Now Or Never
K3NDR!CK L4M4R - G00D K!D M.4.4.D C!TY - 2012 Lyrics


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Urban legend check the message and the way that I be stepping my direction
I'm perfection use caution with my method all I need to succeed is time and a beat stomp your feet vibe
with me you know I love a good party

I'm the beast from the south east I roll with no leash country grammar in my speech it's goin' down down baby
I don't play not with fate you know I came to take the game over shorty swing my way but you cannot stay over

All together now it's now or never now all together now it's now or never now came shut it down it's now or never now you know we run the town it's now or never
now

I'm the best thing to come out of C-19 you need a hit call me quick you know I be writing too legit could've quit but I keep fighting I'm a soldier won't roll over
I stay locked in I'm a one man militia smooth like a swisher sweet to the freaks
I make em leak then I dip out the new mouth up the south come and see what I'm bout
the flow go Ludacris make you wanna roll out

All together now it's now or never now
All together now it's now or never now came to shut it down it's now or never now
you know we run the town it's now or never now

I don't know what tomorrow holds so I go harder than I did before leave it on the floor I'm not your typical no I'm not your typical
the flow will reach your physical spiritual and mental whoa
I beat the odds with a fade like Nas oh my god this beat is hard my facade is Cool J I'm talking Todd
I came back from the future Marty McFly just to school ya I'm good at the point better as the shooter

All together now it's now or never now all together now it's now or never now came to shut it down it's now or never now you know we run the town it's now or never now

This motherfucker ride just let the beat ride just let it beat ride
All together now it's now or never now




All together now it's now or never now came to shut it down it's now or never now
You know we run the town it's now or never now

Overall Meaning

In "Now or Never," Kendrick Lamar delivers a powerful message about seizing the moment and taking control of one's destiny. The opening lines emphasize his confidence and skill, referring to himself as an urban legend and highlighting his unique approach and direction. He believes that with time and a good beat, he can achieve greatness. The mention of loving a good party suggests that he wants to share his success and joy with others.


As the verse continues, Lamar asserts his dominance in the rap game, proclaiming himself as the beast from the south east. He prides himself on his southern roots, evident in his country grammar and the catchiness of his flow. He also establishes his determination to conquer the industry, warning others not to stand in his way. Despite his ambition, he acknowledges the importance of unity, proclaiming that success can only be achieved if everyone works together.


The chorus emphasizes the urgency of the present moment, suggesting that it's now or never to make a mark and leave a lasting impact. The repetition of "now or never" underscores the importance of taking action and not wasting opportunities. Lamar takes pride in his ability to shut down the competition and asserts that he and his team are running the town.


The second verse begins with a reflection on uncertainty, acknowledging that no one knows what the future holds. This mindset fuels his determination to work harder and leave everything on the floor. He emphasizes that he's not your typical artist, as his flow transcends mere entertainment and engages with the listener on physical, spiritual, and mental levels. The mention of Nas and LL Cool J, respected figures in the rap industry, further underscores Lamar's confidence and commitment to his craft.


Line by Line Meaning

Urban legend check the message and the way that I be stepping my direction
I am a legendary figure in the urban music scene, and I want you to pay attention to the message I convey and the confident way I express myself.


I'm perfection use caution with my method all I need to succeed is time and a beat stomp your feet vibe
I strive for perfection, so be careful when observing my approach. All I require to achieve success is time and a rhythmic beat that will make you want to dance and have a good time.


with me you know I love a good party
When you're with me, you can be certain that I have a strong affinity for enjoyable and lively gatherings.


I'm the beast from the south east I roll with no leash country grammar in my speech it's goin' down down baby
I am a powerful and untamed force originating from the southeastern region. I operate without any restrictions, and my language is influenced by the dialect of the countryside. Everything is about to happen in a thrilling manner.


I don't play not with fate you know I came to take the game over shorty swing my way but you cannot stay over
I do not take any risks with my destiny, and I am determined to dominate the music industry. Come join me briefly, but understand that you cannot remain in my sphere indefinitely.


All together now it's now or never now all together now it's now or never now came shut it down it's now or never now you know we run the town it's now or never now
This is the moment for everyone to come together and seize the opportunity. We must act decisively to surpass all challenges and establish our dominance in the city.


I'm the best thing to come out of C-19 you need a hit call me quick you know I be writing too legit could've quit but I keep fighting I'm a soldier won't roll over
I am the most exceptional creation to emerge from the C-19 era. Should you require a remarkable song, contact me immediately. My writing skills are highly authentic and genuine. Despite facing difficulties, I refuse to give up and embody the resilience of a dedicated soldier.


I stay locked in I'm a one man militia smooth like a swisher sweet to the freaks I make em leak then I dip out the new mouth up the south come and see what I'm bout the flow go Ludacris make you wanna roll out
I remain completely focused, operating independently like a powerful force. I possess a suave and enticing charm that appeals to the unconventional individuals. I have the ability to captivate them emotionally and then swiftly move on. Embrace my unique style originating from the southern region and witness the sheer excellence I bring. My flow is reminiscent of Ludacris, creating a desire to groove and show off your moves.


I don't know what tomorrow holds so I go harder than I did before leave it on the floor I'm not your typical no I'm not your typical
The future is uncertain, so I constantly push myself to work even harder than in the past, leaving a lasting impact. I stand out from the norm and defy expectations.


the flow will reach your physical spiritual and mental whoa
My verses are not limited to solely impacting your physical senses but also have the power to touch you emotionally and intellectually, leaving a profound impression.


I beat the odds with a fade like Nas oh my god this beat is hard my facade is Cool J I'm talking Todd
Despite facing challenges, I surpass expectations and succeed against all odds, just like Nas did with his distinct hairstyle. This beat is exceptional and impactful, elicitating a strong reaction. My public image resembles that of Cool J, also known as Todd.


I came back from the future Marty McFly just to school ya I'm good at the point better as the shooter
I have returned from the future similar to Marty McFly, solely to educate and enlighten you. I excel in taking the lead and possess exceptional skills, especially when it comes to delivering powerful verses.


This motherfucker ride just let the beat ride just let it beat ride
This track is incredibly infectious, so allow it to unfold and manifest its energy. Let the beat take control and ride along with it.


You know we run the town it's now or never now
It is a well-established fact that we dominate and control the entire city. The moment to seize the opportunity and claim our supremacy is now.




Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Ricardo Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Camila-oi7jh

I don't want to fight right now
Know you're always right, now
Know I need you around with me
But nobody waiting around with me
Been through the ups
Yeah the ups and the downs with me
Got a whole lot of love
But you don't want to spread it around with me

Never pick up, never call me
You know we're running out of time
Never pick up when you want me
Now I got to draw a line
Baby I done, done enough talking
Need to know that you're mine
Baby we done, done enough talking
Got to be right now, right now

Baby going to love me now
Now, now, now, now, now
Now or never, hey
I want you to hold me down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down forever, hey
Said you know I want to keep you around
Around forever, hey
I want you to love me now
Now, now, now, now, now
Now or never

I'm turning off the light right now
I'm calling it a night now
Wishing you were around with me
But you're in a different town than me
We've been through it all
But you could never spit it out for me
Trying to talk to a wall
But you could never tear it down for me, yeah

Never pick up, never call me
You know we're running out of time
Never pick up when you want me
Now I got to draw a line
Baby I done, done enough talking
Need to know that you're mine
Baby we done, done enough talking
Got to be right now, right now

Baby going to love me now
Now, now, now, now, now
Now or never, hey
I want you to hold me down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down forever, hey
Said you know I want to keep you around
Around forever, hey
I want you to love me now
Now, now, now, now, now
Now or never

Yeah, draw the line up
Don't take no more time up, yeah
Make your mind up
I need you to make your mind up, yeah
Draw the line up
Don't take no more time up, yeah
Baby you got to decide something
Let me know

Baby going to love me now
Now, now, now, now, now
Now or never, hey, hey, hey
I want you to hold me down
Down, down, down, down, down
Down forever, hey, hey, hey
Said you know I want to keep you around
Around forever, hey, hey, hey
I want you to love me now
Now, now, now, now, now
Now or never



@suemy7

I don't wanna fight right now
Know you always right, now
I know I need you 'round with me
But nobody waitin' 'round with me
Been through the ups
Yeah, the ups and the downs with me
Got a whole lot of love
But you don't wanna spread it 'round with me, yeah

Never pick up, never call me
You know we're runnin' out of time
Never pick up when you want me
Now I gotta draw a line
Baby, I done, done enough talking, I
Need to know that you're mine
Baby, we done, done enough talking
Gotta be right now, right now

Baby, gon' love me now, now, now, now, now, now
Now or never
I want you to hold me down, down, down, down, down, down
Down forever
Said you know I wanna keep you around
'Round forever
I want you to love me now, now, now, now, now, now
Now or never

I'm turnin' off the light right now
I'm callin' it a night now
Wishin' you were 'round with me
But you're in a different town than me
We've been through it all
But you could never spit it out for me
Tryna talk to a wall
But you could never tear it down for me, yeah

Never pick up, never call me
You know we're runnin' out of time
Never pick up when you want me
Now I gotta draw a line
Baby, I done, done enough talking, I
Need to know that you're mine
Baby, we done, done enough talking
Gotta be right now, right now

Baby gon' love me now, now, now, now, now, now
Now or never
I want you to hold me down, down, down, down, down, down
Down forever
Said you know I wanna keep you around
'Round forever
I want you to love me now, now, now, now, now, now
Now or never

Yeah, draw the line up
Don't take no more time up
Make your mind up
I need you to make your mind up
Draw the line up
Don't take no more time up
Baby, you gotta decide something
Let me know

Baby gon' love me now, now, now, now, now, now
Now or never
I want you to hold me down, down, down, down, down, down
Down forever
Said you know I wanna keep you around
'Round forever
I want you to love me now, now, now, now, now, now
Now or never



All comments from YouTube:

@scrainbow1234

Something about this song gets inside my soul.

@desmondstewart204

That's the demons systematically put in the song 😹

@fabi7334

Everytime I hear it i feel like I wanna cry..
There are SO many emotions connected to this song😁

@LinhDuong-nn6qd

then you should listen to this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HoOHxRs8LI

@FishWithLipstick

@@fabi7334 I agree tbh

@tumiethedi6397

Yes totally

20 More Replies...

@filipateixeira8116

The perfect song to drive in the middle of the night with no plans just enjoying the summer nights

@musicnation8944

Filipa Teixeira Currently making a playlist on my channel for that reason.. check it out..

@jimmyo1123

Filipa Teixeira mos deff

@xxbrooklynkingshaunxx4470

Lol, I heard this song in a car at night leaving the park heading to McDonald's and asked my cousin the name.

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