Kanye dedicates “Wouldn’t Leave” to his wife Kim Kardashian. Throughout the… Read Full Bio ↴Kanye dedicates “Wouldn’t Leave” to his wife Kim Kardashian. Throughout the song, he references past errors such as his rant on Sway in the Morning or the TMZ interview during which he called slavery “a choice”. Despite these incidents, which got him into some trouble, Kim stayed by his side. Kanye expresses his gratitude to her, appreciating that she didn’t leave him and that she sticks with him in hard times.

Here we get to see the sensitive side of Kanye, regretting his past utterances and shouting out all the women in the world that put up with their significant other’s choices, like Kim did with his.
We also see him describing how, though he is a free thinker and that his so-called ‘fans’ love this particular quality of him, he is still bashed and shamed for thinking such a way.

“Wouldn’t Leave” was first teased as one of two tentative track titles for ye, which were seen on a whiteboard shortly before the album’s release. Along with all other tracks, it was first shown in a listening party broadcast from Jackson Hole, Wyoming which could be accessed through the app “WAV.”

Wouldn't Leave
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I don't feel that she's mine enough
God, I feel I couldn't have you windin' up
Butterfly in my wrist
You make pretty women out of my skin
And I don't feel like
And I know you wouldn't leave

They said, "Build your own" I said, "How, Sway?"

I said, "Slavery a choice," they said, "How, Ye?"
Just imagine if they caught me on a wild day
Now I'm on fifty blogs gettin' fifty calls
My wife callin', screamin', say, "We 'bout to lose it all"
Had to calm her down 'cause she couldn't breathe
Told her she could leave me now
But she wouldn't leave

And I know you wouldn't leave

And I sometimes wish
We doin' such things
We could wait longer than this
Yes you know, you're one of these
We can run through with the top chopped, yeah
And the sundress down, ooh

And I know you wouldn't leave

Oh, don't bring that up, that's gon' get me sentimental
You know I'm sensitive, I got a gentle mental
Every time somethin' happen, they want me sent to mental
We had an incident but I cover incidentals
You want me working on my messaging
When I'm thinkin' like George Jetson but sounding like George Jefferson
Then they questioning my methods then

If you tweakin' out on my texts again then I don't get reception here
I got the mind state to take us past the stratosphere
I use the same attitude that done got us here
I live for now, I don't know what happen after here
I live for now, I don't know what happen after here
Plus, what was meant to be was meant to be
Even if, publicly, I lack the empathy
I ain't finna talk about it, 'nother four centuries
One and one is two but me and you, that's infinity (and I know you wouldn't leave)

I don't feel that she's mine enough
God, I feel I couldn't have you windin' up (why?)
Butterfly in my wrist
You make pretty women out of my skin (out of my skin)
And I don't feel like (uh)
And I know you wouldn't leave (love me or hate me)

For any guy that ever fucked up (love me or hate me)
Ever embarrassed they girl (love me or hate me)
Ever embarrassed they wife (gone when you miss me)
She told you not to do that shit (oh)
She told you you's gon' fuck the money up
But you ain't wanna listen, did you?
Keep that same energy
Keep that same energy
Now you testing her loyalty
This what they mean when they say, "For better or for worse", huh?
For every down female that stuck with they dude
Through the best times, through the worst times
This for you
And I know you wouldn't leave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kanye West’s song “Wouldn’t Leave” suggest a contemplative reflection on relationships, fame, and vulnerability. The first verses depict how Kanye feels about his wife, Kim Kardashian, the pressure that comes with fame, and his own insecurities. The image of a “butterfly in my wrist” suggests that Kim has the power to transform him, making him feel vulnerable and exposed. He acknowledges that he’s paranoid and scared that she might leave him, but deep down he knows she wouldn’t.

Initially, Kanye seems to be criticising the idea that black people need to “build their own” without any outside assistance, and the backlash he received from his public support of Donald Trump. He describes the numerous calls he got from media outlets and the effect it had on his relationship with Kim. In the wake of his controversial comments, he felt like he was losing everything, but Kim stayed with him, despite it all. The song concludes with Kanye speaking to all the women who've stuck with their partners through thick and thin and acknowledging that he knows Kim would never leave him.

The song is an emotionally raw ballad that demonstrates Kanye West's fear of losing people he loves and feels close to. While the song can be interpreted in different ways, it is widely seen as a tribute to Kim Karsdashian and their relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't feel that she's mine enough
I feel like my lover may leave me, as though she is not completely devoted to me

God, I feel I couldn't have you windin' up
I am afraid that my lover will end up leaving me, despite my efforts to keep her

Butterfly in my wrist
My love for you is intense, like a butterfly fluttering in my wrist

You make pretty women out of my skin
You bring out the best version of me, making my flaws appear beautiful

And I know you wouldn't leave
Despite my fears, I trust that you will stick with me through all of my faults and mistakes

They said, 'Build your own' I said, 'How, Sway?'
When people tell me to make something of myself, I don't know where to start

I said, 'Slavery a choice,' they said, 'How, Ye?'
When I made my controversial statement about slavery and its impact on the black community, people demanded an explanation

Just imagine if they caught me on a wild day
If people caught me in the wrong frame of mind, they would be even more critical of me

Now I'm on fifty blogs gettin' fifty calls
My words and actions are constantly being scrutinized by the media and others

My wife callin', screamin', say, 'We 'bout to lose it all'
My wife is afraid that my controversial statements and behavior may cause me to lose everything I've worked for

Had to calm her down 'cause she couldn't breathe
I had to reassure and comfort my wife, who was so distressed she could barely breathe

Told her she could leave me now
I offered my wife the chance to end our relationship due to my mistakes

But she wouldn't leave
Despite everything, my wife is committed to me and won't abandon me

And I sometimes wish
I sometimes wish we could take things slower

We could wait longer than this
We could take more time to develop our relationship and not rush into things

Yes you know, you're one of these
You know you're one of the people I most care about

We can run through with the top chopped, yeah
We can cruise around in a convertible car with the top down

And the sundress down, ooh
I imagine you in a flowing sundress, looking beautiful and carefree

Oh, don't bring that up, that's gon' get me sentimental
Stop talking about things that will make me emotional

You know I'm sensitive, I got a gentle mental
You know I'm easily affected and have a delicate state of mind

Every time somethin' happen, they want me sent to mental
Whenever I make a mistake or act out, people suggest I need professional help for my mental health

We had an incident but I cover incidentals
We had a problem, but I handled it without causing any other issues to occur

You want me working on my messaging
You want me to think about how I communicate my thoughts and opinions to the public

When I'm thinkin' like George Jetson but sounding like George Jefferson
I feel like a forward-thinking person, but people criticize me for sounding too old-fashioned

Then they questioning my methods then
People constantly question the way I do things

If you tweakin' out on my texts again then I don't get reception here
If you're upset about something I texted to you, then we're not communicating well

I got the mind state to take us past the stratosphere
I have a positive mindset that can help us achieve great things together

I use the same attitude that done got us here
I use the same determination and passion that brought us to where we are now

I live for now, I don't know what happen after here
I focus on the present and don't worry too much about the future

Plus, what was meant to be was meant to be
I believe that destiny will ultimately determine what happens in our lives

Even if, publicly, I lack the empathy
Even if I don't always express my concern for others in a public way, I still do care

I ain't finna talk about it, 'nother four centuries
I don't want to discuss certain controversial topics for another 400 years

One and one is two but me and you, that's infinity (and I know you wouldn't leave)
Together, we are so much more than just two people, and I know that you'll never abandon me

For any guy that ever fucked up (love me or hate me)
This song is for any man who has made a mistake or caused pain in their relationship

Ever embarrassed they girl (love me or hate me)
This song is also for any man who has ever made his girlfriend or wife feel ashamed or humiliated

Ever embarrassed they wife (gone when you miss me)
Men who have embarrassed their wife, take note that she will realize your importance only when you're not there

She told you not to do that shit (oh)
Listen to your partner when they tell you not to do something

She told you you's gon' fuck the money up
She warned you that your actions would have negative consequences

But you ain't wanna listen, did you?
You chose not to listen to your partner's advice

Keep that same energy
Keep the same level of love and commitment that you've always shown your partner, despite your mistakes

Now you testing her loyalty
Your past mistakes may be causing your partner to question their loyalty to you

This what they mean when they say, 'For better or for worse', huh?
This phrase refers to the commitment that couples make to stick together no matter what happens, good or bad

For every down female that stuck with they dude
This song also acknowledges women who have stuck with their partners through tough times

Through the best times, through the worst times
These women have been with their partners through both the good and bad times

This for you
This song is dedicated to these women

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: W.A. Donaldson, Michael Dean, Kanye West, Tyrone Girrin, Jr., Justice Vernon, Jahron Brathwaite, Francis Farewell Starlite, Malik Yusef, Noah Goldstein, Jeremih Felton, Kenneth Pershon, Terrence Boykin, Jordan Thorpe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS