Déjà vu
Jay Z feat. Beyoncé Lyrics

Bass
The start of the song and introduction to the heavy bass sound.

Uh
An ad-lib to fill the space before the next line.

Hi hat
Introducing the sound of the hi hat in the beat.

Uh
Another ad-lib to fill space before the next line.

808
The 808 drum machine, a classic tool in hip-hop production.

Uh
Another ad-lib to fill space before the next line.

Jay (uh huh)
Jay Z introduces himself and his signature ad-lib.

Ready? (Uh huh)
Jay Z asking if his listeners are ready for the song to begin

Let's go get 'em
Jay Z is ready to start the song and impress his audience.

Uh huh, come on
Encouragement for his audience to get into the song and enjoy it.

I used to run base like Juan Pierre
Jay Z used to sell drugs on the streets like the baseball player Juan Pierre ran the bases in the field.

Now I run the bass, hi hat, and the snare
Jay Z now controls the instruments that make the music, instead of running drugs on the streets.

I used to bag girls like Birken bags
Jay Z used to seduce and pursue many women like he collects Birkin bags, a luxury item well known for its exclusivity.

Now I bag B (Boy, you hurtin' that)
Jay Z now has a monogamous relationship with Beyoncé, and the song is talking about his attraction to his wife.

Brooklyn Bay where they birthed me at
Jay Z was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and is paying homage to his hometown.

Now I be everywhere, the nerve of rap
Jay Z has now made it big in the industry and is known worldwide, despite his humble beginnings.

The audacity to have me whipping curtains back
Jay Z has the power and confidence to turn heads and showcase his lavish lifestyle.

Me and B, she about to sting
Jay Z and Beyoncé are about to make an impact with their music, like a bee sting.

Stand back
Be prepared, because their music is about to create a buzz and make a big impact.

Baby, seems like everywhere I go
Beyoncé starts the chorus and is saying that her partner is always on her mind, no matter where she goes.

I see you, from your eyes, your smile
She sees him in everything around her, like his eyes and smile.

It's like I breathe you, helplessly I reminisce
She can't help but think about him all the time and feel like he's a part of her being.

Don't want to compare nobody to you
No one else can compare to her partner and she doesn't want to settle for anyone else.

Boy, I try to catch myself
Beyoncé struggles to control her feelings for her partner.

But I'm out of control
Despite trying to resist her feelings, she cannot help herself and is out of control.

Your sexiness is so appealing
Beyoncé is attracted to her partner's sex appeal.

I can't let it go, oh
She cannot let go of her feelings and attraction to her partner.

You know that I can't get over you
She cannot move on from her partner.

'Cause everything I see is you
He is always on her mind and in everything she sees.

And I don't want no substitute
She doesn't want to replace him with anyone else.

Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
She feels like she's experiencing the same feelings that she felt for him before.

I'm seeing things that I know can't be
Beyoncé is seeing things that shouldn't exist or be happening around her.

Am I dreaming? When I saw you walking past me
She is unsure if she's dreaming when she sees her partner, because he is always on her mind.

Almost called your name
Beyoncé almost called out her partner's name because she thought she saw him.

Got a better glimpse and then I looked away
She looks away because she's unsure if it's really him and doesn't want to seem crazy.

Feels like I'm losing it
She feels like she's going crazy because she's seeing him everywhere.

Yes, Hova's flow so unusual
Jay Z is confident in his unique rap style.

Baby girl, you should already know
Jay Z is addressing his female fans and is implying that they should know he's the best.

It's H-O, light up the dro'
Jay Z is spelling out his name to emphasize that he is the greatest and commanding his fans to light up.

'Cause you gon' need help tryin' to study my bounce
Jay Z's flow is so unique and hard to imitate that his fans would need help studying his style.

Flow, blow, what's the difference?
Jay Z is saying that his flow and delivery are so great, it doesn't matter what he's rapping about.

One you take in vein while the other you sniffin'
Jay Z is comparing the high one gets from his music to drug usage.

It's still dough, po-po try to convict him
Jay Z is still making money despite law enforcement trying to prosecute him.

That's a no-go, my dough keep the scales tipping
He won't let anyone get in the way of his riches and success.

Like four-fours, like I'm from the H-O-U-S-T-O-N
Jay Z compares his success to the Texas rap scene and the prominent use of 4/4 time signature in hip-hop music.

Blow, wind so Chicago of him
Jay Z's name is big enough all across the world, even in big cities like Chicago.

Is he the best ever? That's the argument
Jay Z is considered one of the greatest rappers of all time, but there is an ongoing debate.

I don't make the list, don't be mad at me
Jay Z doesn't create the lists of great rappers, so don't blame him for any disagreements.

I just make the hits like a factory
Jay Z is not worried about opinions, he is happy with making hit songs and being wildly successful.

I'm just one-to-one, nothin' after me
Jay Z is one of a kind in his style and career, and no one can replace him.

No déjà vu, just me and my, oh
Jay Z is saying he's one of a kind and not recycled, unlike the feelings of déjà vu in Beyoncé's chorus.

Baby, I can't go anywhere
Beyoncé's feelings for her partner are so strong, she is always thinking of him no matter where she is.

Without thinking that you're there
She feels like her partner is omnipresent in her thoughts and surroundings.

Seems like you're everywhere, it's true
Her partner's presence in her life feels overwhelming at times.

Gotta be having déjà vu
She feels like she's repeating the same experiences over and over again with her partner.

'Cause in my mind I want you here
She wishes her partner was there with her in reality.

Get on the next plane, I don't care
She's so desperate to be with her partner that she doesn't care where he is and wants him to come to her.

Is it because I'm missing you
She is feeling déjà vu because she misses her partner so much.

That I'm having déjà vu?
Her mind is creating déjà vu moments because of how much she misses her partner.

Know that I can't get over you
Reiterating that she can't move on from her partner.

'Cause everything I see is you
Her memories and surroundings are constantly reminding her of her partner.

And I don't want no substitute
She doesn't want to replace her partner with anyone else.

Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
She is still feeling like she's repeating the same moments over and over again.

Know that I can't get over you
Reiterating that she cannot move on from her partner.

'Cause everything I see is you (ohh)
Her mind is constantly focused on her partner and everything she sees reminds her of him.

And I don't want no substitute
She does not want to replace her partner with anyone else.

Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
She feels like she is reliving the same moments with her partner.

Know that I can't get over you
She's repeating that she cannot get over her partner.

'Cause everything I see is you
Her surroundings are constantly reminding her of her partner.

And I don't want no substitute
She only wants her partner and does not want anyone else.

Baby, I swear it's déjà vu
She is sure that she's repeating the same experiences with her partner.