The second verse interpolates Beanie Sigel’s classic track “Die” and explores the life of a teenage Kendrick expressing his fear of dying at a young age; especially with the rampant gang activity and police brutality in Compton, California. He takes a distinct turn in tone, rapping in a deep, monotone voice that denotes adolescent depression.
In the third and fourth verse, Kendrick revisits the anxieties found on 2015’s To Pimp A Butterfly: the lack of confidence in himself and his abilities, and the fear of losing the life he had built for himself; particularly at the age of 27. This notion may have been inspired by the familiar concept of the 27 Club, a group of famous artists and musicians who died at this age.
The fourth verse also acts as a thesis statement for the entire album, combining references to every other song on the tracklist. He goes beyond simply naming the tracks by addressing the recurring question from the album’s opener, “BLOOD.”:
“Is it wickedness?
Is it weakness?
You decide…“
Kendrick said that the verses in this song are the best he’s ever written, in an interview with i-D Magazine on October 17, 2017.
According to Songfacts, he explained the veracity of the song:
“It’s completely honest. The first verse is everything that I feared from the time that I was seven years old. The second verse I was 17, in the third it’s everything I feared when I was 27. These verses are completely honest.“
FEAR.
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's up family, yeah it's yo cousin Carl man, just given' you a call man
I know you been havin' a lot on yo mind lately
And I know you feel like ya know people ain't been prayin' for you
But you have to understand this man, that we are a cursed people
Deuteronomy 28:28 says
"The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness
And astonishment of heart."
You feel like you got a chip on your shoulder
Until you finally get the memo, you will always feel that way
Why God, why God do I gotta suffer?
Pain in my heart carry burdens full of struggle
Why God, why God do I gotta bleed?
Every stone thrown at you restin' at my feet
Why God, why God do I gotta suffer?
Earth is no more, why don't you burn this mufucka?
(I don't think I can find a way to make it on this earth)
I beat yo' ass, keep talkin' back
I beat yo' ass, who bought you that?
You stole it, I beat yo' ass if you say that game is broken
I beat yo' ass if you jump on my couch
I beat yo' ass if you walk in this house with tears in your eyes
Runnin' from poopoo and 'prentice
Go back outside, I beat yo' ass, lil nigga
That homework better be finished, I beat yo' ass
Yo' teachers better not be bitchin' 'bout you in class
That pizza better not be wasted, you eat it all
That TV better not be loud if you got it on
Them Jordans better not get dirty when I just bought 'em
Better not hear 'bout you humpin' on Keisha's daughter
Better not hear you got caught up, I beat yo' ass
You better not run to your father, I beat yo' ass
You know my patience runnin' thin
I got beaucoup payments to make
County building's on my ass
Tryna take my food stamps away
I beat yo' ass if you tell them social workers he live here
I beat yo' ass if I beat yo' ass twice and you still here
Seven years old, think you run this house by yourself?
Nigga, you gon' fear me if you don't fear no one else
If I can smoke fear away, I roll that motherfucker up
And then I take two puffs
I'm high now, I'm high now
I'm high now, I'm high now
Life's a bitch, pull them panties to the side now
(I don't think I can find a way to make it on this earth)
I'll prolly die anonymous
I'll prolly die with promises
I'll prolly die walkin' back home from the candy house
I'll prolly die 'cause these colors are standin' out
I'll prolly die because I ain't know Demarcus was snitchin'
I'll prolly die at these house parties, fuckin' with bitches
I'll prolly die from witnesses leavin' me false accused
I'll prolly die from thinkin' that me and your hood was cool
Or maybe die from pressin' the line, actin' too extra
Or maybe die because these smokers
Are more than desperate
I'll prolly die from one of these bats and blue badges
Body slammed on black and white paint, my bones snappin'
Or maybe die from panic or die from bein' too lax
Or die from waitin' on it, die 'cause I'm movin' too fast
I'll prolly die tryna buy weed at the apartments
I'll prolly die tryna diffuse two homies arguin'
I'll prolly die 'cause that's what you do when you're 17
All worries in a hurry, I wish I controlled things
If I could smoke fear away, I'd roll that mothafucka up
And then I'd take two puffs
I've been hungry all my life
I'm high now, I'm high now
I'm high now, I'm high now
Life's a bitch, pull them panties to the side now, now
When I was 27, I grew accustomed to more fear
Accumulated 10 times over throughout the years
My newfound life made all of me magnified
How many accolades do I need to block denial?
The shock value of my success put bolts in me
All this money, is God playin' a joke on me?
Is it for the moment and will he see me as Job?
Take it from me and leave me worse than I was before?
At 27, my biggest fear was losin' it all
Scared to spend money, had me sleepin' from hall to hall
Scared to go back to Section 8 with my mama stressin'
30 shows a month and I still won't buy me no Lexus
What is an advisor somebody that's holdin' my checks?
Just to fuck me over and put my finances in debt?
I read a case about Rihanna's accountant and wondered
How did the bad girl feel when she looked at them numbers?
The type of shit'll make me flip out
And just kill somethin', drill somethin'
Get ill and fill ratchets with a lil' somethin'
I practiced runnin' from fear, guess I had some good luck
At 27 years old, my biggest fear was bein' judged
How they look at me reflect on myself, my family, my city
What they say 'bout me reveal
If my reputation would miss me
What they see from me
Would trickle down generations in time
What they hear from me
Would make 'em highlight my simplest lines
I'm talkin' fear, fear of losin' creativity
I'm talkin' fear, fear of missin' out on you and me
I'm talkin' fear, fear of losin' loyalty from pride
'cause my DNA won't let me involve in the light of God
I'm talkin' fear, fear that my humbleness is gone
I'm talkin' fear, fear that love ain't livin' here no more
I'm talkin' fear, fear that it's wickedness or weakness
Fear, whatever it is, both is distinctive
Fear, what happens on Earth stays on Earth
And I can't take these feelings
With me so hopefully they disperse
Within fourteen tracks, carried out over wax
Searchin' for resolutions until somebody get back
Fear, what happens on earth stays on earth
And I can't take these feelings with me
So hopefully they disperse
Within fourteen tracks, carried out over wax
Wonderin' if I'm livin' through fear or livin' through rap
Damn
Goddamn you
Goddamn me
Goddamn us
Goddamn we
Goddamn us all
Verse two says you only have I known of all the families of the earth
Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities
So until we come back to these commandments
Until you come back to these commandments
We're gonna be in this place, we're gonna be under this curse
Because he said he's gonna punish us
The so-called Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American Indians
Are the true children of Israel
We are the Israelites according to the Bible
The children of Israel, he's gonna punish us for our iniquities
For our disobedience because we chose to follow other gods
That aren't his son, so the Lord thy God chasten you
So just like you'll chasten your own son
He's gonna chasten you because he loves you
So that's why we get chastised, that's why we're in the position we're in
Until we come back to these laws, statutes and commandments
And do what the Lord said, these curses are gonna be upon us
We're gonna be at a lower state in this life that we live here in today
In the United States of America
I love you, son, and I pray for you
God bless you, shalom
In Kendrick Lamar's "Fear," the rapper reflects on the struggles of life, including growing up as a young black man in America and dealing with the pressures of success. The song starts with an unsettling phone call from a family member who reads a passage from Deuteronomy 28:28, which speaks about how God will smite the chosen people with madness and astonishment of heart, leaving them with a chip on their shoulder. Lamar then launches into a series of verses that depict his own experiences with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. He talks about his fear of losing creativity, missing out on personal connections, and being punished for his sins. The song ends with Lamar reciting a prayer, asking God for help and guidance.
Throughout the track, Lamar acknowledges his own vulnerability, taking on the role of a lost and confused young man who is looking for answers. He also reflects on the social and political issues affecting black Americans, including police brutality, poverty, and institutionalized racism. The song speaks to the pervasive sense of anxiety and fear that many young people feel today, regardless of race or background.
Overall, "Fear" is a powerful and emotionally charged track that captures the complexity of life in contemporary America. Through poignant lyrics and raw emotion, Kendrick Lamar has created a masterpiece that speaks to the struggles and joys of modern-day existence.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't think I can find a way to make it on this earth
Expressing despair about the difficulties of life on Earth and the challenges that come with it.
And I know you feel like ya know people ain't been prayin' for you
Someone is feeling alienated and unsupported.
See family that's why you feel like / You feel like you got a chip on your shoulder / Until you finally get the memo, you will always feel that way
Explaining why someone may always feel resentment or anger towards others until they understand why they feel that way.
Why God, why God do I gotta suffer? / Pain in my heart carry burdens full of struggle / Why God, why God do I gotta bleed? / Every stone thrown at you restin' at my feet
Questioning why someone must endure pain, suffering and hardship, taking on the burdens of others.
If I can smoke fear away, I roll that motherfucker up / And then I take two puffs / I'm high now, I'm high now / Life's a bitch, pull them panties to the side now
Expressing a desire to escape the fears and anxieties of life through drug use, struggling to cope with the challenges that life presents.
At 27, my biggest fear was losin' it all / Scared to spend money, had me sleepin' from hall to hall / Scared to go back to Section 8 with my mama stressin' / 30 shows a month and I still won't buy me no Lexus
Revealing the fear of losing success and wealth, while at the same time facing the challenge of returning to poverty, even with great success.
What is an advisor somebody that's holdin' my checks? / Just to fuck me over and put my finances in debt? / I read a case about Rihanna's accountant and wondered / How did the bad girl feel when she looked at them numbers?
Questioning whether the people around him can be trusted, fearful that they are taking advantage of his financial stability, leading to the loss of his wealth, similar to what happened with Rihanna's accountant.
I'm talkin' fear, fear of losin' creativity / I'm talkin' fear, fear of missin' out on you and me / I'm talkin' fear, fear of losin' loyalty from pride / 'cause my DNA won't let me involve in the light of God
Fearful of losing the qualities that make him who he is, his creativity, his relationships, his pride as well as struggling with spiritual doubt, unable to fully commit to a belief in God.
Wonderin' if I'm livin' through fear or livin' through rap
Questioning whether his life is dictated by fear or his career in rap music.
We're gonna be in this place, we're gonna be under this curse / Because he said he's gonna punish us / The so-called Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American Indians / Are the true children of Israel
Explaining why certain populations might be at a disadvantage, as they suffer from curse-like circumstances, as seen by the 'punishment' the people receive, as illustrated in the Bible.
So until we come back to these commandments / Until you come back to these commandments / We're gonna be in this place, we're gonna be under this curse / Because he said he's gonna punish us
Suggesting that by following the commandments in the Bible, the people can escape this curse.
So that's why we get chastised, that's why we're in the position we're in / Until we come back to these laws, statutes and commandments / And do what the Lord said, these curses are gonna be upon us / We're gonna be at a lower state in this life that we live here in today / In the United States of America
Explaining that the people are currently in a lower state due to disobedience of the commandments, therefore urging people to follow the Bible in order to escape this lower state of being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dale Ossman Warren, Daniel Maman, Kendrick Duckworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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