No Church in the Wild
Jay-Z; Kanye West Lyrics

Human beings in a mob
When people come together and act as one, they can be a powerful force.

What's a mob to a king?
A king holds more power than a mob, as he has a higher social status and can command armies.

What's a king to a god?
Even a king is below a god - an immortal being with supernatural powers.

What's a god to a non-believer?
To someone who doesn't believe in gods, a god is nothing but a fictional character.

Who don't believe in anything?
Some people refuse to believe in anything, whether it's religion, society, or the human race itself.

We make it out alive, All right, all right
In stressful situations, we can survive and come out on top. Everything is going to be okay.

No church in the wild
We don't need organized religion or traditional values to guide us. We can make our own way in the world.

Tears on the mausoleum floor
A person has died and there are mourners present, or there has been some kind of tragedy in a place of remembrance.

Blood stains the Coliseum doors
The Coliseum doors are a symbol of ancient Rome and its violent past. Blood stains suggest that the past refuses to stay buried.

Lies on the lips of a priest
Even religious leaders are not always truthful, and some may use their positions of power to manipulate their followers.

Thanksgiving disguised as a feast
In some instances, people use elaborate meals as an attempt to hide or make up for their wrongdoings.

Rollin' in the Rolls-Royce Corniche
The Rolls-Royce car is a symbol of wealth and luxury.

Only the doctors got this, I'm hidin' from police
The singer has something to hide and is taking extreme measures to do so.

Cocaine seats
The car seats are made of white leather and resemble cocaine, which is a drug associated with wealth and power.

All white like I got the whole thing bleached
The singer's clothes are pristine and white, as if they had been bleached, suggesting purity and cleanliness.

Drug dealer chic
The artist is dressed fashionably and expensively but is involved in illegal activities involving drugs.

I'm wonderin' if a thug's prayers reach
The artist is questioning whether even those who lead an immoral life can be reached or helped by a higher power.

Is Pious pious 'cause God loves pious?
The singer is questioning whether someone who is considered devout or religious is truly that way because of their love for God.

Socrates asks, 'whose bias do y'all seek?'
The philosopher Socrates is asking whose opinion is being sought and what their motivations or prejudices might be.

All for Plato, screech
The artist is referencing the saying 'All for one and one for all,' altering it to fit his own situation while making a screeching noise (like car brakes) to emphasize the importance of his message.

I'm out chere' ballin', I know y'all hear my sneaks
The artist is out partying and having fun, and he knows that people can hear him because his shoes are making noise on the ground.

Jesus was a carpenter, Yeezy, laid beats
The artist is comparing himself to Jesus, saying that he is like a carpenter (creating something from nothing) and Kanye West is like a beat maker (creating something new from existing material).

Hova flow the Holy Ghost, get the hell up out your seats, preach
Jay-Z's rap flow is as powerful as the Holy Ghost, and he is urging people to stand up and listen to his message.

I live by you, desire
The artist is beholden to the person he's addressing, and he desires their affection and attention.

I stand by you, walk through the fire
The singer is indicating that he is committed to the person he cares for and will be with them even during difficult times.

Your love, is my scripture
The person's love is the most important thing to the singer, and they use it as their guide in life.

Let me into your encryption, yeah yeah
The singer is asking the person to let him into their innermost thoughts and feelings so he can better understand and connect with them.

Coke on her black skin made a stripe like a zebra
The artist is describing a woman with a stripe of cocaine on her skin that has the same appearance as the stripes on a zebra.

I call that jungle fever
The artist is referring to the widely held, but outdated, stereotype that black people are exotic and attractive to white people.

You will not control the threesome
The singer is asserting himself in a sexual encounter, stating that he will not let anyone else control the situation.

Just roll the weed up until I get me some
The singer is asking for something (weed) to be prepared for him while waiting for something else (sex) to happen.

We formed a new religion
The artist is proclaiming a new way of life, either literally or metaphorically.

No sins as long as there's permission'
As long as everyone involved has agreed to a certain action, it cannot be considered immoral or sinful.

And deception is the only felony
Lies and deception are the only true crimes in the artist's eyes.

So never fuck nobody without tellin' me
The singer is making sure his partner knows that he wants to be informed of any other people they may have sex with in the future.

Sunglasses and Advil
The artist uses sunglasses and painkillers to hide the after-effects of a wild night of partying.

Last night was mad real
The singer is expressing how much fun he had the previous night.

Sun comin' up 5 a.m.
It is very late at night or very early in the morning.

I wonder if they got cabs still
The singer is wondering if there are still taxis available to take him home.

Thinkin' 'bout the girl in all-leopard
The artist is reminiscing about a girl he saw at the party who was wearing all leopard-print clothing.

Who was rubbin' the wood like Kiki Shepard
The girl was rubbing a man's (the artist's?) genitals in a way that reminded the artist of Kiki Shepard, a TV personality known for being flirtatious.

Two tattoos, one read 'no apologies', The other said 'love is cursed by monogamy'
The singer is describing tattoos he has seen on a woman's body. They convey the messages that she does not apologize for who she is, and that love is often limited or cursed by the idea of monogamy.

That's somethin' that the pastor don't preach
Messages about love and individuality are not typically taught by religious leaders or in traditional church settings.

That's somethin' that a teacher can't teach
These kinds of lessons can only be learned through real-life experience, not in a classroom setting.

When we die, the money we can't keep
When we die, we cannot bring our wealth or material possessions with us.

But we prolly spend it all 'cause the pain ain't cheap, preach
Despite knowing that material possessions are not the answer to happiness, people often chase after them anyway because they believe it will make their suffering more bearable.