Ye, born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, is an American rapper, singer, s… Read Full Bio ↴Ye, born Kanye Omari West on June 8, 1977, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is one of the most prominent figures in hip hop, known for his diverse musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After dropping out of college to pursue a career in music, West began producing for regional artists in the Chicago area. As an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, he co-produced albums including Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001) before signing with the label as a recording artist. West's debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), received critical acclaim and produced the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Slow Jamz." He topped the chart four other times with the singles "Gold Digger" (2005), "Stronger" (2007), "E.T." (2011, as a featured artist), and "Carnival" (2024).

West's second and third studio albums, Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007), both debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, with the latter becoming his most commercially successful to date. Three of his subsequent albums—808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and The Life of Pablo (2016)—were certified triple platinum, while Yeezus (2013) was certified double platinum. Although not as well-received critically as his previous works, Ye (2018), Jesus Is King (2019), and Donda (2021) continued West's streak of consecutive number-one debuts on the Billboard 200. West has also released collaborative albums including Watch the Throne (2011) with Jay-Z, Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi, and Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 (2024) with Ty Dolla Sign. In fashion design, he has collaborated with Nike, Inc., Louis Vuitton, and Gap Inc. on clothing and footwear, and led the Yeezy collaboration with Adidas.

One of the world's best-selling music artists with 160 million records sold, West has won 24 Grammy Awards, the joint 11th-most of all time and the most awarded for any hip hop artist along with Jay-Z. His other accolades include a Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a joint-record three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist, and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. West holds the joint record with Bob Dylan for most albums (four) topping the annual Pazz & Jop critic poll. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015. West's first six solo albums were included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2020, with the same publication naming him one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.

West's outspoken views have received significant media coverage. He has been a frequent source of controversy due to his conduct on social media, at award shows, and in public settings, as well as his comments on the music and fashion industries, U.S. politics, race, and slavery. His Christian faith, high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, and mental health have also been topics of media attention. In 2020, West launched an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign that advocated for a consistent life ethic. In October 2022, he was widely condemned and lost many sponsors and partnerships, including his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga, after making a series of antisemitic statements, including denying the Holocaust.

Pinocchio Story
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wise man say, wise man say
Wise man say
You'll never figure out real love
Never figure out real love
You'll never figure out real love

It's so crazy, crazy-crazy
I got everything figured out

But for some reason I can never find what real love is about
No doubt
Everything in the world figured out
But I can never seem to find what real love was about
Do you think I sacrifice, real life
For all the fame, and flashing lights
Do you think I sacrifice, a real life
For all the fame, and flashing lights

There is no Gucci I can buy
There is no Louis Vuitton to put on
There is no Y.S.L. that they could sell
To get my heart, out of this hell
And my mind, out of this jail
There is no clothes that I could buy
That could turn, back in time
There is no vacation spot I could fly
That could bring back, a piece of real life
Real life, what does it feel like?
I ask you tonight, I ask you tonight
What does it feel like, I ask you tonight
To live a real life

I just wanna be a real boy
They always say "Kanye, he keeps it real boy"
Pinocchio's story is, I just wanna be a real boy

Pinocchio's story goes, to be a real boy

It's funny
Pinocchio, lied, and that's what kept him from it
I tell the truth, and I keep running
It's like I'm lookin for something out there, tryna find something
I turn on the TV, and see me, and see nothing
What does it feel like, to live real life, to be real
Not some facade on TV that no one can really feel
Do you really have the stamina?
For everybody that sees you that say, "Where's my camera?"
For everybody that sees you, to say sign a autograph
For everybody that sees you cryin', say you oughta laugh
You oughta laugh!?

I just wanna be a real boy
Pinocchio's story goes, I just wanna be a real boy
Pinocchio's story goes

And there is no Gepetto, to guide me
No one, right beside me
The only one, was behind me
I can't find her no more, I can't follow no more
I can't
The only one that come out on the tour and stays
Back when I was livin' at home and this was all a big dream
And the fame will be get got
And the day I moved to L.A., maybe that was all my fault
All my fault to be a real boy, chasin' the American dream
Chasin' everything we seen, up on the TV screen
And when uh, the Benz was left, and the clothes was left
And the hoes was left, you talk the hoes to death
Thinkin' the money to death
You spend the dough to death
And tell me what be left, for a real boy!
They say "Kanye, you keep it too real boy"
Perspective, and wise man say
One day, you'll find your way

The wise man say, you'll find your way
The wise man say, you'll find your way
Wise man say

Overall Meaning

In the opening verse of Pinocchio Story, Kanye reflects on the idea that he may never find real love, despite having everything else in the world figured out. He poses a question to his audience, asking them if they think he's sacrificed real life for the fame and flashing lights that come with his success. Kanye then ponders the idea that there is nothing materialistic he could buy that would fill the void he's feeling. He wants to know what it feels like to live a real life and be a real boy, not just a facade on TV.

In the second verse, Kanye continues the Pinocchio metaphor, recognizing that his pursuit of fame and success is similar to Pinocchio's pursuit of becoming a real boy. He acknowledges that he tells the truth, but still feels like he's searching for something that he can't quite find. Kanye expresses the pressures he faces from others - to smile for the camera or to autograph something - and how it makes him feel like he's not living a real life. The final lines tie back to the idea of being a real boy, and the wise man's words of finding his way.

Pinocchio Story is a deeply personal and introspective song that highlights the struggles Kanye faced with the pressures of fame and success, as well as his journey towards finding meaning and authenticity in his life.

Line by Line Meaning

Wise man say, wise man say
The wise man is repeatedly saying something important

You'll never figure out real love
Real love is elusive and you may never truly understand it

It's so crazy, crazy-crazy
The situation is overwhelming and insane

I got everything figured out
In most aspects of life, Kanye feels he has a solid understanding

But for some reason I can never find what real love is about
Despite his knowledge in other areas of life, he cannot grasp the concept of true love

No doubt
There is no denying this fact

Do you think I sacrifice, a real life For all the fame, and flashing lights
Kanye wonders if he has given up a genuine, authentic life to pursue fame and fortune

There is no clothes that I could buy That could turn, back in time
Material possessions cannot undo the past or recreate lost moments

Real life, what does it feel like? I ask you tonight
Kanye is questioning what it genuinely feels like to live an authentic life, and poses the question to the listener

Pinocchio's story is, I just wanna be a real boy
Kanye relates to the fictional character Pinocchio, who longed to become a real boy

It's like I'm lookin for something out there, tryna find something
Kanye feels like he's searching for something that is out there, but isn't sure what it is

Do you really have the stamina?
Kanye questions whether he has the strength to continue living a public life with so much scrutiny

For everybody that sees you cryin', say you oughta laugh You oughta laugh!?
People expect Kanye to always be happy and laughing, even if he's going through a difficult time

And there is no Gepetto, to guide me No one, right beside me
Kanye feels like he's alone and lacks guidance like Pinocchio's father figure Gepetto

And the fame will be get got
The fame that Kanye has obtained will ultimately come back to haunt him

And the day I moved to L.A., maybe that was all my fault
Kanye wonders if his move to LA was the start of his problems

Chasin' everything we seen, up on the TV screen
Kanye admits to chasing material possessions and wealth inspired by what he sees in the media

Thinkin' the money to death You spend the dough to death
Kanye is fixated on money to a detrimental degree and spends it recklessly

And tell me what be left, for a real boy!
Kanye questions what remains for him as a person, as opposed to his public persona

Wise man say, you'll find your way
The wise man from earlier reiterates that Kanye will eventually find his true path

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KANYE WEST

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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