Loved Ones
Kendrick Lamar feat. SZA Lyrics
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I gotta ball for my dead homies
I count this bread for my dead homies
Smoking dodo in your mama house
She get off work early, cussing at us, and kick us out
Popping wheelies on aqueducts in the summer
We stealing minibikes whistle when Gonzalez was coming
Says she don't fuck with niggas that's chirping on Boost mobiles
I'm laughing at you and praying that the choppers don't catch you
We ditching third period just to fuck your school up
We know where you from homie, uniforms can't fool us
Chunk it up like you 'sposed
Corn rows with the zags in the middle
Platinum FUBU jeans, rubber bands wrapped around the denim
I remember
I can feel when you're around
You forever holding it down
I return the favor when I'm on stages
And love and memory, no enemy could separate us
And so I gotta say this
I'm left, I'm crying, I miss you
I fought you, I hugged you, I remember
I love it even if I get no bigger
Yeah forever my dawg, my nigga
I'm in this club thinking bout my boys
As I cry tears of joy like woo woo woo woo
Pushing foreigns, flying cars
Popping trophies, by tomorrow
Bring back Derek, Stunta Deuce
Pad dog that's my cousin I love him too
Wishing I could reverse us patrolling the turf
Tam's burger for breakfast, chili fries on my shirt
Granny said go to church, how often did we listen?
Sunday school wasn't cool, let's be getting at bitches
Aw man, I got weight on my shoulder
Aw man, I got
Aw man, I got so many angels to feed
Look to the heavens, they depend on me
This is personal, I hope you know my loyalty
Will always run deep
So I put it down two times
When I'm on these beats
Put my candle in the street
Put my faith in where you at
Gone but you not forgotten
[?] I promise I'll be back
I'm saying
I'm left, I'm crying, I miss you (I miss you)
I fought you, I hugged you, I remember (ooh, I remember)
I love it even if I get no bigger
You're forever my dawg, my nigga
I'm in this club thinking bout my boys
As I cry tears of joy like woo woo woo woo
(Woo woo woo woo woo, woo woo woo woo, woo woo woo woo woo woo bow bow)
You can't change the world if you can't change yourself
You can please the world but not God himself
You can have the world and still need some help
You outlast the world if your heart is real
You can't change the world if you can't change yourself
You can please the world but not God himself
You can have the world and still need some help
You outlast the world if your heart is real
In "Loved Ones," Kendrick Lamar and SZA pay tribute to their fallen friends, reminiscing about their shared experiences and the moments that bound them together. The lyrics perfectly capture the complexity of survivor's guilt and the weight that comes with carrying those memories forward. The chorus, "I gotta ball for my dead homies, I count this bread for my dead homies," is a vow to honor their memory by achieving success and continuing to push forward, despite the pain of their absence. The verses are filled with specific recollections of youth, from smoking weed in a friend's mom's house to skipping school to wreak havoc on a rival gang's territory. The details paint a vivid picture of their past, while the refrain steadfastly brings them back to the present, and the reality of their loss.
The final lines of the song, "You can't change the world if you can't change yourself, you can please the world but not God himself, you can have the world and still need some help, you outlast the world if your heart is real," offer a powerful message of hope and perseverance. Despite the grief and pain of losing loved ones, the only way to truly honor them is to keep moving forward and to live a life that is true to ourselves.
Overall, "Loved Ones" is a moving tribute to the enduring power of love and friendship, even in the face of heartbreak and loss. The song reminds us that even in our darkest moments, the memories of those who touched our lives can continue to inspire us and shape our futures.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta ball for my dead homies
I need to hustle and make money in honor of my deceased friends.
Smoking dodo in your mama house
We used to smoke weed in your mother's house and get kicked out when she returned from work.
We stealing minibikes whistle when Gonzalez was coming
We would steal minibikes and whistle to each other as a signal when we saw Gonzalez, hoping not to get caught.
I'm laughing at you and praying that the choppers don't catch you
I'm laughing at you making mistakes but also hoping that the helicopters don't catch you to avoid any harm.
I can feel when you're around
I can sense your presence even though you're no longer here.
I return the favor when I'm on stages
I honor our friendship and remember you when I perform on stage.
I'm left, I'm crying, I miss you
I'm emotional and missing you deeply.
I'm in this club thinking bout my boys
I'm reminiscing about my friends while I'm in this club.
Bring back Derek, Stunta Deuce
I wish I could bring back our friends Derek and Stunta Deuce.
Granny said go to church, how often did we listen?
We didn't listen to our grandmother's advice to go to church very often.
Put my candle in the street
I'm honoring our friendship by lighting a candle in the street.
You can't change the world if you can't change yourself
In order to change the world, you need to start with changing yourself.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Solana Imani Rowe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind