DĂ©jĂ  Vu
Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé Knowles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bass
Uh
Hi hat
Uh
808
Uh
Jay (uh huh)
Ready? (Uh huh)
Let's go get 'em
Uh huh, come on

I used to run base like Juan Pierre
Now I run the bass, hi hat, and the snare
I used to bag girls like Birken bags
Now I bag B (Boy, you hurtin' that)
Brooklyn Bay where they birthed me at
Now I be everywhere, the nerve of rap
The audacity to have me whipping curtains back
Me and B, she about to sting
Stand back

Baby, seems like everywhere I go
I see you, from your eyes, your smile
It's like I breathe you, helplessly I reminisce
Don't want to compare nobody to you

Boy, I try to catch myself
But I'm out of control
Your sexiness is so appealing
I can't let it go, oh

You know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu

I'm seeing things that I know can't be
Am I dreaming? When I saw you walking past me
Almost called your name
Got a better glimpse and then I looked away
Feels like I'm losing it

Boy, I try to catch myself
But I'm out of control
Your sexiness is so appealing
I can't let it go, oh

Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you (ohh)
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu

Yes, Hova's flow so unusual
Baby girl, you should already know
It's H-O, light up the dro'
'Cause you gon' need help tryin' to study my bounce
Flow, blow, what's the difference?
One you take in vein while the other you sniffin'
It's still dough, po-po try to convict him
That's a no-go, my dough keep the scales tipping
Like four-fours, like I'm from the H-O-U-S-T-O-N
Blow, wind so Chicago of him
Is he the best ever? That's the argument
I don't make the list, don't be mad at me
I just make the hits like a factory
I'm just one-to-one, nothin' after me
No déjà vu, just me and my, oh

Baby, I can't go anywhere
Without thinking that you're there
Seems like you're everywhere, it's true
Gotta be having déjà vu
'Cause in my mind I want you here
Get on the next plane, I don't care
Is it because I'm missing you
That I'm having déjà vu?

Boy, I try to catch myself
But I'm out of control
Your sexiness is so appealing
I can't let it go (woo)

Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu

Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you
And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
Know that I can't get over you
'Cause everything I see is you




And I don't want no substitute
Baby, I swear it's déjà vu

Overall Meaning

The song Deja Vu by Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Knowles is about the strong connection between the two artists that is impossible for Jay-Z to shake off. The song opens with a typical hip-hop instrumentals of bass, hi-hat and 808. Jay-Z talks about his earlier days when he used to run the bases like Juan Pierre, but now he runs the bass, hi-hat, and snare. He also mentions his past of being with different girls, but now he wants only Beyoncé. He then talks about Brooklyn Bay where he was raised and his rise to fame in the rap world.


Beyoncé sings the chorus about how everywhere she goes, she sees Jay-Z. She reminisces about their past together and admits that she cannot get over him because everything she sees reminds her of him. The music then shifts to a more upbeat and vibrant tone as Jay-Z delivers his verse. He talks about his prowess in music and how his flow is different from others. He is aware of his impact on the rap industry and maintains that he is the best.


Line by Line Meaning

Bass
The song begins with the introduction of the bass sound.


Uh
Jay-Z expresses a sound of excitement to begin the song.


Hi hat
The hi hat sound is added to the music.


808
An 808 drum sound is introduced to the music.


Jay (uh huh)
Jay-Z acknowledges himself in the song and expresses agreement with the music.


Ready? (Uh huh)
Jay-Z confirms his readiness to start the song.


Let's go get 'em
Jay-Z encourages himself and his fans to give a good performance.


Uh huh, come on
Jay-Z continues to express excitement and encouragement for the song.


I used to run base like Juan Pierre
Jay-Z reminisces about his past, when he used to play baseball like Juan Pierre.


Now I run the bass, hi hat, and the snare
Jay-Z compares his past role in sports to his current role in music, where he controls the bass, hi hat, and snare sounds.


I used to bag girls like Birken bags
Jay-Z recalls his past when he had many girls as partners, similar to how he would collect Birken bags from Hermes.


Now I bag B (Boy, you hurtin' that)
Jay-Z is currently in a relationship with Beyoncé (B), and he acknowledges how lucky he is to have her in his life.


Brooklyn Bay where they birthed me at
Jay-Z reminisces about his birthplace, Brooklyn, and the bay that exists near it.


Now I be everywhere, the nerve of rap
Jay-Z has achieved great success in music and has become a well-known figure in the industry, which surprises even himself.


The audacity to have me whipping curtains back
Jay-Z expresses how successful he has become and how he can now afford luxury items such as curtains that he can whisk back at will.


Me and B, she about to sting
Jay-Z is referring to Beyoncé, and how 'B' is about to join him in the song to create something wonderful.


Stand back
Jay-Z warns his listeners to stand back and enjoy the music, as they are about to witness something amazing.


Baby, seems like everywhere I go
The song now turns into a duet, with Beyoncé singing about how Jay-Z is always on her mind wherever she goes.


I see you, from your eyes, your smile
Beyoncé is describing how she still thinks about Jay-Z and how much his eyes and smile mean to her.


It's like I breathe you, helplessly I reminisce
Beyoncé expresses how she feels like Jay-Z is a part of her, and how she can't help but think about their past memories together.


Don't want to compare nobody to you
Beyoncé acknowledges how no one can replace the love and connection she shared with Jay-Z, and she doesn't want to compare anyone to him.


Boy, I try to catch myself
Beyoncé is struggling to control her emotions and feelings towards Jay-Z, as she still has strong feelings for him.


But I'm out of control
Beyoncé's emotions have taken over her, and she can't control how she feels about Jay-Z.


Your sexiness is so appealing
Beyoncé is attracted to Jay-Z and finds him sexy.


I can't let it go, oh
Beyoncé is struggling to move on from Jay-Z and can't let go of her feelings for him.


You know that I can't get over you
Beyoncé is admitting that she still has feelings for Jay-Z, and finds it difficult to move on from these feelings.


'Cause everything I see is you
No matter where Beyoncé goes, everything reminds her of Jay-Z and her memories with him.


And I don't want no substitute
Beyoncé doesn't want anyone else to fill the void in her heart that only Jay-Z can fulfill.


Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
Beyoncé acknowledges that her feelings towards Jay-Z are so strong that it feels like she's living through the exact same emotions and experiences that they once shared together.


Know that I can't get over you
Beyoncé is reinforcing that she finds it hard to move on from her feelings for Jay-Z.


I'm seeing things that I know can't be
Beyoncé is struggling to understand why she is still seeing things that remind her of Jay-Z, even though they are no longer together.


Am I dreaming? When I saw you walking past me
Beyoncé is questioning whether she is dreaming or not, as she can't believe that Jay-Z is actually walking past her.


Almost called your name
Beyoncé almost called out to Jay-Z when she saw him walking past, but didn't because she didn't want to make a scene.


Got a better glimpse and then I looked away
Beyoncé took a closer look at Jay-Z when she saw him, but then looked away because she was afraid of revealing her true feelings towards him.


Feels like I'm losing it
Beyoncé is struggling to contain her emotions and feels like she is losing control of them.


'Cause everything I see is you (ohh)
Beyoncé reiterates how much she thinks of Jay-Z, as everything around her reminds her of him.


Yes, Hova's flow so unusual
Jay-Z is now rapping again, and he is acknowledging how unique and different his style is compared to other rappers.


Baby girl, you should already know
Jay-Z is speaking directly to Beyoncé, telling her that she should already know how talented he is.


It's H-O, light up the dro'
Jay-Z introduces himself as 'H-O' and encourages his listeners to light up the marijuana.


'Cause you gon' need help tryin' to study my bounce
Jay-Z is saying that his music is so unique and complex that it takes a lot of effort and practice to understand and replicate his style.


Flow, blow, what's the difference?
Jay-Z is asking what the difference is between his rap flow and the wind blowing in the microphone.


One you take in vein while the other you sniffin'
Jay-Z contrasts his rap flow to drugs, where one is taken through the vein and the other is sniffed through the nose.


It's still dough, po-po try to convict him
Jay-Z isn't concerned with the police trying to convict him of any crimes because he is still making money.


That's a no-go, my dough keep the scales tipping
Jay-Z is saying that there is no chance of him getting caught by the police because he is making too much money and keeps the balance always in his favor.


Like four-fours, like I'm from the H-O-U-S-T-O-N
Jay-Z is talking about his guns, which fire four bullets at a time, and he's comparing himself to a rapper, Chamillionaire, who came from Houston.


Blow, wind so Chicago of him
Jay-Z is referencing the city of Chicago and the way the wind there can be so strong, saying that he is just as powerful and forceful in his music.


Is he the best ever? That's the argument
Jay-Z acknowledges that there is always an argument about who the best rapper of all time is.


I don't make the list, don't be mad at me
Jay-Z is saying that he doesn't create the list of the best rappers and people shouldn't be mad at him for not being number one.


I just make the hits like a factory
Jay-Z is saying that even though he isn't always considered the best rapper, he still creates many hit songs like a factory mass produces goods.


I'm just one-to-one, nothin' after me
Jay-Z is saying that he is unique and there won't be another rapper like him after he stops making music.


No déjà vu, just me and my, oh
Jay-Z is saying that he doesn't need to experience déjà vu because he is content with himself and his life alone.


Baby, I can't go anywhere
Beyoncé is still talking to Jay-Z and acknowledges that she is struggling to go anywhere without thinking about him.


Without thinking that you're there
Beyoncé is saying that Jay-Z is always on her mind no matter where she goes.


Seems like you're everywhere, it's true
Beyoncé is acknowledging that Jay-Z feels like he is always with her and that she can't escape her feelings towards him.


Gotta be having déjà vu
Beyoncé is experiencing déjà vu because her feelings towards Jay-Z are so strong, it feels like she is always living in the past with him.


'Cause in my mind I want you here
Beyoncé is expressing her desire to have Jay-Z back in her life because she can't stop thinking about him.


Get on the next plane, I don't care
Beyoncé doesn't care about anything else except for having Jay-Z back in her life, and she wants him to get on the next plane to be with her.


Is it because I'm missing you
Beyoncé is questioning why she is feeling so strongly towards Jay-Z, and if it's because she is missing him.


That I'm having déjà vu?
Beyoncé is asking if her strong emotions towards Jay-Z is causing her to experience déjà vu.


I can't let it go (woo)
Beyoncé is still struggling to let go of her feelings towards Jay-Z and can't move on from him.




Lyrics © CALHOUN ENTERPRISES, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Shawn Carter, Rodney Roy Jerkins, Beyonce Knowles, Keli Price, Makeba Riddick, Delisha Thomas, John Webb

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@noway8224

The stylist for this video did the damn thing

@karenlizbethpelayo4378

😊

@noraandermane6931

Literally that's what I was thinking. The styling is so timeless and fresh.

@kenwilliams3494

DefinitelyđŸ˜©

@dinasilva9263

Oh true i LOVE it so much...😍

@HA-tx6rx

No Way her mother designed most of her outfits during this era since it was all house of derrion designer clothing (her and her mom’s clothing line)

31 More Replies...

@bktee8182

And Jay-z had the nerve to cheat on her like he the cute one . I just can’t đŸ€Ł

@KamalIsaiahMorales

I just screamed 😂😂😭😭

@squigglypuff6558

Like he the cute one LMFAAOOOOO

@sachamoses9233

đŸ€ŁđŸ€ŁđŸ€ŁđŸ€ŁđŸ€Ł

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