Faith
Kendrick Lamar Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid & Punch Lyrics

Cloud nine, Kendrick Lamar, uh
Starting out on a positive note, Kendrick Lamar takes us to cloud nine with his style and lyrics.

I take a sip of Hennessy and then get pissy drunk
Kendrick acknowledges his drinking habit and how it clouds his mind.

I ain't a drinker, I'm a thinker, call it what you want
Kendrick indicates that he isn't an everyday drinker, but a thoughtful person who enjoys a good sip.

But if you turn your back, know that you just missed your chance
Kendrick warns his listeners to pay attention, or they may miss something valuable.

to witness the realest shit that's ever been told to man
Kendrick asserts that his lyrics are authentic and worth experiencing.

I found myself losing focus at a Sunday service
Kendrick admits to losing his focus during a religious service.

Embarrassed so I started questioning God, what is my purpose?
Kendrick shares his doubts about his own life purpose and questions God about it.

He say to live the way he did, that's all he want from me
God's message according to Kendrick is to lead a life similar to what Jesus taught.

Spread the word and witness, he rose on the first Sunday
Kendrick calls upon his listeners to spread the gospel and experience the resurrection of Jesus.

I said alright, enthused that my Lord gave a listen
Kendrick indicates that God heard his troubles and answered his prayers.

I opened my bible and searched to be a better Christian
Kendrick turns to the Bible, hoping to gain insights into how he can be a better Christian.

and this from a person that never believed in religion
Kendrick admits that he was previously a non-believer.

But shit, my life is so fucked up man, I can't help but give in
Kendrick is in a bad place in his life and finds comfort in religion.

I'm giving testimonies to strangers I never met
Kendrick shares his faith with strangers, even if he doesn't know them personally.

Hopped on the pulpit and told 'em how I was truly blessed
Kendrick delivers a speech at a place of worship, telling them how blessed he feels.

Felt like I'm free from all my sins when the service was over
Kendrick feels a sense of relief and redemption after the religious service.

Walked out the church, then got a call that my homie was murdered
Kendrick's moment of peace is short-lived as he receives news of his friend's murder.

and lost my faith again
Kendrick feels his faith slipping away once more.

What am I gonna do? Gotta have faith
The chorus emphasizes the importance of faith.

Life is too much, understood? Where is your faith?
The chorus questions listeners about where their faith lies in the face of adversity.

Oh, faaaaaaaith...
The chorus repeats the importance of faith.

All you need is the size of a mustard seed
The chorus notes that faith doesn't need to be large, even a little bit is enough.

Single black parent from Compton raising children of four
Kendrick describes a single parent struggling to raise four kids in Compton.

That's four innocent bastards, cause papa they don't know
The children are innocent in the situation of their struggling parent.

Her day consists of working back and forth with babysitters
The parent's day is consumed with taking care of their children and finding babysitters.

Can't find no one to watch her kids so she pay her sister
The parent has little help finding babysitters and turns to family for support.

Her baby daddy ain't bout shit, that nigga ain't bout shit
The parent's partner is absent and no help in parenting.

Spent his daughter milk just to cop a new outfit
The partner is neglectful and spends the child's resources for personal use.

She pray to God every night hoping that he'll mature
The parent turns to God for help and guidance.

and maybe one day his kids, something that he'll live for
The parent hopes that the partner will someday gain motivation to live a life for their children.

Baby wanna go back to school but she need some help
The parent wants to go back to school but needs financial help.

because it's hard tryna pay the bills when you're by yourself
Living alone with children makes it hard to manage finances.

She thought about credit card scams till she heard a voice
The parent contemplates fraudulent activity but is eventually dissuaded.

that said the Devil is a lie, make a better choice
A voice (potentially God's) advises the parent to make the right decision.

And so it's back to McDonald's and every month dealing
The parent returns to work at McDonald's, grappling with bills every month.

with them crazy ass people at the county building
The parent has to deal with bureaucracy and difficult people at the county building.

Looked to the heavens and asked 'em to make a better way
The parent prays for a better life.

Then got a letter in the mail, lost her section 8
The parent receives a letter about losing their government housing.

Then lost her faith again
The parent's faith begins to slip.

Kendrick, I appreciate the opportunity to vent my nigga
Punch appreciates the chance to get personal in his verse.

This about how faith works, yeah, murk it...
Punch's verse is about the complexities of faith.

I had dreams of holding a nine-milla to raise Killa
Punch had thoughts of killing his enemies.

Ask him why as my eyes fill up
Punch questions why he feels this way as he becomes emotional.

Each day it gets more realer, orangutans bang like gorillas
Every day, the world becomes more violent and difficult to navigate.

It's jungle when the niggas ensue
Life is perceived to be harsh and hostile.

The rat's lurking, vulture's circling the serpents
There are opportunistic predators everywhere, ready to take advantage.

Cats lying through they teeth, my nigga didn't deserve it
People can be untrustworthy and undeserving of the good things in life.

I flirted with the idea of caressing the steel
Punch had thoughts of harming people with a weapon.

to make karma come faster than she normally will
Punch wants to expedite karma's effects with his own actions.

It's ill, to see my faith try and leave me
Punch feels his faith dwindling under the weight of his struggles and doubts.

It's so hard to get it, to get rid of it is easy
Punch recognizes that it is difficult to have faith and easier to be without it.

I'm tryna reach cloud nine, that's what my niggas bout
Punch aspires to greater things like Kendrick Lamar does.

But it never rain in California 'less them pistols out
There is a lot of violent crime in California.

Until then, my feet planted on the ground
Despite the circumstances, Punch stays grounded.

Shadowboxing my conscience till my faith start responding
Punch is deep in thought and reflection, hoping to revive his faith.

And if I get no answer, just know I tried
Punch hopes that he gets a sign of faith but is prepared to live without it.

I should have never looked into his son's eyes
Punch feels regret for potentially losing his faith.

Ray Charles voice
Punch's verse ends on this line, potentially indicating a metaphorical blindness to his faith.

This for my people that stressing whenever times is hard
Kendrick addresses his listeners who struggle through hard times.

Your mind's slipping, wondering is there really a God?
Kendrick acknowledges the doubts that listeners may have about God's existence.

Knowing you shouldn't think that way and tryna freeze your brain
Kendrick advises that thoughts of disbelief should be suppressed.

But whenever it's pain, that feeling forever remains
Despite this advice, Kendrick recognizes that pain can be an impediment to faith.

We can't believe what we can't see and reality seems stronger than prayer
Kendrick notes that the inability to see things directly makes it harder to have faith.

cause you tried to change your life, and now you live in a wheelchair
Physical disabilities can discourage faith.

And your son was born with cancer and he live in urgent care
Personal misfortunes and ill health can also challenge faith.

at the tender age of twelve, and you feel that no one cares
It is easy to feel alone amidst personal struggles, leading to doubts about faith.

Searching for answers, that's human nature, you ain't in the wrong
Humans will naturally question their lives and decisions, and it is entirely normal to do so.

Just know, when you feeling that way his spirit's in the room
Kendrick reassures his listeners that God is present and listening.

I watched people I know pray and catch the Holy Ghost
Kendrick has personally witnessed people experience spiritual moments.

and wonder why I ain't never caught that feeling before
Kendrick is curious as to why he has not experienced that same feeling.

Maybe they know him better, or I don't know no better
Kendrick considers that his peers may have a more intimate understanding of God.

But what I do know is that he's real and he lives forever
Despite his uncertainties, Kendrick is certain of God's existence and eternity.

So the next time you feel like your world's about to end
Kendrick advises that listeners hold onto faith during their toughest times.

I hope you studied because he's testing your faith again
Difficult times may be a test of one's faith.

I'd rather not live like there isn't a God
Kendrick ultimately prefers to live a life with the optimism of God's existence.

than die and find out there really is, think about it
The song concludes with Kendrick encouraging listeners to think deeply about their faith and what it means to them.