Power
Kanye West Feat. Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz Lyrics

Is this thing on?
Is anyone listening or paying attention?

Oh, I thought they silenced us, Ye
I thought they tried to suppress us, but they couldn't

Power to the people
Empowering the masses

We living in that 31st century, futuristic fly shit
We're living in a futuristic era, doing amazing things

The penthouse is the projects and everybody flies private
Even the wealthiest live luxuriously and privately

New watches, you know what time it is, watch us
Our success is evident, pay attention to us

They can't stop us, the prophets, biatches!
No one can hinder our influence and impact, bitches!

No one man should have all that power
No single person should possess excessive power

The clock's ticking, I just count the hours
Time is passing, but I am conscious of it

Stop tripping, I'm tripping off the power
Stop worrying, I am overwhelmed by my own power

(No one man should have all that power)
(No single person should possess excessive power)

Rumble, young man, rumble
Fight and overcome, young man

Life is a trip, so sometimes we gonna stumble
Life is unpredictable, so we will encounter obstacles

You gotta go through pain in order to become you
Enduring pain is necessary for self-discovery and growth

But once the world numbs you, you'll feel like it's only one you
When the world desensitizes you, you may feel alone

Now you got the power to do anything you want to
Now you have the ability to achieve anything you desire

Until you ask yourself, 'Is this what it's all come to?'
Eventually, you question if this is the meaning of it all

Looking at life through sunglasses and a sunroof
Viewing life from a privileged and glamorous perspective

But do you have the power to get out from up under you
Do you have the strength to free yourself from your circumstances

Fuck all these labels, fuck what everybody wants from you
Disregard expectations and demands from others

They're trying to Axl Rose you, welcome to the jungle
They're trying to destroy you like they did Axl Rose (lead singer of Guns N' Roses), welcome to the harsh reality

To be continued, we on that Norman Mailer shit
This story is not over, we're on the same level as author Norman Mailer (known for his provocative works)

In search of the truth even if it goes through Taylor Swift
Seeking the truth, even if it means confronting Taylor Swift (symbolizing a popular figure)

Tell her this
Convey this message to her

Now when I walk in, everybody do the 'Power' clap
When I enter, everyone applauds with enthusiasm for 'Power'

Fresh for the club, I just took a half an hour nap
I'm well-rested and ready for the club after a short nap

I seen people go crazy when the whole world in our lap
I witnessed people becoming ecstatic when the world is within our reach

My socket was out the plug, now it's time to get the power back
I was disconnected, but now I need to regain my influence

I seen people abuse power, use power, misuse and then lose power
I witnessed people exploiting, utilizing incorrectly, and then losing their power

Power to the people at last, it's a new hour
Finally, power is given back to the people, a new era begins

Now we all ain't going be American Idols
We won't all become famous and successful like American Idols

But you can least grab a camera, shoot a viral, huh
At the very least, use a camera to create viral content

Take the power in your own hands
Take control of your own destiny

I'm a grown man, doing my grown dance
I am an adult, living my life freely

I don't stop until I see the end, my vision clear, bitch
I persist until I accomplish my goals, and my vision is focused

I'm on my Van Gogh, I don't hear shit
I am in my own artistic world, unaffected by external noise

Now everything I'm rhyming on cause a Ramadan
Every verse I rap has significant impact, like Ramadan (a holy month)

Been a don, praying for the families lost in the storm
I've been a boss, praying for families affected by tragedy

Bring our troops back from Iraq, keep our troops out of Iran
Advocating for the return of troops from Iraq and preventing involvement in Iran

So the next couple bars, I'mma drop 'em in Islam
The next lines will explore themes related to Islam

They say as-salamu alaykum say wa alaikum assalam
They greet with 'peace be upon you' and I respond with 'and upon you be peace'

That's no Oscar Mayer bacon, you should run and tell your mom
That's not something insignificant, you should inform your mother

Now the question is, how we going stop the next Vietnam
The question is, how will we prevent another Vietnam War?

Keep Flex out of Korea, cause you know he drop bombs
Prevent Flex (a DJ) from causing conflict in Korea, as he drops impactful music

Showtime
It's time to perform

Hey, yo, Yeezy
Hey, Kanye

Stop playing with these people, man
Stop toying with these individuals, man

They want see you act all crazy in this motherfucker, man
They want to witness your outrageous behavior in this situation, man

Take that jacket off and go crazy on them niggas, man
Remove your inhibitions, and unleash your madness upon them, man

You know what I'm talking about
You understand what I mean

What do it mean to be the boss
What does it mean to be the one in charge

It mean second place is the first one who lost
It means that the runner-up is the first to be defeated

The crucifixion, the being nailed to the cross
The torment and suffering, like being crucified

Truth or fiction, it's a hell of a cost, do the dishes
Distinguishing between truth and lies is costly, handle the consequences

I'm about to hit that Jeff Gordon
I'm about to achieve something great, like Jeff Gordon (NASCAR driver)

Michael Jordan, the only one more important
Michael Jordan is the only one more significant

But I be feeling like Jordan when I'm recording
I feel as if I am as great as Jordan when I'm making music

'Cause every time I record, I dunk and slap the boards
Every time I record, I achieve greatness and leave an impact

I don't know what these rappers gonna do afterwards
I'm unsure of how these rappers will succeed in the future

Prolly spaz like I might do at the awards
They'll probably react in a crazy way like I might at an awards ceremony

Huh, I got the whole crowd going crazy
I have the entire audience excited and enthusiastic

Homie, I should be rewarded
My talent and achievements deserve recognition

Gettin' money, Yeezy, Yeezy, how you do it, huh
Earning money, Yeezy, Yeezy, how do you achieve it, huh

Eating Wheaties, drinkin' Fiji, being greedy, huh
Consuming Wheaties cereal, drinking Fiji water, being ambitious, huh

Don't even think you can allude to the rumors
Don't even attempt to refer to the rumors

I'm immune to the boos, I'ma prove to you losers
I am unaffected by the disapproval, and I will prove the doubters wrong

It's all in time, my nigga
Everything will come in due time, my friend

See, I dreamed my whole life that I could rhyme with Jigga
I've always dreamt of rapping alongside Jigga (Jay-Z)

Now Jay my big brother and B my lil sister
Now Jay is like a big brother to me, and B (Beyoncé) is like a little sister

And excuse me, but you can't see my lil sister
And excuse me, but you don't have access to my lil sister (Beyoncé)

Number one sound across the board, hey
The sound that dominates in all aspects, hey

Number one now and forevermore, hey
Number one currently and forevermore, hey

Number one rule is niggas don't hate
The number one rule is to not hate one another

Maybe I'll drop the album, nah, all y'all gotta wait
Maybe I'll release the album, nah, everyone must wait

And on the net, they showing pictures of my Cali place
And on the internet, they're posting pictures of my California residence

My Maybach in NY, but it still got the Cali plates
My Maybach is in New York, but it still has California license plates

All my old girls know that I'm the one that got away
All my former girlfriends know that I am the one they couldn't keep

I think about at Christmas and play some Donny Hathaway
I reflect on this during Christmas and play songs by Donny Hathaway

And keep my bulletproof hater coat on
I wear my figurative bulletproof coat to protect myself from haters

Looking at some photos that I'm looking crazy dope on
Examining photos where I appear extremely cool and fashionable

Hand up, talking shit, yeah, I get my Pope on
Raising my hand, speaking arrogantly, emulating the Pope's authority

And go home with something to poke on
And go home with someone to have sexual relations with

That's what Dre said, but this what Ye said
That's what Dr. Dre said, but this is what Ye (Kanye) said

How Ye doing? Who Ye screwin?
How is Ye doing? Who is Ye having sexual relations with?

That's for my dick to know, before you get to know him
That's information only for my penis to know, before you know it yourself

She ain't give you ass, that pussy fictional
She didn't give you sex, that vagina is imaginary

I gotta give her the eviction note
I have to ask her to leave

'Tis, get yo' ass out, bitch, vamonos
'Tis, get your ass out, bitch, let's go

Five seconds to the song and we getting close
Only five seconds left in the song and we are getting closer to the end

I got the power, motherfucker, if you didn't know
I have the power, motherfucker, in case you were unaware

Chill, chill, chill, chill, man
Calm down, calm down, calm down, calm down, man

Chill, Ye, chill
Calm down, Kanye, calm down

Shit's burned up already
Everything's already ruined

It's over
It's finished