The second part of “Father Stretch My Hands” details Kanye’s most personal … Read Full Bio ↴The second part of “Father Stretch My Hands” details Kanye’s most personal moments—from not having time to call his wife due to work, to talking about his mother’s death.

Hours before the album’s launch event on February 11, 2016, Kanye revealed that his own father served as inspiration for the track, and that he was brought to tears during its creation. This is in contrast to the Gospel use of the term ‘father’ (as in Part 1), referring to God.

Kanye’s father, Ray West, left him and his mother Donda when he was 3 years old. Donda said the reason they divorced was because Ray put his work before her and Kanye. Kanye reflects on his father’s decisions and how he doesn’t want to make the same mistakes with his family.

The track features a sample of “Panda” from G.O.O.D. Music’s newest signee, Desiigner.

pt. 2
Kanye West Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Faaaaaaaa (Perfect) faaaaaaaa
Faaaaaaaa faaaaaaaa
I told, I told, ayy ayy, I told you

Up in the mornin', miss you bad
Sorry I ain't call you back
Same problem my father had
All this time, all he had, all he had

And what he dreamed, all his cash
Market crashed, hurt him bad
People get divorced for that
Dropped some stacks, pops is good
Mama passed in Hollywood
If you ask, lost my soul
Drivin' fast, lost control
Off the road, jaw was broke
'Member we all was broke
'Member I'm comin' back
I'll be takin' all the stacks, oh

I got broads in Atlanta
Twistin' dope, lean, and the Fanta
Stacks, oh credit cards and the scammers
Hittin' off licks in the bando
Takin' all the stacks, oh black, Phantom
White looks like a panda stacks, oh
Going out like I'm Montana
Hundred killers, hundred hammers
Black, Phantom white, panda
Pockets swole, Danny sellin' bar, candy
Man I'm the macho like Randy
The choppa go Oscar for Grammy
Bitch nigga, pull up ya panty
Hope you killas understand me

I just wanna feel liberated, I, I, I (Hey)
I just wanna feel liberated, I, I, I (Panda)
Panda, panda, panda, panda
Takin' all the stacks, oh
Panda, panda, panda stacks, oh
Takin' all the stacks, oh

I got broads in Atlanta
Twist the dope, lean and shit, sippin' Fanta
Stacks, oh credit cards and the scammers
Wake up Versace, shit like Desiigner
Takin' all the stacks, oh
Whole bunch of lavish shit
They be askin' 'round town
Who be clappin' shit
I be pullin' up stuff in the Phantom ship
I got plenty of stuff of Bugatti
Whip look how I try this shit black, Phantom
White killin' on camera

My joy

How can I find you? Who do you turn to?
How do I bind you?

If I don't turn to you
No other help I know, I stretch my hands

Overall Meaning

In “Pt. 2” Kanye West reminisces on his relationship with his late mother and father, touching upon the lessons he learned from them, the difficulties they faced, and his own feelings of loss and disorientation. The song begins with the phrase “I told you” repeated three times, indicating regret or unease possibly at a missed opportunity to connect or communicate. Kanye expresses his sadness and apology for not calling back as he misses the person he addressed in these lines. He makes analogies between himself and his father who had devoted his time and dreams to making something of himself but had lost everything in a market crash. His mother’s death also had a significant impact on Kanye. To cope with mental distress and loss, he turned to drugs and material possessions, as described in the second verse mentioning Atlanta, “broad(s)”, “dope”, “lean” and “Fanta”. He creates an image of excess and rebellion through various illegal activities or associations, and is seen as a “maverick” or “outlaw” persona in society.

The chorus “I just want to feel liberated, I, I, I/Taking all the stacks, oh” provides insight into Kanye’s state of mind. He seeks freedom and relief from pain, longing to be released from society’s constraints or his own psychological burdens. The phrase “Taking all the stacks” could be emblematic of his desire to succeed and gain wealth at any cost, both as a source of comfort and a means of escaping painful emotions. The song ends with an expression of desperate search for help, “How can I find you? Who do you turn to?/How do I bind you?/If I don't turn to you, no other help I know, I stretch my hands,” indicating Kanye’s despair and feeling of being lost.

Line by Line Meaning

I told, I told, ay ay, I told you
Repeating the importance of a message previously given

Up in the morning, miss you bad
Waking up and missing someone greatly

Sorry I ain't called you back
Apologizing for not returning a call

Same problem my father had
Experiencing the same issue as one's father

All his time, all he had, all he had
Putting all of one's effort and resources into a dream

In what he dreamed
Focusing on a dream

All his cash, market crashed
Losing all of one's money due to a failed business venture

Hurt him bad, people get divorced for that
The financial loss causing great pain and strife, leading to divorce

Drops some stacks pops is good
Spending money to help one's father

Momma pass in Hollywood
The passing of one's mother in a particular location

If you ask, lost my soul
Feeling lost and empty inside

Driving fast, lost control
Speeding and losing control of one's actions

Off the road, jaw was broke
Having a car accident and injuring one's self

'Member we all was broke
Remembering a time when everyone was poor

'Member I'm coming back
Remembering one's intentions to return to a better financial state

I'll be taking all the stacks
Promising to acquire a large amount of money through any means necessary

I got broads in Atlanta
Having female companions in Atlanta

Twisting dope, lean, and the Fanta
Doing drugs and drinking soda

Credit cards and the scammers
Using stolen credit cards and participating in scams

Hitting off licks in the bando
Successfully robbing places

Black X6, Phantom
Driving a black luxury car

White X6 looks like a panda
Driving a white luxury car that resembles a panda

Going out like I'm Montana
Dying in a manner similar to Tony Montana from Scarface

Hundred killers, hundred hammers
Having a large number of hired killers

Pockets swole, Danny
Having a large amount of money in one's pockets

Selling bar, candy
Selling illegal drugs

Man I'm the macho like Randy
Being tough and dominant like Randy Savage

The choppa go Oscar for Grammy
Using a gun to win an award, whether it be an Oscar or Grammy

Bitch nigga, pull up ya panty
Insulting someone and telling them to be more tough

Hope you killas understand me
Hoping that one's hired killers understand one's intent

I just want to feel liberated, I, I, I
Desiring to feel free and unrestricted

Taking all the stacks, oh
Acquiring a large amount of money by any means necessary

Wake up Versace, shit life Desiigner
Living a luxurious life similar to Versace, not like one of struggle

Whole bunch of lavish shit
Having many expensive and extravagant things

They be asking round town who be clappin shit
Others questioning who is responsible for various successful illegal activities

I be pullin up stuff in the Phantom ship
Arriving in a luxurious car and successfully executing illegal activities

I got plenty of stuff of Bugatti, whip look how I try this shit
Having many fast and expensive cars, showing them off proudly

Black X6, Phantom
Driving a black luxury car

White X6, killing on camera
Being responsible for a death and having it caught on camera

How can I find you?
Asking someone how they can be located

Who do you turn to?
Asking who someone trusts in times of need

How do I bind you?
Asking how to bring someone closer or create a bond

If I don't turn to you
If someone doesn't turn to another person for help

No other help I know, I stretch my hands
Feeling like there is no one else who can offer assistance, reaching out for help

Lyrics © THE BEST MUSIC COMPANY, SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC
Written by: Adnan Khan, Caroline Shaw, Cydel Young, Kanye West, Malik Yousef, Noah Goldstein, Pat Reynolds, Rick Rubin, Sidney Selby, TL Barrett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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