New Day
Jay-Z; Kanye West Lyrics

Yeah uh, and I'll never let my son have an ego
Jay-Z will ensure that his son remains humble and kind to everyone.

He'll be nice to everyone, wherever we go
Jay-Z wants his son to treat people kindly, no matter where they are, or who they are.

I mean, I might even make 'em be Republican
Jay-Z wants his son to love all people, including white people, and is willing to make him Republican so that he's perceived that way.

So everybody know he love white people
Jay-Z wants his son to treat everyone the same, regardless of their skin color.

And I'll never let 'em leave his college girlfriend
Jay-Z doesn't want his son to get caught up with groupies and wants him to stay loyal to his girlfriend.

And get caught up with the groupies in the whirlwind
Jay-Z doesn't want his son to get distracted by attention from other women and start leading a less morally sound lifestyle.

And I'll never let 'em ever hit the telethon
Jay-Z doesn't want his son to get caught up in controversial matters that could harm his reputation or the family's reputation.

I just want him to have an easy life, not like Yeezy life
Jay-Z doesn't want his son to go through the struggles and hardships that he and Kanye West faced while growing up in tough neighborhoods.

Just want him to be someone people like
Jay-Z wants his son to be well-liked by everyone, so that he can enjoy the fruits of his labor.

Don't want him to be hated, all the time, judged
Jay-Z doesn't want his son to live a life where he is always hated, judged or criticized by others.

Don't be like your daddy that would never budge
Jay-Z hopes his son won't be inflexible and stubborn like he can sometimes be.

And I'll never let him ever hit a strip club
Jay-Z doesn't want his son to frequent places that are known for not being reputable, hence strip clubs.

I learned the hard way, that ain't the place to get love
Jay-Z believes that strip clubs and similar places are not where true love or affection should ever be sought or found.

And I'll never let his mom move to L.A.
Jay-Z doesn't want the mother of his son to experience the harsh media pressure and scrutiny that comes with living in Los Angeles. This is because he knows it can be emotionally draining.

Knowin' she couldn't take the pressure, now we all pray
Jay-Z wants his son's mother to avoid going through the same mental and emotional distress that he believes Kim Kardashian, Kanye West's wife has experienced in Los Angeles.

Sorry junior, I already ruined ya
Jay-Z apologizes to his unborn child, for exposing him to the harshness of media scrutiny before he had even been born.

'Cause you ain't even alive, paparazzi pursuin' ya
Jay-Z is stating that even before his child is born, the media and paparazzi are already following and pursuing him, waiting for any updates or scandals.

Sins of a father make yo' life ten times harder
Jay-Z acknowledges that some of his past mistakes could potentially make his son's life difficult and takes responsibility for the damage he could cause.

I just wanna take ya to a barber
Jay-Z wants to spend time with his son and take him to a barber, to show him affection and good grooming habits.

Bondin' on charters, all the shit that I never did
Jay-Z wants to bond with his son while traveling on private boats, doing things that he never got to do while growing up.

Teach ya good values, so you cherish it
Jay-Z wants to instill good values in his son, so that he'll appreciate what he has, and thrive both morally and financially in life.

Took me twenty six years to find my path
Jay-Z is acknowledging that it took him years to figure out what he wanted in life and is determined to prepare and support his son in his journey.

My only job is cuttin' the time in half
Jay-Z sees his job as a father to help his son navigate life's difficulties with less struggle than he did.

So at thirteen we'll have our first drink together
Jay-Z wants to bond with his son by drinking alcohol while he's still underage, likely as a reference to a bar mitzvah ceremony in Jewish culture.

Black bar mitzvahs, mazel tov, mogul talk
Jay-Z is referencing a possible bar mitzvah party that he would throw for his son, a Jewish tradition marking the transition from childhood to adulthood. 'Mazel tov' is also a Jewish expression of congratulations or good wishes. 'Mogul talk' refers to a conversation between two successful business moguls.

Look a man dead in his eyes
Jay-Z wants his son to be able to look anyone in the eye, and speak the truth with confidence.

So he know you talk truth when you speak it, give your word, keep it
Jay-Z is teaching his son to always keep to his promises and be honest in his dealings with people, so that they respect him for it.

And if the day comes I only see him on the weekend
Jay-Z knows that his son will grow up and potentially move away one day, but hopes that even if they only meet on weekends, they'll still have a strong bond.

I just pray we was in love on the night that we conceived him
Jay-Z prays that he and his partner would be in love when their son was conceived, so that he'll feel the love that existed between them.

Promise to never leave him even if his mama tweakin'
Jay-Z promised to never abandon his son, even if his son's mother is going through a tough period and behaving erratically.

Cause my dad left me and I promise never repeat him
Jay-Z's father abandoned him when he was young, causing him pain and emotional scarring. He promises to never make the same mistake of leaving his own son.

(Birds flyin' high, you know how I feel)
This line repeats the first line, referencing the joy that Jay-Z feels about his future as a father.