Numb/Encore
Jay-Z and Linkin Park Lyrics

Yeah
Acknowledging the audience's presence

Thank you, thank you, thank you
Gratitude towards the audience

You're far too kind
Complimentary towards the audience

Ready? Let's go
Inviting the audience to join in the performance

Can I get an encore, do you want more?
Asking the audience if they want to hear more

Cookin' raw with the Brooklyn boy
Collaborating with Linkin Park to create a unique sound

So for one last time I need y'all to roar (yeah)
Asking the audience to show their enthusiasm one last time

Now what the hell are you waiting for?
Urging the audience to show their excitement

After me, there shall be no more
Hinting towards retirement from the music industry

So for one last time, nigga, make some noise
Encouraging the audience to cheer loudly

Who you know fresher than Hov? Riddle me that
Proudly proclaiming superiority in the music industry

The rest of y'all know where I'm lyrically at
Confident in own abilities as a lyricist

Can't none of y'all mirror me back
No one can match Jay-Z's style

Yeah hearing me rap is like hearing G. Rap in his prime
Harkening back to the golden era of rap music

I'm young H.O., rap's Grateful Dead
Drawing parallels to the iconic rock band and Jay-Z's own legacy

Back to take over the globe, now break bread
Asserting dominance in the music industry

I'm in Boeing jets, Global Express
Boasting of wealth and success

Out the country but the Blueberry still connect
Even while abroad, maintaining connections and communication

On the low but the yacht got a triple deck
Whispering of luxurious possessions

But when you young, what the fuck you expect? Yep, yep
Justifying the extravagant lifestyle due to youth and success

Grand opening, grand closing
A poetic way of saying that Jay-Z's career has reached its peak and is coming to an end

God damn, your man Hov cracked the can open again
Jay-Z is still able to create groundbreaking music despite his career nearing its end

Who you goin' find doper than him with no pen
Asking whether anyone can create such brilliant music without writing it down

Just draw off inspiration
Encouraging others to create art from within and not rely on external sources or gimmicks

Soon you goin' see you can't replace him
Asserting that nobody can fill the void left by Jay-Z's retirement

With cheap imitations for these generations
Noting the lack of originality in today's music industry

Look what you made me do, look what I made for you
A reference to the give-and-take nature of the music industry

Knew if I paid my dues, how will they pay you?
Reflecting on the struggle artists face in reconciling their artistic vision with the demands of the industry

When you first come in the game, they try to play you
Highlighting the challenges of newcomers in the music industry

Then you drop a couple of hits, look how they wave to you
Once an artist achieves success, fans are quick to praise them

From Marcy to Madison Square
A nod to Jay-Z's humble beginnings and rise to fame

To the only thing that matters in just a matter of years (yeah)
Reflecting on the speed at which Jay-Z became the biggest name in the music industry

As fate would have it, Jay's status appears
Acknowledging Jay-Z's near-legendary status in the music industry

To be at a all-time high, perfect time to say goodbye
Jay-Z chooses to retire while he is on top

When I come back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5
Referencing Michael Jordan's return to basketball after his first retirement

It ain't to play games with you
Jay-Z is serious about his music and not to be taken lightly

It's to aim at you, probably maim you
Jay-Z will do whatever it takes to win in the music industry

If I owe you I'm blowing you to smithereens
Anyone who is owed by Jay-Z and tries to stop his career will be destroyed

Cocksucker take one for your team
Defenders of the status quo will be taken down

And I need you to remember one thing
Jay-Z is imparting some wisdom on his listeners

I came, I saw, I conquered
Reflecting on his achievements in the music industry

From record sales, to sold out concerts
Listing some of Jay-Z's accomplishments

So motherfucker if you want this encore
Jay-Z is ready to perform once again, but only if the audience is worthy

I need you to scream 'til your lungs get sore
Encouraging the audience to display their excitement for his music

I'm tired of being what you want me to be
Feeling constrained by others' expectations and image

Feeling so faithless
Having lost faith in oneself

Lost under the surface
Struggling to find one's own identity and voice

I don't know what you're expecting of me
Unclear on what others expect of the artist

Put under the pressure
Feeling burdened by expectations and demands

Of walking in your shoes
Trying to live up to others' standards and image

(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Feeling as if one is being pulled down by external pressures

Every step that I take is another mistake to you
Feeling judged and scrutinized for every move made

(Caught in the undertow, just caught in the undertow)
Continuing to feel as if one is drowning in external expectations

And every second I waste is more than I can take
Feeling as if time is running out and every moment spent not being true to oneself is painful

I've become so numb
The weight of external expectations and demands has caused the artist to lose touch with their true self

I can't feel you there
The artist no longer feels connected to their audience or sense of purpose

Become so tired
Exhausted from trying to keep up with others' demands

So much more aware
Now recognizing the need to be true to oneself

I'm becoming this
The artist is undergoing a personal transformation

All I want to do
The artist desires to be real and honest in their art

Is be more like me
Only by being true to oneself can the artist find a sense of fulfillment in their music career

And be less like you
Rejecting external expectations and the image that others have tried to impose on the artist

(More, more, more)
The audience is eager for more music from this artist

So for one last time I need y'all to roar (one last time I need y'all to roar)
Instructing the audience to show their appreciation and excitement for one last time