Hollywood
Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé Lyrics
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Welcome to Hollywood, baby
Take my picture
You comin' with?
Let's not even talk about it
Let's do it
Let's go
You're watching (it's all good)
It's kinda sexy to me (I love it)
How you're watching, you're watching
I see your face (I see your face)
You want to touch it (you want to touch it)
Come to my place (come to the crib)
And let's discuss it (let's chop it up)
Tonight you'll be (tonight you goin' be a superstar, baby)
A superstar
Come, let me sign you up (let's get into it)
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
Action! (You need that)
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
Satisfaction (you need that)
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh, c'mon)
Paparazzi spots me in the lobby of my high rise
I hide behind my shades because the fame is blindin' my eyes
My god, I know how Ozzy Oz must have felt when he was Oz hot
As I have got, I have got to make this stop
People often warn me that the fame ain't for the faint of heart
It'll change those who said they had love for you into strangers
When your fame starts, it's a chain reaction
Locomotion like when a train departs
Stranger things have happened
Rappin', stackin' platinum plaquin'
Born in Brooklyn, got a place in Manhattan
Goin' back to Brooklyn to escape the madness
When your friends is Chris and Gwyneth
When your girl is more famous than Juventus
Then it's time to get all your windows tinted
Keep your eyes squinted, it's goin' flash any minute
The music biz is like musical chairs
It's about where you standin' when the music stop spinnin'
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
Action! (you need that)
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
Satisfaction (you need that)
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh, c'mon)
You got to get it
Do you want it?
But you don't need it
Till you do, till you do
Hey mister, page sixer
A-lister, you're in the midst of
The ride of your life, but you gotta keep them hits up
Can't put your guard down, gotta keep your mitts up
Take a sip, sir, it's so intoxicating ain't it?
Try not to get jaded
Hollywood's been good to ya
Startin' to feel like buzz to ya
Don't lie, go on fly, you're addicted to the light
Without the fame, how you gon' survive?
It's like livin' on heroin, you so high
And everybody's warning you about it (I tried to tell you)
And once you taste it you can't live without it (it's addicting)
Not 'cause you choose to not live without it (you sure you want this, baby?)
It's now a part of you, it's now a part of you (it's a part of you)
And everybody's warning you about it
And once you taste it you can't leave
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
Action (you need that)
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
Satisfaction (you need that)
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh, c'mon)
Wanna be seen now, groupies
Now you've become what you once despised
James Dean, John Belushi, blow your whole life trying to live in the lights
Heroin's following, Marilyn hopping over the edge
It's like Janis Joplin
River Pheonix, Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Morrison, all of them ended by Hollywood
Thank God for Hollywood
Hollywood
You sure you want this, baby?
Hollywood, it's the most addictive drug in the world
You want the fame
You want the lights
The song "Hollywood" by Jay-Z featuring Beyoncé is about the pitfalls of fame and the seductive nature of Hollywood. The song highlights the thrill and excitement that comes with being a celebrity while also touching on the darker aspects of the entertainment industry. Jay-Z starts his verse by warning that fame "ain't for everybody" and then invites the listener to come along on the ride. He acknowledges the jealousy that others may feel towards fame and admits that it is "kinda sexy" to him. However, he also acknowledges that fame can cause people to change and that it has a way of turning friends into strangers. He notes that the music industry is fickle and that the game is like "musical chairs" -- it's important to be in the right place at the right time.
Beyoncé's chorus drives home the point that the lights of Hollywood can be blinding and that the need for fame is addictive. She compares the addiction to heroin and warns that once you taste fame, you can't live without it. The ending of the song features a list of famous actors and musicians who ended up meeting tragic ends, suggesting that the pursuit of fame can be dangerous.
Overall, "Hollywood" is a commentary on the allure of fame and the potential dangers that come with it. The song invites the listener to come along on the ride but also warns them of the possible consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't for everybody
Being a celebrity isn’t for everyone
Welcome to Hollywood, baby
Welcome to the entertainment industry
Take my picture
Let’s take a photo together
You comin' with?
Will you join me on this journey?
Let's not even talk about it
Let's not hesitate or overthink, let's just go for it
Let's do it
Let's get started on this journey
I see your jealousy as you're watching (I see you watching)
I notice that you’re envious as you watch me
You're watching (it's all good)
It’s okay for you to stare
It's kinda sexy to me (I love it)
I find your attention attractive
How you're watching, you're watching
I notice how intently you’re staring
I see your face (I see your face)
I see the expression on your face
You want to touch it (you want to touch it)
You desire to be in my position
Come to my place (come to the crib)
Come to my home
And let's discuss it (let's chop it up)
Let's have a conversation about it
Tonight you'll be (tonight you goin' be a superstar, baby)
Tonight, you will become a celebrity
A superstar
An entertainment icon
Come, let me sign you up (let's get into it)
Let me introduce you to the industry
Oh, it's the lights (you're blinded by the)
The bright lights of fame are overwhelming you
Action! (You need that)
Engaging in exciting activities is necessary for you
Hollywood (uh, uh, uh, uh)
Being in the entertainment industry
Paparazzi spots me in the lobby of my high rise
Photographers notice me as I enter my luxury building
I hide behind my shades because the fame is blindin' my eyes
I wear sunglasses to avoid being overwhelmed by the bright lights of fame
My god, I know how Ozzy Oz must have felt when he was Oz hot
I understand how Ozzy Osbourne felt when he was highly popular
As I have got, I have got to make this stop
As my success grows, I must learn to balance my life
People often warn me that the fame ain't for the faint of heart
Others frequently tell me that celebrity life is challenging
It'll change those who said they had love for you into strangers
Some of your admirers will distance themselves from you
When your fame starts, it's a chain reaction
Once you become famous, momentum builds
Locomotion like when a train departs
It’s like the movement of a departing train
Stranger things have happened
Unusual occurrences are not uncommon
Rappin', stackin' platinum plaquin'
Earning money and awards as a rapper
Born in Brooklyn, got a place in Manhattan
Raised in Brooklyn but now living in Manhattan
Goin' back to Brooklyn to escape the madness
Returning home to Brooklyn to escape the pressures of fame
When your friends is Chris and Gwyneth
When your friends are well-known celebrities like Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
When your girl is more famous than Juventus
When your romantic partner is more renowned than a popular Italian soccer team
Then it's time to get all your windows tinted
You need to block paparazzi from constantly photographing you
Keep your eyes squinted, it's goin' flash any minute
Be prepared for cameras to flash at any moment
The music biz is like musical chairs
The entertainment industry is like a game of musical chairs
It's about where you standin' when the music stop spinnin'
Your success depends on where you are in your career when momentum slows
You got to get it
You must achieve success
Do you want it?
Do you desire fame?
But you don't need it
But fame is not necessary
Till you do, till you do
Until the moment when you do need it
Hey mister, page sixer
A reference to journalists who write for the New York Post's Page Six gossip column
A-lister, you're in the midst of
You’re a highly prominent celebrity in the middle of the entertainment industry
The ride of your life, but you gotta keep them hits up
This is the best experience of your life, but you need to maintain your success
Can't put your guard down, gotta keep your mitts up
Don’t let your guard down and remain alert
Take a sip, sir, it's so intoxicating ain't it?
Enjoy the experience, it’s incredibly exciting
Try not to get jaded
Try not to become disillusioned
Hollywood's been good to ya
The entertainment industry has been beneficial for you
Starting to feel like buzz to ya
It’s becoming like a drug addiction to you
Don't lie, go on fly, you're addicted to the light
Don’t pretend, embrace your love of fame and the spotlight
Without the fame, how you gon' survive?
Being famous is crucial – how will you survive otherwise?
It's like livin' on heroin, you so high
It's like being on heroin - you’re on a constant high
And everybody's warning you about it (I tried to tell you)
People caution you about the negativity of fame
And once you taste it you can't live without it (it's addicting)
Once you experience fame, you won’t want to give it up
Not 'cause you choose to not live without it (you sure you want this, baby?)
Not because you don’t want to give it up, but because it’s now a part of you
It's now a part of you, it's now a part of you (it's a part of you)
Fame has become an inseparable aspect of your life
And everybody's warning you about it
Others continue to issue warnings to you about fame
And once you taste it you can't leave
After tasting fame, you can’t leave it behind
Wanna be seen now, groupies
You now desire to be seen by others and attract fans
Now you've become what you once despised
You have become what you previously disliked
James Dean, John Belushi, blow your whole life trying to live in the lights
You risk losing everything by living for fame, as James Dean and John Belushi did
Heroin's following, Marilyn hopping over the edge
You are following the path of addiction, just like Marilyn Monroe did
It's like Janis Joplin, River Phoenix, Jimi Hendrix
Fame has also destroyed the lives of Janis Joplin, River Phoenix, and Jimi Hendrix
All of them ended by Hollywood
All of them were destroyed by the entertainment industry
Thank God for Hollywood
A sardonic phrase that implies the entertainment industry’s flaws
Hollywood
The entertainment industry
You sure you want this, baby?
Are you certain that you want this lifestyle?
Hollywood, it's the most addictive drug in the world
The entertainment industry is the world's most addictive drug
You want the fame
You desire to be famous
You want the lights
You desire the bright lights of fame
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Shawn Carter, Reginald Perry, Schaffer Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind