Pray
Jay-Z vs. Boogie Down Productions Lyrics

Delivery me from my enemies, oh God
Asking for protection and help from God to be delivered from enemies

Defend me from those that rise up against me
Asking for defense from those who are against

Deliver me from the work of inequity
Asking to be saved from doing wrong or evil things

And save me, from the Bloody men
Asking to be saved from violent and brutal men

Look, mind state of a gangster from the 40's
Describing the mindset of a gangster from 1940s era

Meet the business mind of Motown's Berry Gordy
Introducing the business mind of Berry Gordy who founded the Motown record label

Turn crack rock into a chain of 40/40's
Describing how he turned the drug crack into a chain of sports bars called 40/40 Club

Sorry my jewelry so gaudy
Apologizing for his flashy and showy jewelry

Slid into the party with my new pair of Mauris
Arriving at the party wearing his new pair of Mauri shoes

America, meet the gangsta Shawn Corey
Introducing himself as a gangster and his real name, Shawn Corey Carter

Hey young world, wanna hear a story?
Addressing his audience and asking if they want to hear his story

Close your eyes and you could pretend you're me
Encouraging the listeners to imagine themselves in his shoes

A cut from the cloth of the Kennedy's
Comparing himself to the Kennedy family, implying that he is from a powerful and influential background

Frank Sinatra having dinner with the Genovese
Reference to the famous singer Frank Sinatra having dinner with the Genovese crime family

This is the genesis of a nemesis
This marks the beginning of his enemy

Mother America's not witnessed since
Implying that America hasn't seen such an enemy in a long time

The Harlem Renaissance birthed black businesses
Referring to the period of creativity and growth in Harlem that led to the creation of many black businesses

This is the tale of lost innocence's, as the incense burns
Introducing the story as one of lost innocence while incense is burning in the background

And the turntables turn and that Al Greens plays
Describing the music in the background (Al Green's music)

I see my mother's afro, as mama taps her toes as she rolls her J's
Painting a picture of his mother's appearance and actions

And my papa just left the house, in search of the killer of my uncle Ray
Describing how his father went out looking for the person who killed his uncle Ray

And she's tryna calm my nerves, as I observe this is just one day
Depicting his mother's attempt to calm him down while he observes the events of the day

And what tomorrow has in store, we could never be sure, so all we can do is Pray
Realizing that they cannot predict what will happen tomorrow and so they pray

Because of Your strength
Referring to God's strength

While I walked upon thee
While he is walking upon the earth

For God is my defense (pray for me)
Asking for God's protection and defense

As I head towards my homeroom, I observe the ruins, dope needles on the ground
Describing the scene he sees as he walks to school (drug paraphernalia on the ground)

I hear a car go, "Vrooom", drug dealer in the BM with the top down
Hearing a drug dealer speed by in a fancy car with the top down

As the girls start to giggle, I ask, "Why you laugh?", they say, "You too little
Girls laugh at him because he is too young to understand the drug culture

One day you'll understand, when you become a man 'bout things you have to get you
Girls tell him he will understand when he is older about things he has to do to survive

Fast forward, freeze frame on my pistol
Moving ahead in time (fast forward) and showing a freeze frame of him holding a gun

Fist full of dollars, ignorance is so blissful
Having a lot of money in his hand and ignoring the consequences of his actions

I didn't choose this life, this life chose me
Stating that he didn't choose a life of crime, but it chose him

Around here is the shit that you just do
Referring to the idea that crime is normal in his neighborhood

I just left school, the same BM is pulled over by the boys dressed blue
Describing a scenario where he just left school and the same car he saw earlier is now being pulled over by the police

They had they guns drawn, screaming, "Just move"
Police officers have their guns out and are telling the driver to move

"Or is there something else you suggest we can do"
The police officer is suggesting that there might be another way to resolve the situation

He made his way to the trunk, opened it like, "Huh"
The driver opens his trunk and acts as if he does not know what is in it

A treasure chest was removed
A stash of drugs is discovered in the trunk

Cops said he'll be back next month
The driver is arrested but will be back on the streets next month

What we call corrupt, he called paying dues
The driver sees his behavior as just paying his dues, something normal, instead of being corrupt

Now when the rules is blurred, as they is and were, what am I to do?
In a situation where right and wrong are not clear, what should he do?

But pray, pray the Lord forgive me
The only thing he can do in this ambiguous situation is pray to God for forgiveness

Pray He guides me by what I'm 'bout go through
Asking for God's guidance in the difficult situation he is about to face

Geah, anywhere there's oppression, the drug profession
Wherever there is oppression, drug dealers flourish

Flourishes like beverages, refreshing (ah)
Drug dealing is as common and easy as selling a refreshing drink

Sweet taste of sin, everything I've seen made me everything I am
The allure of sin is sweet and everything he has experienced has shaped him into the person he is today

Bad drug dealer or I victim, I beg
He is either a bad drug dealer or a victim who begs for mercy

What came first? Moving chickens or the egg?
Which came first, selling drugs or the consequences of drug sales?

This is why I be so fresh,I'm tryna beat life 'cause I can't cheat death
He tries to look good because he knows he cannot cheat death

Treat shame with shamelessness, aim stainless at anuses
He uses shamelessness to deal with shame and uses a gun to intimidate his enemies

You know who's game this is
Implying that whoever is involved knows the game they are playing

Move coke like Pepsi it don't matter what the brand name is
Describing the ease and casualness with which he sells drugs

I stand behind mine, everything I do I'm a man behind mine
He takes responsibility for his actions and stands behind them like a man

I'm not a angel, I'm sure, but every night before I lay
Admitting that he is not perfect, but still he prays every night

I drop my knees to the floor and I pray
Describing his act of prayer

The name shall endure forever
Referring to the name of God

The name shall be continued as long as the sun (pray for me)
Asking for God's continued presence and help

Men shall be blessed in Him
Saying that people will be blessed by God

All nations shall call Him blessed
Saying that all nations will see God's blessings

In your name I pray
Ending the song with another reference to prayer

Lord bless us
Asking for God's blessing