self See my mama raised me without no mothafuckin' help from a man
She asserts her independence and willingness to handle the situation by herself.

But I still don't understand how you could say that Did you forget all those conversations that we had way back 'Bout your father? And you told me that you hate that nigga Talking about he a coward and you so glad that you ain't that nigga
She reminds J. Cole of past conversations about his own father's abandonment and asks how he can now act similarly.

'Cause he left your mama when she had you and he ain't shit And here you go doing the same shit, you ain't shit nigga"
She accuses J. Cole of repeating the same cycle of abandonment that his own father committed.

And I ain't too proud to tell you That I cry sometimes, I cry sometimes about it And boy this shit hurts, and ain't nobody perfect Still we can make it work but you doubt it
J. Cole admits to feeling emotional and still wants to make the situation work, but does not know if it is possible.

They say everything happens for a reason And people change like the seasons
J. Cole reflects on the impermanence of life and the idea that everything has a purpose.

They grow apart, she wanted him to show his heart and say he loved her He spoke the magic words and on the same day he fucked her
J. Cole tells a story of a couple growing apart, and when the man finally expresses his love, he has sex with her on the same day.

Now she wide open She put a ring up on his finger if she could But he loved her 'cause the pussy good
The girl is now vulnerable and would marry the man if she could, but the man only loves her for her sexual abilities.

But she ain't no wife though Uh oh, she tellin' him she missed her period like typo's
The girl is not actually the man's wife, and now tells him that she has missed her period, hinting that she may be pregnant.

He panicking, froze up like a mannequin A life grows inside her now he asking "is it even mine"
The man panics at the news of the possible pregnancy and wonders if the child is even his.

What if this bitch ain't even pregnant dawg Could she be lying?
He questions whether the girl is even telling the truth about the pregnancy.

She be crying crying 'cause he acting distant Like ever since I told you this nigga you acting different
The girl is upset because the man is now acting differently since hearing about the possible pregnancy.

And all his niggas saying man these hoes be trapping niggas Playing with niggas emotions like they some action figures Swear they get pregnant for collateral It's like extortion, man if that bitch really pregnant Tell her get an abortion
The man's friends encourage him to believe that the girl is trapping him and using the pregnancy for her own gain, advising him to tell her to get an abortion.

Uh, but what about your seed nigga? What about your seed nigga? What about your seed nigga?
Despite his friends' advice, J. Cole reminds the man of the responsibility he has to his potential child.

And I ain't too proud to tell ya that I cry sometimes I cry sometimes about it
J. Cole expresses his sadness about the entire situation.