The Climb Back
J. Cole Lyrics


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Are you doin′ this work to facilitate growth or to become famous?
Which is more important?
Getting or letting go?
You can do anything, anything you can do (You can do anything)
You can do anything, anything you can do (You can do anything)

Everything come back around full circle
Why do lies sound pleasant but the truth hurtful?
Everybody gotta cry once in a while
But how long will it take 'fore you smile?
This is that come back to life shit
My niggas pick me up and we gon′ light the city up
As if the sun had the night shift
And paint the town red
For my nigga found dead too soon (Bitch, I'm back out-)

Yeah
To the left of that decimal, I need seven figures to play the joint
Turn up your decibels, peep how I decimate a joint
Check out my projects like them workers that Section 8 appoints
And you'll see how I flipped, like exclamation points
My niggas shoot first as if they never played the point, more two guards
Enough straps to fill four U-Hauls
More death than World War II caused
Around these parts, we pour the brown just to drown these thoughts
Of black corpses in county morgues, Lord, those images hauntin′
I ain′t been asleep yet, it's ten in the mornin′
I'm sendin′ a warnin', a problem with me is like the BET Hip-Hop Awards
I′m startin' to see you niggas don't want it

I′m sick of this flauntin′, from niggas I know for sho' ain′t got mo' dough than Cole
Trash rappers, ass backwards, tryna go toe to toe
We laugh at ya, staff strapped up on top the totem pole, to blast at ya
Bass masters, look how they tote a pole
Gotta know the ropes and the protocol
Or they gon′ for sho blow your clothes half off like a promo code
Made a lil' tune called "Foldin Clothes", and a nigga still ain′t known to fold under pressure
Well, you know what Cole do, make a diamond, they just rhymin'
Me, I'm quotin′ gold
One phone call get you canceled like a homophobe
In this PC culture, address me as the G.O.A.T.
Like they call Chief Keef Sosa, in my sectional like a fuckin′ three piece sofa
I'm known as the chosen one
Another dead body lay frozen, that′s how it go sometimes
When niggas weighin' coke and not the pros and cons
Well, I ain′t with that sleepin' underground like a gopher, so I go for mines

Everything come back around full circle
Why do lies sound pleasant but the truth hurtful (Yeah)
Everybody gotta cry once in a while
But how long will it take ′fore you smile?
This is that come back to life shit
My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up
As if the sun had the night shift
And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon
Now I know why they call it blue moon (Yeah)

Survival at all costs, everyday niggas get logged off
Bodies get hauled off
Passin' a funeral procession while holdin′ my breath in the car, I thought
At times, it be feelin′ the devil be winnin' but do that mean God lost?
Just got off the phone with my nigga, he back in the kennel, my dog lost
I brought him ′round close to me before but he
Became addicted to clout and all the hoes we'd meet
I slowly peeped jealousy on his breath, whenever he spoke to me
Like on the low, he feelin′ like in my shoes is where he supposed to be

I tried to ignore the signs, but there in the back of my mind, it felt
Like lettin' a nigga come sleep on your couch and he eatin′ up all yo' groceries
My nigga repeated this quote to me, I felt its potency
Said, "Most of these niggas gon' hang themselves, just give ′em the rope and see"
Shit, I heeded that, and what got showed to me
Was screamin′ that, some niggas you gotta leave 'em back
Unfortunately we seen the trap
Niggas be on that demon clock resultantly
They fiend to clap as often as the Genius app misquotin′ me, uh

Meanwhile, I see that yo' diamonds is glistenin′
I'm glad that you shinin′ but need I remind you my niggas is dimin' and nickelin'?
Scrapin′ up whatever coin they can find, the pettiest crime they committin′ it
Just to get by for a limited time, the steepest of mountains they tryna climb
I'm here tryna find the derivative
You niggas don′t feel me, you see the clout
You don't see the real me
If I was sick, you niggas wouldn′t heal me
That's why I′m healin' myself, gettin' in tune with my God
Slowly revealin′ myself, buildin′ my wealth
A nigga touch mine, I'ma kill ′em myself, trust me

Everything come back around full circle
Why do lies sound pleasant but the truth hurtful?
Everybody gotta cry once in a while
But how long will it take 'fore you smile?
This is that come back to life shit
My niggas pick me up and we gon′ light the city up
As if the sun had the night shift
And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon
Now I know why they call it blue moon (Yeah)

Bitch, I'm back outside, nigga
I′m back outside
I'm back outside
Bitch, I'm back outside

Everybody mentions suicide prevention
Man, they even made a hotline
To call up when there′s tension
But I got a question
What about a fuckin′ homicide?
Need a number for my niggas to call
Whenever there's a urge to get triggers involved




Need a number for my niggas to call
Whenever there′s a urge to get triggers involved

Overall Meaning

In "The Climb Back," J. Cole reflects on various themes such as personal growth, fame, truth versus lies, resilience, and the struggles faced by his community. The lyrics explore the importance of introspection, staying true to oneself, and the obstacles one must overcome to achieve personal success.


The opening lines, "Are you doin' this work to facilitate growth or to become famous? Which is more important? Getting or letting go?" pose a thought-provoking question. Cole challenges listeners to examine their motivations and whether their pursuit of fame aligns with their personal growth and fulfillment.


The lines, "Everything come back around full circle. Why do lies sound pleasant but the truth hurtful?" reflect on the cyclical nature of life and the paradox of lies being appealing while the truth can be painful. It serves as a commentary on the complexities of human nature and the difficulty in accepting uncomfortable truths.


The following lines touch on vulnerability and resilience, indicating that everyone experiences hardships and sadness, but the question remains: how long will it take before one can find happiness and genuine smiles again? Cole uses vivid imagery of coming back to life and lighting up the city with his friends, perhaps symbolizing a rejuvenation of spirit after facing adversity.


The second verse delves into social commentary and personal experiences. Cole highlights the stark contrast between the commercialized rap industry, where artists flaunt their wealth and engage in petty beef, and his own humble and grounded approach to music. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, staying true to oneself, and not succumbing to trends or pressures.


The verse continues to address societal issues such as violence and the objectification of women. Cole criticizes the glorification of drugs and violence in rap lyrics and acknowledges the consequences they have for his community. He shares his commitment to navigate these challenges and strive for success without compromising his values.


The final verse takes on a more introspective tone. Cole examines his own struggles with fame and the pressures it brings. He confronts feelings of loneliness and the realization that not everyone in his circle has his best interests at heart. He reflects on the importance of self-healing and growth, acknowledging that no one else can truly understand or support him like he can himself.


The closing lines bring attention to societal shortcomings and the lack of resources for addressing the root causes of violence. Cole questions why there are suicide prevention hotlines but not enough support for those who may be inclined towards violence. It is a call for more comprehensive methods to address the issues faced by his community and a plea for understanding and empathy.


Overall, "The Climb Back" demonstrates J. Cole's introspective and insightful lyrical approach, as he navigates the complexities of fame, personal growth, societal challenges, and the resilience needed to overcome them.




Writer(s): Jermaine L Cole, Gary Bailey, Maximilian Axelrod, Montie Bailey

Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@duartelapa9027

[Intro]
Are you doin' this work to facilitate growth or to become famous?
Which is more important?
Getting or letting go?
You can do anything, anything you can do (You can do anything)
You can do anything, anything you can do (You can do anything)

[Chorus]
Everything come back around full circle
Why do lies sound pleasant, but the truth hurtful?
Everybody gotta cry once in a while
But how long will it take 'fore you smile?
This is that come-back-to-life shit
My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up as if the sun had the night shift
And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon (Bitch, I'm back out...)

[Verse 1]
Yeah
To the left of that decimal, I need seven figures to play the joint
Turn up your decibels, peep how I decimate a joint
Check out my projects like them workers that Section 8 appoints
And you'll see how I flipped like exclamation points
My niggas shoot first as if they never played the point, more two guards
Enough straps to fill four U-Hauls
More death than World War II caused
Around these parts we pour the brown just to drown these thoughts
Of black corpses in county morgues, Lord, those images hauntin'
I ain't been asleep yet, it's ten in the mornin'
I'm sendin' a warnin', a problem with me is like the BET Hip-Hop Awards
I'm startin' to see you niggas don't want it
I'm sick of this flauntin', from niggas I know for sure ain't got mo' dough than Cole
Trash rappers, ass backwards, tryna go toe-to-toe
We laugh at ya, staff strapped up on top the totem pole to blast at ya
Bassmasters, look how they tote a pole
Gotta know the ropes and the protocol
Or they gon' for sure blow your clothes half off like a promo code
Made a lil' tune called "Foldin Clothes," and a nigga still ain't known to fold under pressure
Well, you know what Cole do
Make a diamond, they just rhymin', me, I'm quotin' gold
One phone call get you canceled like a homophobe in this PC culture
Address me as the G.O.A.T. like they call Chief Keef Sosa
In my sectional like a fuckin' three-piece sofa
I'm known as the chosen one
Another dead body lay frozen, that's how it go sometimes
When niggas weighin' coke and not the pros and cons
Well, I ain't with that sleepin' underground like a gopher, so I go for mines

[Chorus]
Everything come back around full circle (Nigga, gotta go for mines)
Why do lies sound pleasant, but the truth hurtful? (Yeah)
Everybody gotta cry once in a while
But how long will it take 'fore you smile?
This is that come-back-to-life shit
My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up as if the sun had the night shift
And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon
Now I know why they call it blue moon (Yeah)

[Verse 2]
Survival at all costs, every day, niggas get logged off
Bodies get hauled off
Passin' a funeral procession while holdin' my breath in the car, I thought
At times, it be feelin' the devil be winnin' but do that mean God lost?
Just got off the phone with my nigga, he back in the kennel, my dog lost
I brought him 'round close to me before but he
Became addicted to clout and all the hoes we'd meet
I slowly peeped jealousy on his breath whenever he spoke to me
Like on the low, he feelin' that in my shoes is where he supposed to be
I tried to ignore the signs, but they're in the back of my mind
It felt like lettin' a nigga come sleep on your couch and he eatin' up all yo' groceries
My nigga repeated this quote to me, I felt its potency
Said, "Most of these niggas gon' hang themselves, just give 'em the rope and see"
Shit, I heeded that, and what got showed to me
Was screamin' that, some niggas, you gotta leave 'em back
Unfortunately we seen the trap
Niggas be on that demon clock resultantly
They fiend to clap as often as the Genius app misquotin' me, uh
Meanwhile, I see that yo' diamonds is glistenin'
I'm glad that you shinin', but need I remind you my niggas is dimin' and nickelin'?
Scrapin' up whatever coin they can find, the pettiest crime, they committin' it
Just to get by for a limited time, the steepest of mountains, they tryin' to climb
I'm here tryna find the derivative, you niggas don't feel me
You see the clout, you don't see the real me
If I was sick, you niggas wouldn't heal me
Therefore I'm healin' myself, gettin' in tune with my God
Slowly revealin' myself, buildin' my wealth
A nigga touch mine, I'ma kill 'em myself, trust me

[Chorus]
Everything come back around full circle
Why do lies sound pleasant, but the truth hurtful?
Everybody gotta cry once in a while
But how long will it take 'fore you smile?
This is that come-back-to-life shit
My niggas pick me up and we gon' light the city up as if the sun had the night shift
And paint the town red for my nigga found dead too soon
Now I know why they call it blue moon (Yeah)

[Outro]
Bitch, I'm back outside, nigga
I'm back outside
I'm back outside
I'm back outside
Everybody mentions suicide prevention
Man, they even made a hotline
To call up when there's tension, but I got a question
What about a fuckin' homicide?
Need a number for my niggas to call
Whenever there's a urge to get triggers involved
Need a number for my niggas to call
Whenever there's a urge to get triggers involved



All comments from YouTube:

@NoLifeShaq

REAL COLE FANS HERE EARLY!

@nickbettendorf4447

YESSIR

@fijikun

I see the reaction to this one

@dark_wraith4784

NO LIFEE GANG

@ragnarlothbrok4117

Finish dat man finish dat AYYY

@dark_wraith4784

Hope u recording ya reaction rn I expect a vid tonight big bro

454 More Replies...

@tobi807

Fully written and produced by Cole. This man is built different

@pikasa438

Oh yes he is 💪

@mikeellis7359

Written yes, produced No,, He had many producers on this... still a classic though.

@_.mayanicole

@emes yup

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