The Joy
Kanye West Lyrics


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Add a little sugar, honeysuckle and
A great big expression of happiness
Boy, you couldn't miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you

I do it for the fore-fathers and the street authors
That are not A&R's in the cheap office
Rappers that never got signed but they keep offers
Girls that's way too fine for us to keep off us
Gave her a handshake only for my man's sake
She in her birthday suit cause of the damn cake
Now there's crumbs all over the damn place
And she want me to cum all over her damn face
I never understood planned parenthood
'Cause I never met nobody planned to be a parent in the hood
Taking refills of that plan B pill
Another shorty that won't make it to the family will
If I don't make it, can't take it, hope the family will
They ain't crazy they don't know how insanity feel
Don C just had a shorty so it's not that bad
But I still hear the ghosts of the kids I never had

Add a little sugar, honeysuckle and
A great big expression of happiness
Boy, you couldn't miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you

No Electro, no metro, a little retro, ahh perfecto
You know the demo, ya boy act wild
You ain't get the memo? Yeezy's back in style
Now one room got Gidget, the other got Bridget
What's more tripped out dawg is they sisters
Nah, you ain't listen, they black, they sisters
They momma, named them after white bitches
So next time you see me on your fallopian
Though the jewelry's Egyptian, know the hunger's Ethiopian
Stupid questions like, "Is he gon' be dope again?
Have you seen him? Has anybody spoke to him?"
This beat deserves Hennessy, a bad bitch and a bag of weed, the Holy Trinity
In the mirror where I see my only enemy
Your life's cursed, well mine's an obscenity

Add a little sugar, honeysuckle and
A great big expression of happiness
Boy, you couldn't miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you
The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you

This is my momma shit
I used to hear this through the walls in the hood
When I was back in my pajama shit
Afro's and marijuana sticks, seeds and the ganja had
It popping like the sample that I'm rhyming with
Pete Rock, let the needle drop
I seen so much as a kid they surprised I don't needle pop
Taking sips of pop's six-pack of Miller nips
Pink Champale, Ballantine Ale
Ballys on my feet help me balance out well
That and the shit I used to balance on the scale
I got it honest from the parties from my momma's
Virgin Mary's try to judge her, I'm like, "Where the Madonna's now?"
Give all glory to Gloria, they said, "You raised that boy too fast"
But you was raising a warrior
We victorious, they'll never take the joy from us, uh

Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
Don't let them take your fire
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
Don't let them take your fire
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now
Don't let them take your fire
Keep you hands up, get 'em high now

It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay




It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kanye West/Jay-Z/Curtis Mayfield's song The Joy are an interesting blend of seemingly unrelated themes. The opening verse talks about happiness and joy being found in simple things like children laughing and a dozen roses. In contrast, the second verse talks about street life and unplanned pregnancies. The third verse is a nostalgic look back at the artist's childhood experiences growing up in the hood, with references to drug use and partying. Despite the different themes, there is a common thread of joy running through all the verses.


The song also features an interesting use of samples - the beat is based on Curtis Mayfield's "The Makings of You" and there are samples from hip hop producer Pete Rock's track "When I Need It" as well. The song was produced by Kanye West and Pete Rock, and originally leaked online in 2010 as "The Joy" before being officially released on Kanye West and Jay-Z's collaborative album Watch the Throne in 2011.


Overall, the lyrics to The Joy offer a unique perspective on finding joy in everyday experiences and dealing with the challenges of life in the inner city. The song is a testament to the resilience of those who grow up in difficult circumstances, and the power of music to bring people together.


Line by Line Meaning

Add a little sugar, honey suckle lamb
A great expression of happiness


Boy, you could not miss with a dozen roses
Such would astound you


The joy of children laughing around you
These are the makings of you


I do it for the fore-fathers and the street authors
Paying respect to rap artists who never made it


That are not A&R's in the cheap office
Who didn't get signed by a record label


Rappers that never got signed but they keep offers
Independent artists who continue to receive offers


Girls that's way too fine for us to keep off us
Girls that are too attractive to resist


Gave her a handshake only for my man's sake
Showing respect to a friend by refusing a woman's advances


She in her birthday suit cause of the damn cake
She's naked because of a celebratory cake


Now there's crumbs all over the damn place
Messy aftermath of their celebration


And she want me to cum all over her damn face
Graphic sexual reference


I never understood planned parenthood
Lack of understanding regarding family planning


Cause I never met nobody plan to be a parent in the hood
No one in his community plans to have children


Taking refills of that plan B pill
Repeating the emergency contraceptive


Another shorty that won't make it to the family will
Another unplanned pregnancy that will not become part of a family legacy


If I don't make it, can't take it, hope the family will
If he doesn't succeed, hopes his family will be able to cope


They ain't crazy they don't know how insanity feel
His family doesn't understand his struggles


Don C just had a shorty so it's not that bad
Don C recently had a child, making parenthood seem less daunting


But I still hear the ghosts of the kids I never had
Regret for not having children


No Electro, no metro, a little retro, I perfecto
No electronic beats, just a touch of nostalgia


You know the demo, ya boy act wild
Kanye's style and persona is familiar


You ain't get the memo, Yeezy's back in style
Kanye is back in the music scene with a new project


Now when Rome go Gidget the other got Bridget
Two different experiences


What's more tripped out though is they sisters
The fact that they're siblings is more surprising


Nah, you ain't listen, they black, they sisters
Their race is black


They momma, named them after white bitches
Reference to naming trends, in contrast with their own race


No next time you see me on your fallopian
He won't be fathering anyone's child


Though the Jewerly's Egyptian, know the hunger's Ethiopian
Despite being wealthy, he still has struggles and strives for betterment


Stupid questions like "Is he gon' be dope again?"
Doubting his ability to create good music


Have you seen him? Has anybody spoke to him?
People questioning his whereabouts and state of mind


This beat deserves Hennessy, a bad bitch and a bag of weed, the Holy Trinity
The perfect combination for the perfect song


In the mirror where I see my only enemy
His biggest critic is himself


Your life's cursed, well mine's an obscenity
Contrasting differences between their lives


This is my momma shit
Song is a tribute to music his mom used to listen to


I used to hear this through the walls in the hood
Recalling memories of hearing music throughout the neighborhood


When I was back in my pajama shit
During his youth


Afro's and marijuana sticks, seeds and the ganja hat
The culture and vibe of his upbringing


Will be popping like the sample that I'm rhyming with
Nostalgic reference to music samples used in the song


Pete Rock, let the needle drop
Acknowledging Pete Rock's contribution as a producer


I seen so much as a kid they surprised I don't needle pop
Despite his childhood experiences, he's managed to avoid drug addiction


Taking sips of pop, six packs of millanips
Relaxing by drinking soda and wine coolers


Pink champel, Valentine L
More indulgence, finer drinks


Bally's on my feet help me balance out well
Higher quality fashion, symbolizes success


That and the shit I used to balance on the scale
Referring to drug dealing as a means of financial balance


I got it honest from the parties from my momma's
Inherited his love of music and partying from his mother


Virgin Mary's try to judge her, I'm like "where the Madonna's now?"
Judgemental people are silent now


Give all glory to Gloria, they said "you raised that boy too fast,
Appreciation for his mother and her parenting decisions


But you was raising a warrior"
Raising him to be strong and resilient


We victorious, they'll never take the joy from us
Despite all their struggles, they remain happy and successful


Keep you hands up, get mine up
Keeping spirits high and hands joined in unity


Don't let them take your fire
Don't let negativity extinguish optimism


It's Pete Rock, Kanye, one, two, okay
Final acknowledgement of the artists and producers involved




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Talib Kweli, Kanye West, Curtis Mayfield, Jeffrey Bhasker, Peter O. Phillips, Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, Shawn Carter, Jeff Bhasker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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