Kanye first shared a short snippet of this song on his website together with the album cover casing for "Yeezus". Along with “New Slaves” and “Black Skinhead,” “Bound 2” was one of three singles to be previewed before the album’s release. However, it was one of the last tracks to be finished—three weeks before the album’s last possible delivery date, Kanye enlisted Rick Rubin to help finish the song. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rubin recalled:
"The whole song was written without that main sample; it was a last-minute thing. The song had kind of a lot of R&B music in it. So we started by getting the sample to work in the song, and then taking out as much stuff as we could, and then in the chorus reducing what was this whole musical thing, just this sort of one ugly, distorted bass note. I was thinking like Alan Vega and Suicide, that kind of noise-synth minimal vibe."
“Bound 2” peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The original, pre-Rick Rubin version of “Bound,” titled “Bound 1,” was premiered by producer Hudson Mohawke at a concert in 2014.
Bound 2
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bound to fall in love (uh-huh, honey)
All them other niggas lame, and you know it now
When a real nigga hold you down, (alright) you s'pposed to drown
Bound (bound) to fall in love
Bound (bound) to fall in love (uh-huh, honey)
What you doing in the club on a Thursday?
She say she only here for her girl birthday
They ordered champagne but still look thirsty
Rock Forever 21 but just turned thirty
I know I got a bad reputation
Walking 'round, always mad reputation
Leave a pretty girl sad reputation
Start a Fight Club, Brad reputation
I turnt the nightclub out of the basement
I'll turn the plane 'round, your ass keep complaining
How you gon' be mad on vacation?
Dutty whining 'round all these Jamaicans
Uh, this that prom shit
This that what we do, don't tell your mom shit
This that red cup, all on the lawn shit
Got a fresh cut, straight out the salon, bitch
I know you're tired of loving, of loving
With nobody to love, nobody, no- (uh-huh, honey)
Close your eyes and let the word paint a thousand pictures
One good girl (alright) is worth a thousand bitches
Bound (bound) to fall in love
Bound (bound) to fall in love (uh-huh, honey)
I wanna fuck you hard on the sink
Step back, can't get spunk on the mink
I mean damn, what would Jeromey Romey Romey Rome think?
Hey, you remember where we first met?
Okay, I don't remember where we first met
But hey, admitting is the first step
And, ay, you know ain't nobody perfect
And I know, with the hoes I got the worst rep
But ay, the backstroke I'm tryna perfect
And ay, ayo, we made to Thanksgiving
So ay, maybe we can make it to Christmas
She asked me what I wished for on my wishlist
Have you ever asked your bitch for other bitches?
Maybe we could still make it to the church steps
But first, you gon' remember how to forget
After all these long-ass verses
I'm tired, you tired, (uh-huh, honey) Jesus wept
I know you're tired (tired) of loving, of loving
With nobody to love, nobody, nobody
So just grab somebody, no leaving this party
With nobody to love, nobody, nobody (to love)
(Uh-huh, honey)
Jerome's in the house, watch your mouth
Jerome's in the house, watch your mouth
Bound (bound) to fall in love
Bound (bound) to fall in love (uh-huh, honey)
In Bound 2, Kanye West expresses his love for his partner through various scenarios that can portray the ups and downs of their relationship. The opening lines of the song, ‘Bound to fall in love’ are repeated multiple times to emphasize the inevitability of falling in love. Kanye believes that he and his partner are meant to be together and that love is the only destiny for them.
The rapper talks about other men being ‘lame’ and emphasizes how he is different from them by asserting that he can hold down a real woman. In the second verse, he switches to a more casual tone and talks about their fun and adventurous moments - going to the club on a Thursday, ordering champagne, and just having a good time. Kanye's love and fondness for his partner are evident in the last verse where he talks about their past, their imperfections, and how they can work on it together. The song's hook, ‘I know you're tired of loving, of loving, with nobody to love’ reflects on the loneliness that people feel when they don't have someone to share their love with.
Line by Line Meaning
Bound to fall in love
Anticipating the inevitability of falling in love
Bound to fall in love (uh-huh, honey)
Affirming the expectation of falling in love
All them other niggas lame, and you know it now
Acknowledging that everyone else is inferior in comparison
When a real nigga hold you down, (alright) you s'pposed to drown
Stating that a significant other should be fully committed and immersed in the relationship
What you doing in the club on a Thursday?
Questioning the reason for being out on a weekday
She say she only here for her girl birthday
Explaining the occasion for the outing
They ordered champagne but still look thirsty
Observing that despite the order of champagne, something is still lacking
Rock Forever 21 but just turned thirty
Pointing out the contrast between age and clothing choice
I know I got a bad reputation
Admitting to having a negative image among the public
Walking 'round, always mad reputation
Describing the frequent negative perception others have of the artist
Leave a pretty girl sad reputation
Acknowledging the singer's role in causing emotional distress to past partners
Start a Fight Club, Brad reputation
Introducing a pop-culture reference to further emphasize the artist's negative reputation
I turnt the nightclub out of the basement
Expressing ownership and pride for turning a small venue into a successful nightclub
I'll turn the plane 'round, your ass keep complaining
Threatening to alter travel plans due to another's complaining
How you gon' be mad on vacation?
Questioning the reasoning behind being unhappy while on vacation
Dutty whining 'round all these Jamaicans
Observing a specific dance trend among the current setting's culture
Uh, this that prom shit
Introducing the idea of nostalgia and reminiscing about high-school experiences
This that what we do, don't tell your mom shit
Hinting at participating in activities that should be kept secret
This that red cup, all on the lawn shit
Describing a typical party scene
Got a fresh cut, straight out the salon, bitch
Showing off a recent haircut done by a professional
I know you're tired of loving, of loving
Acknowledging the fatigue that arises from investing in love
With nobody to love, nobody, no- (uh-huh, honey)
Implying a pattern of falling for the wrong individuals or struggling to find the right match
Close your eyes and let the word paint a thousand pictures
Encouraging the listener to visualize their desired future
One good girl (alright) is worth a thousand bitches
Stressing the importance of finding the right partner over casual relationships
I wanna fuck you hard on the sink
Expressing sexual desires
After that, give you something to drink
Showing affection by offering sustenance
Step back, can't get spunk on the mink
Reminding the listener to maintain cleanliness
I mean damn, what would Jeromey Romey Romey Rome think?
Jokingly referencing a meme to lighten the mood
Hey, you remember where we first met?
Bringing up a shared memory as a form of bonding
Okay, I don't remember where we first met
Admitting a fault or lapse in memory
But hey, admitting is the first step
Encouraging honesty and vulnerability
And, ay, you know ain't nobody perfect
Reiterating the idea that no one is without flaw
And I know, with the hoes I got the worst rep
Admitting to past behavior with multiple partners
But ay, the backstroke I'm tryna perfect
Expressing a current goal or desire
And ay, ayo, we made to Thanksgiving
Celebrating reaching a significant milestone in the relationship
So ay, maybe we can make it to Christmas
Looking forward to future holidays and celebrations as a couple
She asked me what I wished for on my wishlist
Hinting at an upcoming event or gift exchange
Have you ever asked your bitch for other bitches?
Questioning the morality of asking for additional partners or infidelity
Maybe we could still make it to the church steps
Expressing hope for longterm commitment and partnership
But first, you gon' remember how to forget
Acknowledging that past mistakes and experiences must be left behind in order to move forward
After all these long-ass verses
Recognizing the length of the song and reflecting on the journey of the lyrics so far
I'm tired, you tired, (uh-huh, honey) Jesus wept
Humorously noting that everyone, including Jesus, is exhausted
I know you're tired (tired) of loving, of loving
Reiterating the fatigue of investing in love
With nobody to love, nobody, nobody
Emphasizing a deep sense of loneliness or lack of the right partner
So just grab somebody, no leaving this party
Encouraging the listener to find someone to connect with in the present
With nobody to love, nobody, nobody (to love)
Closing off the song with the central theme of loneliness and the search for love
(Uh-huh, honey)
A playful ad-lib used throughout the song to punctuate lines with a catchy catchphrase
Jerome's in the house, watch your mouth
Ending with a final pop-culture reference and catchy phrase as a send-off
Bound (bound) to fall in love
Repeating the song's main idea and title
Bound (bound) to fall in love (uh-huh, honey)
Closing off with a catchy and memorable repetition of the chorus
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kanye West, Bobby Massey, Mike Dean, Ronnie Self, Noah Goldstein, Malik Jones, John Stephens, Charlie Wilson, Dion Wilson, Cydel Young, Elon Rutberg, Sakiya Sandifer, Che Pope, N Whiteside, Bobby Dukes, Lester McKenzie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alex_harnar_618
There were 3 samples in the song: ‘Bound 2’ by Kanye West (2013)
—————————————————————————
1. ‘Bound’ - Ponderosa Twins Plus One (1971) (Which is the main sample for each verse of the song.)
—————————————————————————
2. ‘Sweet Nothin’s’ - Brenda Lee (1960)
(Which is the vocal sample saying: "Uh Huh Honey” and “Alright” in-between the ‘Ponderosa Twins’ sample in each verse of the song.)
—————————————————————————
3. ‘Aeroplane (Reprise)’ - Wee 1977)
(The main instrumental from this track is interpolated on the piano for each chorus of the song.)
—————————————————————————
@alex_harnar_618
There were 3 samples in the song: ‘Bound 2’ by Kanye West (2013)
—————————————————————————
1. ‘Bound’ - Ponderosa Twins Plus One (1971) (Which is the main sample for each verse of the song.)
—————————————————————————
2. ‘Sweet Nothin’s’ - Brenda Lee (1960)
(Which is the vocal sample saying: "Uh Huh Honey” and “Alright” in-between the ‘Ponderosa Twins’ sample in each verse of the song.)
—————————————————————————
3. ‘Aeroplane (Reprise)’ - Wee 1977)
(The main instrumental from this track is interpolated on the piano for each chorus of the song.)
—————————————————————————
@Theon3z
Underrated comment
@EnvyPower
Thank you for this I enjoyed checking out the originals, legend
@gabrielcalderon1906
The realist comment for the breakdown
@joecharlton2571
and nothing to love by sigma obv
@Theredeyedjedi
Still fire after all these years 😭
@naomimavaega6661
nah bc fr
@kayemkm1703
❤❤❤
@roses_are_rosie-bo6hi
"One good girl is worth a thousand b1tche5" 🧚🏻♀️🌹
@JosephLewis-c8l
A bad bitch