Lift Off
Jay Z/Kanye West Lyrics


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(All engines running)

We gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
How many people you know can take it this far?
I'm supercharged
We 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars (lift off)

Now we gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
You don't know what we been through to make it this far
So many scars
We 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars

(Lift off) lift off, takin' my coat off
Showin' my tattoos, I'm such a showoff, huh
I feel the pain and then rolled off
I got the whole city they about to go off
How many niggas with' me up and in this aisle?
How many people wanna roll with me now?
Like you know na na na, you know me by now
Know me, know me by now

We gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
How many people you know can take it this far?
I'm supercharged
We 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars

Now we gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
You don't know what we been through to make it this far
So many scars
We 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars (lift off, ah, ah)

Like you know na na na, you know me by now
Know me, know me by now
You know, know me by now
Know me, know me by now

Lift off, rappers hear watch the throne
They gon' be pissed off
Earth is boring to 'em
Shit is making my dick soft
When you Earnhart as me eventually you hit a big wall
Five, four, three, two we need fuel, lift off

Now we gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
How many people you know can take it this far?
I'm supercharged
I'm 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars

Now we gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
You don't know what we been through to make it this far
So many scars
'Bout to take this whole thing to Mars

(Twenty seconds and counting)
(T-minus fifteen seconds, guidance is internal)
(Twelve, eleven, ten, nine)
(Ignition sequence start)
(Six, five, four, three, two, one)
(Zero, all engine running)
(Lift off, we have a liftoff)

Now we gon', now we gon', now we gon', now we gon' (J-jump)
Now we gon' take it to the moon
Now we gon', now we gon' (J-j-jump)
We gon' take it to the moon
Take it to the stars (J-j-jump)
We gon' take it to the moon
Take it to the stars
How many people you know can take it this far?
Take it to the stars




How many people you know can take it this far?
Now we gon', now we gon', now we gon', now we gon', now

Overall Meaning

The song "Lift Off" is a collaboration between Jay Z and Kanye West. The opening lines of the song suggest a sense of ambition and drive to go beyond what is expected or ordinary. The lyrics mention taking things to the moon and even to Mars, which suggests an interest in exploring new territories and pushing boundaries.


The chorus repeats the idea of taking things to the moon and stars with references to the struggles and scars experienced along the way. The lyrics suggest a sense of pride and accomplishment in making it as far as they have, with a nod to the fact that not many people can say they have achieved what they have.


The latter half of the song features a rap verse from Kanye West, which asserts the duo's dominance in the rap game and references their collaboration on the highly successful album "Watch the Throne". The verse also includes a reference to legendary race car driver Dale Earnhardt, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for pushing oneself to the limit and not being deterred by obstacles or setbacks.


Overall, the lyrics of "Lift Off" are bold and brash, speaking to a sense of adventure and drive to explore new worlds, both literally and figuratively.


Line by Line Meaning

(All engines running)
The starting phase of a rocket or project has been successful


We gon' take it to the moon, take it to the stars
We aim to succeed beyond anyone's expectations


How many people you know can take it this far?
We want to challenge the norm and do something great in a way nobody has before


I'm supercharged
We're fully committed and ready to go all in


We 'bout to take this whole thing to Mars (lift off)
Our goal is not only to succeed here, but to take it to the next level, even to another planet


You don't know what we been through to make it to this far
We've had our fair share of struggles and obstacles along the way, but we've overcome them all


So many scars
Those obstacles have left their mark on us, but we're still standing and ready for more


(Lift off) lift off, takin' my coat off
The excitement is building, and we're shedding any doubt, hesitation, or self-consciousness, ready for action


Showin' my tattoos, I'm such a showoff, huh
I'm proud of who I am, what I've accomplished, and what I stand for, and I'm eager to share that with the world


I feel the pain and then rolled off
I acknowledge the hardships and challenges I've faced, but I don't let them stop me or define me


I got the whole city they about to go off
Our energy and enthusiasm are contagious and inspiring, and others are picking up on that and following our lead


Like you know na na na, you know me by now
Our reputation precedes us, and people know who we are, what we're about, and what we're capable of


Lift off, rappers hear watch the throne
We're at the top of our game and competitors are taking notice and trying to keep up


They gon' be pissed off, Earth is boring to 'em
Others may be struggling to find excitement or meaning in what they do, but we're not settling for mediocrity


Shit is making my dick soft
We're not letting anything or anyone diminish our motivation or determination


When you Earnhart as me eventually you hit a big wall
Even the most successful and experienced individuals will encounter unexpected setbacks and challenges


Five, four, three, two we need fuel, lift off
The countdown to success is nearing its end and we need to push even harder and give it our all to achieve our goal


(Twenty seconds and counting)(T-minus fifteen seconds, guidance is internal)(Twelve, eleven, ten, nine)(Ignition sequence start)(Six, five, four, three, two, one)(Zero, all engines running)(Lift off, we have a liftoff)
The rocket has successfully launched, and the journey to the moon or Mars has begun


Now we gon', now we gon', now we gon', now we gon' (J-jump)
We're seizing this opportunity with excitement and enthusiasm


We gon' take it to the moon
Our ambitions have no limit, and we're shooting for the stars


Take it to the stars (J-j-jump)
Our enthusiasm is infectious, and we want others to come along for the ride


How many people you know can take it this far?
We're not afraid to challenge ourselves and set ambitious goals




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Samuel, Jeffrey Bhasker, Kanye West, Mike Dean, Peter Hernandez, Pharrell Williams, Shawn Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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