Wash Us in the Blood
Kanye West Lyrics

A roaring lion, walketh about
Evil and danger are present and constantly looking for its next victim.

Seeking whom he may (devour)
The dangers and evils of the world are looking to consume people.

(Ronny J, please turn me up)
Asking the audio engineer to increase the volume of the song.

Take some rain, nonstop
A plea for restraint and peace.

Rain, don't want war
Peace is desired over conflict.

Rain come, rain come
Asking for a peaceful resolution to troubles.

Come shine, come rain, good month
Asking for blessings, both in good times and bad.

South side, let it bang
Acknowledgement of a rough neighborhood or environment.

Outside let it rain
The outside world may be dangerous, so rain may symbolize protection.

Rain down on the pain
Asking for comfort and relief from suffering.

Rain down on the slain
Asking for comfort and relief for those who have been hurt, oppressed or killed.

Rain down for my mom (ooh)
A personal request for blessings for the artist's mother.

Rain down on the farm (ah)
Asking for blessings on agriculture and farming.

Shower us with your love (ha)
Asking for love and affection from God.

Wash us in the blood (ooh)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Drop this for the thugs (ah)
Providing music for people who come from difficult circumstances.

Know I grew up in the mud (ha)
Acknowledging a tough upbringing or challenging environment in which the artist was raised.

The top is not enough
Being successful is not always enough, and problems and struggles can persist.

Wash us in the blood (ah)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Is there anybody here? (Ha)
A question directed to the audience or the world.

Is there anybody here? (Ooh)
The question is repeated, emphasizing the desire for connection.

That can save, no matter how much he player-hate? Hahaha
Asking if someone can save, even in the face of criticism.

It was the blood that (ooh)
Discussing the idea that salvation comes through the blood of Jesus.

It was the blood that (God)
Reiterating that salvation comes from God.

It was the blood that cleansed me, ha
Personal reflection that the blood of Jesus has been cleansing.

It was the (ooh)
Reiterating the significance of the blood of Jesus.

Shower down on us (ah)
Asking for blessings from God to come down.

Wash us in the blood (ha)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Wash us in the blood (ooh)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Whole life bein' thugs (ah)
Acknowledging a lifetime of coming from a challenging and difficult lifestyle.

No choice, sellin' drugs (ha)
Expressing a feeling of having no choice other than to sell drugs due to the artist's environment.

Southside what it does? (God)
Asking God to bless and protect a tough neighborhood on the South Side of a city.

Rain down on us (ah)
Asking for blessings and protection from God.

Genocide, what it does (ha)
Reflecting on the devastation of genocide and its impacts.

Slavery, what it does (ooh)
Reflecting on the devastating impact of slavery on people and society alike.

Wash us in the blood (ooh)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Wash us in Your blood (ah)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption through a reference to God.

Wash us in the blood (and as we live in this evil)
Asking for redemption and protection while living in a challenging world.

Wash us in the blood (and crooked and just pathetic world)
Asking for redemption and protection while living in a corrupt and unjust world.

Holy Spirit, come down (come take)
Asking for the Holy Spirit to come down and provide guidance and support.

Holy Spirit, come down (come down)
Repeating the request for the Holy Spirit to come down.

Holy Spirit, help now (way down)
Asking for the guidance and support of the Holy Spirit, especially during difficult times.

Holy Spirit, help now (uh, uh)
Repeating the request for the guidance and support of the Holy Spirit.

Wash us in the blood (yeah)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Whole life bein' thugs (ha)
Acknowledging a lifetime of coming from a challenging and difficult lifestyle.

No choice, sellin' drugs (ooh)
Expressing a feeling of having no choice other than to sell drugs due to the artist's environment.

Genocide, what it does (ah)
Reflecting on the devastation of genocide and its impacts.

Mass incarc', what it does (ha)
Reflecting on the devastating impact of mass incarceration on people and society alike.

Cost a cause, what it does (ooh)
Reflecting on the societal and personal costs of various issues.

'Nother life bein' lost (whoa)
Reflecting on the loss of life due to various issues.

Let it off, set it off
A statement related to starting something or getting something going.

Execution, thirty states (that's why)
Referring to the practice of the death penalty in thirty states, possibly alluding to injustice in the criminal justice system.

Thirty states still execute (ah)
Reiterating how many states still practice the death penalty.

Thou shall not kill
Referencing one of the Ten Commandments which forbids murder.

I should not spill Nextels at the rendez-vous (oh)
Acknowledging wrongdoing in the past and expressing remorse.

We dodgin' time in the Federal (get 'em)
Referencing avoiding jail or prison time.

Squad box you in like a sectional (oh, no)
Referencing being boxed in or cornered.

We walk through the blast and the residue (oh)
Enduring the aftermath of difficult situations.

Now look what we headed to (ah)
Questioning or reflecting on the current state of affairs.

Rain down on us (ha)
Asking for blessings and protection from God.

Rain down on us (ooh)
Asking for blessings and protection from God.

Wash us in the blood (ah)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Wash us in the blood (ha)
Asking for spiritual cleansing and redemption.

Holy spirit, come down (ooh)
Asking for the Holy Spirit to come down and provide guidance and support.

Holy spirit, come down (ah)
Repeating the request for the Holy Spirit to come down.

And they tryna control 'Ye (ha)
Expression of frustration that the artist is being controlled or censored.

They want me to calm down (ooh)
Society or those in power want the artist to be less outspoken or controversial.

They don't want me to Kanye
Society or those in power don't want the artist to be his true self and share his opinions.

They don't want Kanye to be Kanye
Reiterating that society or those in power don't want the artist to be truly himself.

They wanna sign a fake Kanye
Society or those in power want a representation of the artist that is not authentic.

They tryna sign a calm 'Ye
Society or those in power want the artist to be less outspoken or controversial.

That's right I call him Calm-Ye
A humorous way to acknowledge the two sides of his persona - calm and outspoken.

But don't take me the wrong way (no)
Asking the audience to interpret his words and thoughts accurately.

But don't take me the wrong way (ah)
Reiterating the request to be understood correctly.

'Cause God took me a long way (ha)
Acknowledging the journey he has been on, and attributing it to God's guidance.

They wanna edit the interviews (we)
Society or those in power want to censor or control what he says in interviews.

They wanna take it to interludes (need)
Society or those in power want to use select parts from his interviews out of context.

Cut a whole sentence to interlude (to get back)
Society or those in power may cut out entire sections of interviews to further their own narratives or agendas.

You know that it's fake if it's in the news (home)
Expressing a distrust in the news media as a source of reliable information.

So I let it fly when I'm in the booth (ah)
Referring to how he expresses himself through his music without censorship.

The devil a lie and I been the truth (ha)
Acknowledging how the devil can spread falsehoods, but he is committed to telling the truth.

Livid 'cause nobody livin' and nobody gettin' it
Expressing frustration that not enough people are taking action towards improving their lives and the world around them.

Doin' it different (ah)
Proudly acknowledging that he is doing things in a unique and different way.