Last Name
Kanye West Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We need peace, love and harmony
Must achieve all that we could be
Just love on me 'cause that's
Just what I need
Your love on me is all I ever need, need

Part of my flesh was blendin' in with my soul
Do what I feel and I live what I say so
Oh, been travelin' a million
Miles on this road
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
Oh, I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
Oh, I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home

They be sellin' somethin' when it's not shame
West stole West, simply got shame
Givin' up, I'm givin' up my slave name
Oh, no, no, I'm givin' up my slave name
Saint, you don't really need a last name
North, you don't really need a last name
Both on the song for the dark chains
I'm givin' up the slave name
It's a choice for me
Y'all can't cut out the voice in me
Y'all can't cut out the Nat in me
Y'all came from my anatomy
Y'all can't cut out the Harriet
I don't care how you carry it
Stomp, stomp, that'd be very lit
God stomp, wanna remarry, yeah
Saint, you don't really need a last name
North, you don't really need a last name
And Chicago, yo, they be lost
But we not bought oh, then he tells them

Part of my flesh was blendin' in with my soul
Do what I feel and I live what I say so
Oh, been travelin' a million
Miles on this road
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
Oh, I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
Oh, I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home

That's like they take our slave women
And bend them quicker than when we hit it
Where you think lightskin came from? (Huh?)
I heard the Chinese buyin' Africa quicker
Than we would get it
And if you tell somebody you goin' to Africa
Somebody would laugh at ya
Like the top off it
And spend it at the Gucci store
Hold on more, woah, woah
Don't tell me 'bout them woke facts
(Woke fact) them just sound like broke facts
(Broke facts)
I don't know who the fuck told you that
(Told you that)
I don't know who the fuck sold you back
(Told you that)
Buy your freedom 'fore they sell you back
(Sell you back)
Why we need 'em? They just sold you crack
(Sold you crack)
So let's done 'em, where the soldiers at?
(Soldiers at) most of them ain't running
Most of them on that bump (O oh)
Face the gun in the sun, we been brainwashed
(O oh)
Fuck that, we in our own holocaust (O oh)
It ain't never ended, it all depends (O oh)
The Jews, least they said, never again

Part of my flesh was blendin' in with my soul
Do what I feel and I live what I say so
Oh, been travelin' a million
Miles on this road
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
Oh, I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
Oh, I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home

Saint, you don't really need a last name




North, you don't really need a last name
And Chicago, yo, and Chicago

Overall Meaning

In "Last Name," Kanye West speaks about the concept of giving up his slave name and the importance of finding peace, love, and harmony. He wants to be loved for who he is and not by the name that has been labeled to him since birth. He expresses that part of his flesh blends in with his soul and that he does what he feels and lives what he says. He has been traveling for years and is now on his way home. In the chorus, he emphasizes that he wasn't leaving but was returning to where he belongs.


Kanye West had been accused of appropriating elements of African culture, which he acknowledged in the song. He criticizes the western world for exploiting African slavery, women, and their natural resources, and he encourages individuals to buy their freedom before others take control. He also speaks about how the Jewish community vowed to never let a holocaust happen again, and how African-Americans are still facing similar situations.


The song's overall theme is about the struggle of the black community, their identity, and the power dynamics in society. Kanye West urges the audience to embrace their cultural identity and strive for change.


Line by Line Meaning

We need peace, love and harmony
We should strive for peaceful, loving and harmonious relationships with others


Must achieve all that we could be
We must strive to reach our full potential


Just love on me 'cause that's
Show me love because that's what I need


Just what I need
I only need love for fulfillment


Part of my flesh was blendin' in with my soul
My flesh and soul are intertwined, and I live authentically


Do what I feel and I live what I say so
I follow my intuition and always stay true to myself


Oh, been travelin' a million miles on this road
I've been on a long journey in search of enlightenment


I wasn't leavin', I was on my way home
I was never leaving my true self, I was returning back to it


They be sellin' somethin' when it's not shame
People are trying to sell things that shouldn't be for sale


West stole West, simply got shame
My last name was once associated with slavery, but I am now reclaiming it


Givin' up, I'm givin' up my slave name
I'm rejecting the name passed down from my ancestors who were enslaved


Saint, you don't really need a last name
My child doesn't need a last name to feel validated by society


North, you don't really need a last name
My child doesn't need a last name to feel validated by society


Both on the song for the dark chains
My children and I are representatives of those who've been oppressed


It's a choice for me
It's my decision to reject the name associated with slavery


Y'all can't cut out the voice in me
Others cannot silence my inner voice and beliefs


Y'all can't cut out the Nat in me
Others cannot erase my heritage and identity as a Black person


Y'all came from my anatomy
All humans came from the same origins, and we must remember our shared humanity


Y'all can't cut out the Harriet
Others cannot erase the impact of Harriet Tubman and other Black trailblazers


I don't care how you carry it
It doesn't matter how others perceive my choices


Stomp, stomp, that'd be very lit
Let's stomp out oppression, it would be very empowering


God stomp, wanna remarry, yeah
God, please help me overcome oppression so I can live a fulfilling life


That's like they take our slave women
Black women have been sexualized and oppressed throughout history, like slaves


And bend them quicker than when we hit it
Black women have been objectified and dehumanized at a rapid pace


Where you think lightskin came from? (Huh?)
Light-skinned people in the Black community often have mixed heritage due to sexual violence during slavery


I heard the Chinese buyin' Africa quicker
China is heavily investing in Africa, potentially exploiting African resources


Than we would get it
Africans are not benefitting from their own resources as much as foreign investors are


And if you tell somebody you goin' to Africa
If you announce plans to go to Africa, many people may laugh because of negative stereotypes and ignorance about the continent


Like the top off it
It's like a joke or a punchline


And spend it at the Gucci store
People may mock African culture while they still support high-end, luxury brands


Don't tell me 'bout them woke facts
Don't lecture me on social justice when you don't have all the facts or experience


Them just sound like broke facts
Those facts are incomplete, cheap, and faulty representations of the truth


I don't know who the fuck told you that
I have no idea where you're getting your information from


I don't know who the fuck sold you back
I don't know who or what is contributing to your misguided beliefs and values


Buy your freedom 'fore they sell you back
Claim your own freedom before you become a product for others to sell or exploit


Why we need 'em? They just sold you crack
Why do we need oppressive systems or institutions? They have abused and damaged us for their own profit


So let's done 'em, where the soldiers at?
Let's dismantle those oppressive systems and institutions, where are those who want to join in?


Most of them on that bump (O oh)
Many people are blinded by their privilege, ignorance, and pride


Face the gun in the sun, we been brainwashed
We face oppression in broad daylight, and we have been brainwashed to accept it as normal


Fuck that, we in our own holocaust (O oh)
We are experiencing our own tragedy and genocide, and we must resist it


It ain't never ended, it all depends (O oh)
Oppression has never truly ended, and it depends on us to keep up the fight


The Jews, least they said, never again
The Jewish people have vowed never to forget the horrors of their oppression, and we should do the same


And Chicago
Referring to the city of Chicago in the US




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

Himsara Wanigasekara

Really hope we get this in a future album

Medlakey

Yeah I don't think it's coming bro

CAYENDO

@awry he meant in a future kanye west album. Like in the future not the artist. Pretty easy to get that tbh.

awry

this is a kanye song why would it be on a future album?

Hypo

@Goatward that track list was faked

fm232

I mean, Future would sound good on this I guess😂

8 More Replies...

Gavin Pope

ye really does create the best song i’ve ever heard and then doesn’t release it

Avery Sun

@Yhandi 🤷🏾‍♂️

Yhandi

@Avery Sun it’s not released by Kanye🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Dean Mcgroarty

fr (for real he needs to release this)

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