Pray
Jay-Z feat. Beyonce feat. Rob Dougan Lyrics

Delivery me from my enemies, oh God
God, please protect me from my enemies and keep me safe.

Defend me from those that rise up against me
Protect me from those who want to harm me or stand against me.

Deliver me from the work of inequity
Free me from the evil works and influence of wicked people.

And save me, from the Bloody men
Please save me from violent, ruthless and murderous men.

Look, mind state of a gangster from the 40's
I have the mentality of a gangster from the 1940s era.

Meet the business mind of Motown's Berry Gordy
My business sense is inspired by Motown's founder Berry Gordy.

Turn crack rock into a chain of 40/40's
I turned selling crack into owning a chain of 40/40 clubs.

Sorry my jewelry so gaudy
I apologize for my flashy and overly decorative jewelry.

Slid into the party with my new pair of Mauris
I made an entrance into the party while wearing my new Mauri shoes.

America, meet the gangsta Shawn Corey
I am Shawn Corey, also known as Jay-Z, a gangsta from America.

Hey young world, wanna hear a story?
Young ones, would you like me to tell you a story?

Close your eyes and you could pretend you're me
Imagine yourself in my shoes and live through my life.

A cut from the cloth of the Kennedy's
I come from a family that is influential and powerful like the Kennedys.

Frank Sinatra having dinner with the Genovese
I'm likening my status to Frank Sinatra who was dining with the Genovese family, who were known to have ties to organized crimes.

This is the genesis of a nemesis
This is the start of an enemy or rival.

Mother America's not witnessed since
America has not seen something like this before.

The Harlem Renaissance birthed black businesses
The Harlem Renaissance was responsible for the creation of many black-owned businesses.

This is the tale of lost innocence's, as the incense burn
This is a story of people who have lost their innocence, with incense burning symbolizing peace and tranquility.

And the turntables turn and that Al Greens plays
The music is playing and the DJ is mixing Al Green's songs.

I see my mother's afro, as mama taps her toes as she rolls her J's
I see my mother getting lost in the music while tapping her toes and rolling her marijuana joints.

And my papa just left the house, in search of the killer of my uncle Ray
My father just stepped out to find out who killed my uncle Ray.

And she's tryna calm my nerves, as I observe this is just one day
My mother is trying to console and reassure me that everything is okay and that today is just one day.

And what tomorrow has in store, we could never be sure, so all we can do is Pray
We cannot predict what tomorrow will bring, so all we can do is pray and hope for the best.

Because of Your strength
I rely on Your strength and power.

While I walked upon thee
As I continue to walk on this earth.

For God is my defense (pray for me)
I am in God's defense, so please pray for me.

As I head towards my homeroom, I observe the ruins, dope needles on the ground
As I'm heading towards my school, I can see the damage drugs have done and the junkies throwing away their needles.

I hear a car go, "Vrooom", drug dealer in the BM with the top down
I can hear a car speeding by, and I know it's a drug dealer, with a convertible BMW.

As the girls start to giggle, I ask, "Why you laugh?", they say, "You too little
The girls are laughing and I ask them what's funny, and they say that I'm too little or too young to understand the reality of the world.

One day you'll understand, when you become a man 'bout things you have to get you"
They tell me that someday when I grow up, I'll understand the things I need to do to get by in life.

Fast forward, freeze frame on my pistol
The scene moves forward and stops on a freeze-frame of me holding a gun.

Fist full of dollars, ignorance is so blissful
I have a lot of money but I'm ignorant to how I got it, and that's a blissful ignorance.

I didn't choose this life, this life chose me
I didn't plan on living this life, but it's what circumstances led me to.

Around here is the shit that you just do
In this environment, this is the lifestyle people just resort to following.

I just left school, the same BM is pulled over by the boys dressed blue
I just left school and I see the same BMW getting stopped by the police.

They had they guns drawn, screaming, "Just move"
The police are pointing their guns and ordering the driver to move.

"Or is there something else you suggest we can do"
"Do you have any other ideas or suggestions?" the police sarcastically ask.

He made his way to the trunk, opened it like, "Huh"
The driver opens the trunk and is surprised to see that it's filled with a treasure chest.

Cops said he'll be back next month
The police tell him they will be back to investigate him further.

What we call corrupt, he called paying dues
What we brand as corruption and illegal activity, the driver justifies it as simply paying his dues.

Now when the rules is blurred, as they is and were, what am I to do?
When the lines between right and wrong are blurred, what should I do and what is the right thing to do?

But pray, pray the Lord forgive me
My only option is to pray and ask the Lord for forgiveness.

Pray He guides me by what I'm 'bout go through
Pray that He can navigate me towards the right path through these struggles.

Geah, anywhere there's oppression, the drug profession
Wherever there is oppression, drugs and drug dealing are prevalent.

Flourishes like beverages, refreshing (ah)
It spreads easily like drinks and is often perceived to be satisfying like refreshments.

Sweet taste of sin, everything I've seen made me everything I am
The allure of living a life of sin has influenced me and has played a huge part in shaping who I am.

Bad drug dealer or I victim, I beg
Whether I'm a victim of drugs or a drug dealer myself, I plead for mercy and forgiveness.

What came first? Moving chickens or the egg?
I'm questioning which came first, drug dealing or the illegal means to finance it.

This is why I be so fresh,I'm tryna beat life 'cause I can't cheat death
I try to be fresh and maintain a good image because I cannot cheat death or spare myself from it if it comes.

Treat shame with shamelessness, aim stainless at anuses
I treat shame with shamelessness and retaliate by using guns to control people.

You know who's game this is
You know who's behind this activity and who has the upper hand.

Move coke like Pepsi it don't matter what the brand name is
I sell drugs like selling soft drinks, it doesn't matter what brand it is.

I stand behind mine, everything I do I'm a man behind mine
Whatever I do or say, I own up to it and stand by it.

I'm not a angel, I'm sure, but every night before I lay
I'm not perfect, but every night before I sleep,

I drop my knees to the floor and I pray
I kneel down and pray to the Lord.

The name shall endure forever
The name of the Lord will live forever.

The name shall be continued as long as the sun (pray for me)
The name of the Lord will continue to be praised and worshipped for as long as the sun keeps shining, please pray for me.

Men shall be blessed in Him
Those who believe in Him will be blessed.

All nations shall call Him blessed
All nations will recognize and call Him blessed.

In your name I pray (pray for me)
I pray in your name, God, please pray for me.

Lord bless us
God, please bless us.