All I Have
Kanye West Lyrics

What dey gives you blood? Three months man
The singer is asking what jail sentence the listener received, which is implied to be three months.

Whatchu doin' in here anyway? You oughta be home with your momma
The singer questions why the listener is in jail and implies that they should be at home with their mother instead.

How old are you boy? Thirteen
The singer asks the age of the listener, who replies that they are 13 years old.

Thirteen? Damn, the bastards must be runnin' outta niggaz to arrest
The artist is shocked that a 13-year-old has been arrested and sarcastically comments that the authorities must be running out of people to arrest.

Yeah, oh yeah, this goes out to all the families That went through the struggle Yeah, from the heart It was from the heart, everything was real
The artist dedicates the song to all the families who have faced hardships and emphasizes that everything in the song is sincere and from the heart.

All that I got is you And I'm so thankful I made it through
The singer expresses gratitude for their family and loved ones who have helped them get through difficult times.

Yo, dwellin' in the past, flashbacks when I was young Whoever thought that I'd have a baby girl and three sons I'm goin' through this difficult stage, I find it hard to believe Why my old Earth had so many seeds
The singer reflects on their past, remembering when they were younger and how they never expected to have children. They find it hard to believe that their mother was able to support so many children on her own.

But she's an old woman and due to me, I respect that I saw life for what it's really worth and took a step back Family ain't family no more, we used to play ball Eggs after school, eat grits 'cause we was poor
The artist acknowledges the struggles their mother faced raising them on her own and how it taught them to value life. The artist laments that their family has grown apart but fondly remembers playing together and eating simple meals when they were poor.

Grab the pliers for the channel, fix the hanger on the TV Rockin' each other's pants to school wasn't easy We survived winters, snotty nosed with no coats We kept it real, but the older brother still had jokes
The artist recalls how they had to use pliers and hangers to fix their TV and how they sometimes had to share clothes. Despite hardships such as having no coats in winter, they remained authentic, though their older brother still teased them.

Sadly, daddy left me at the age of six I didn't know nuttin' but mommy neatly packed his shit She cried, and grandma held the family down I guess mommy wasn't strong enough, she just went down
The artist's father left when they were six years old, and their mother had to pack his things. The mother cried, and their grandmother helped take care of the family. The artist suggests that their mother could not handle the stress and eventually broke down.

Check it, fifteen of us in a three bedroom apartment Roaches everywhere, cousins and aunts was there Four in the bed, two at the foot, two at the head I didn't like to sleep with Jon Jon, he peed the bed
The singer describes the cramped living conditions of their extended family, with 15 people in a three-bedroom apartment infested with roaches. The sleeping arrangements were crowded, and the singer disliked sleeping with Jon Jon, who wet the bed.

Seven o'clock, pluckin' roaches out the cereal box Some shared the same spoon, watchin' Saturday cartoons Sugar water was our thing, every meal was no thrill In the summer, free lunch held us down like steel
The artist details their poor living conditions, which included picking roaches out of their cereal and sharing the same spoon. They found entertainment in Saturday cartoons and their staple drink was sugar water. Free lunches in the summer were crucial to their survival.

And there was days, I had to go to Tex house with a note Stating, "Gloria can I borrow some food I'm dead broke" So embarrassin', I couldn't stand to knock on they door My friends might be laughin', I spent stamps in stores
The singer recounts a time when they had to ask a neighbor for food because they were broke. They were embarrassed to do so and worried that their friends would laugh at them. They sometimes had to use food stamps to buy groceries.

Mommy, where's the toilet paper, use the newspaper Look Ms. Rose gave us a couch, she's the neighbor Things was deep, my whole youth was sharper than cleats Two brothers with muscular dystrophy, it killed me
The singer describes how their family sometimes had to use newspaper instead of toilet paper and how a neighbor kindly gave them a couch. Their childhood was difficult, with two brothers suffering from muscular dystrophy, which was emotionally challenging for the singer.

But I remember this, mom's would lick her finger tips To wipe the cold out my eye before school wit her spit Case worker had her runnin' back to face to face I caught a case, housin' tried to throw us out of our place
The singer remembers how their mother would lick her fingers to clear the cold out of their eyes before school. Their mother had to keep meeting with case workers, and the singer got into legal trouble, which led to housing authorities threatening to evict the family from their home.

Sometimes I look up at the stars and analyze the sky And ask myself was I meant to be here, why? Yeah, yo
The artist contemplates the meaning of their life and existence, gazing at the stars and questioning why they were put on this earth.

Word up mommy, I love you Word up It was all you, word, you brought me in like this
The artist expresses their love and gratitude for their mother, acknowledging that she is responsible for who they are today.

I sit and think about all the times we did without, yeah I always said I wouldn't cry when I saw tears in your eyes I understand that daddy's not here now But some way or somehow, I will always be around, yeah
The singer reflects on their past struggles and how they never wanted to cry when their mother cried. They acknowledge that their father is not around but reassure their mother that they will always be there for her.

All things that I did from this to them Oh, from drugs to being there Being down and out and I love you always
The singer admits to their past mistakes, including drug use, but wants to be there for their family and promises to love them always.

Yeah, you say you see the universe Which consists of the sun, moon and star And them planets, that exist in my space Like man woman and child, you understand?
The artist reminds the listener that the universe includes not only celestial bodies but also people, including men, women, and children.

We got to keep it real, and what reality And reality will keep it real with us I remember them good ol' days Because see, that's the child I was
The artist emphasizes the importance of being honest and true to oneself, and how reality will reflect that back. They fondly remember their childhood and how it has shaped them as a person.

What made me the man I am today See 'cause if you forget where you come from, heheh You're never gonna make it where you're goin', aheh Because you lost the reality of yourself
The artist reflects on how their upbringing has influenced who they are today. They warn that forgetting one's roots leads to losing sight of oneself and hinders progress in life.

So, take one stroll through your mind And see what you will find And you'll see a whole universe all over again And again and again and again and again Heheheh, yeah, heheheheh, aha, heheheh
The singer urges the listener to reflect on their own experiences and memories, suggesting that doing so will reveal a new universe of possibilities and understanding within themselves.