School Spirit Skit 2
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You keep it going, man, you keep those books rolling
You, you pick up all those books that you're gonna read
And not remember and you roll, man
You get that Associate degree, okay?
Then you get your Bachelors', then you get your Masters
Then you get your Master's masters
Then you get your Doctrine
You go, man

And then, when everybody says quit
You show them those degree, man
When everyone says, "Hey, you're not working, you're not making any money"
You say, "You look at my degrees, and you look at my life
Yeah, I'm 52, so what?"
Hate all you want, but I'm smart, I'm so smart
And, and I'm in school
These guys are out here making money all these ways
And I'm spending mine to be smart
You know why?
'Cause when I die, buddy

You know what's gonna keep me warm?
That's right, those degrees

Overall Meaning

The skit in Kanye West's song School Spirit Skit 2 is a satirical commentary on the value of education, particularly in the context of modern society's obsession with instant gratification and profit. The singer in the skit is portrayed as a persistent scholar who is investing time and money in obtaining multiple academic degrees, even though he acknowledges that the real world may not reward him for his efforts. He defiantly declares that his knowledge and accomplishments are worth more than material possessions, and that his education will serve as a legacy that he can be proud of even after his death.

The skit touches upon several themes that are prevalent in Kanye West's music, including ambition, perseverance, and self-confidence. It also highlights the tension between education as a means of personal growth and education as a commodity that can be marketed and traded for economic gain. By satirizing the idea that education is only valuable if it leads to financial success, the skit celebrates the intrinsic worth of learning as a lifelong pursuit that can enrich one's soul and mind.

Line by Line Meaning

You keep it going, man, you keep those books rolling
You continue with your studies and keep learning.

You, you pick up all those books that you're gonna read
You pick up all those books that you plan to read.

And not remember and you roll, man
You read the books and not remember everything or retain anything.

You get that Associate degree, okay?
You complete your Associate degree.

Then you get your Bachelors', then you get your Masters
After that, you complete your Bachelors', then your Masters.

Then you get your Master's masters
You get advanced degrees such as Doctorate, PhD etc.

Then you get your Doctrine
You complete your doctorate degree or PhD.

You go, man
You keep going and never give up.

And then, when everybody says quit
When others suggest you to quit, you don't.

You show them those degree, man
You show them your degrees as evidence of your knowledge and hard work.

When everyone says, "Hey, you're not working, you're not making any money"
When people criticize you for not working and making money, you respond with your educational achievements.

You say, "You look at my degrees, and you look at my life
You challenge others to compare your degrees with their own life.

Yeah, I'm 52, so what?"
You don't let age become a barrier to your education or success.

Hate all you want, but I'm smart, I'm so smart
Regardless of what others think or say, you know you are smart because of your degrees.

And, and I'm in school
You are proud to be in school and continuing your education.

These guys are out here making money all these ways
While others are busy making money, you are investing in your education.

And I'm spending mine to be smart
You are willing to invest your money in education to increase your knowledge.

You know why?
You have a clear purpose for investing in your education.

'Cause when I die, buddy
You know that your degrees will be of value even after you are gone.

You know what's gonna keep me warm?
Your degrees will serve as a source of pride and accomplishment even after death.

That's right, those degrees
Your degrees will be a tangible representation of your hard work, knowledge and intelligence.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kanye West

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it