Superstar
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

If you are what you say you are
If you truly believe you are a superstar

A super star
A person who has achieved great success, fame, and wealth

Then have no fear the camera's here and the microphone and they wanna know
Don't be afraid of the attention, as the media and public are eager to know more about you

Oh oh oh oh
Vocalizations that express excitement and anticipation

Yea, uh
An interjection of agreement or encouragement

A fresh cool young Lu
A reference to the artist himself, Lupe Fiasco

Trying to cash his microphone check 2, 1, 2
Attempting to make a profit and earn recognition in the industry through his music

Want to believe my own hype but it's too untrue
Desiring to believe in his own greatness, but knowing that it's not entirely accurate

The world brought me to my knees
Feeling defeated and humbled by the challenges and obstacles in his path

What have you brung you
What have you achieved and brought to the table?

Did you improve on the design
Did you enhance or revolutionize the existing norms and standards?

Did you do something new
Did you create something original or unique?

Well your name ain't on the guest list
You were not invited or expected to be present here

Who brung you, you
Who brought you here and why are you here?

The more famous person you come through
If you are associated with a more significant and established celebrity

And the sexy lady next to you
If you are accompanied by an attractive woman

You come to
You are here with the intention of gaining attention and validation

And then it hit me
A realization or moment of insight struck the artist

Standing outside of heaven waiting for god to come and get me
Metaphorically waiting for a chance to achieve greatness

I'm too uncouth
Showing behavior that is considered impolite or socially unacceptable

Unschooled to the rules
Unfamiliar or uneducated about the customs and expectations of society

And two gum shoe
Wearing old or worn out shoes

Too much of a newcomer
Being too inexperienced or untested in the industry

And too uncool
Lacking in style or social status

Like Shadow and Lavelle
A reference to two DJs who are not widely known or successful

I battle with it well
Fighting through the challenges and obstacles with relative success

Though I need a holiday like lady who song blue
Needing a break from the stress and demands of his career, like the character in the song 'Blue' by Lady Who

Go back what ever you did you undo
Wishing to undo or erase past mistakes or failed attempts

Heavy is heaven
Suggesting that success and fame come with significant pressures and burdens

The devil on my two tons too
The artist feels weighed down and pressured by external forces or expectations

And you better wear your shades
A warning to wear sunglasses because of the bright lights and flashes of cameras

The spotlights here can burn holes through the stage
The intensity of the lighting can cause significant heat and damage

Down through the basement
The lights and attention penetrate deep below the surface

Passed the Indian graves
Referencing a cultural site that has spiritual significance

Where the dinosaurs laid
An environment with a rich and ancient history

And out through china
Extending far beyond one's immediate surroundings and reaching vast distances

Nearly misses air liners
The lights and attention could pose a risk to the safety and navigation of airplanes

Magnified times five
The intensity of the spotlight is significantly amplified

This is pointed at the rhymer
The focus and attention is directed towards the artist and their performance

Ricochets off the moon and sets the forest a blaze
An exaggerated description that suggests the lighting is incredibly intense and powerful

Now that's important to say
This fact is significant and worth noting

Cause even with all of that
Despite the intense attention and scrutiny

Most of us don't want it to fade
The public desires for the artist's success and stardom to continue

We want it to braid
A desire to intertwine and connect with others

Meaning we want it to grow
The public hopes for the artist to continue to evolve and expand their craft

Meaning we want it to stay
The public hopes for the artist to retain their current level of success and stardom

Like the governor called
A reference to receiving an important phone call

And they told him to wait
The subject of the call is asked to be patient and to remain calm

Un-strap him from the chair
Releasing the subject from a seat or restriction

And put him back in his cage
Returning the subject to a confined or limited environment

The audience ain't fazed
The people in attendance are not impressed or intimidated

And they ain't gone clap and they ain't gone praise
The audience is not showing their approval or support

They want everything back that they paid
The audience demands a refund of their money

Cause they been waiting since ten to see the lights get dim
The audience has been anticipated the performance for a long time and is disappointed by the lack of excitement

So chauffeur chauffeur come and take me away
A request for a car service to pick him up and take him home

Cause I been standing in this line
A reference to the struggles and obstacles he's faced to get to where he is now

For like five whole days
A hyperbolic statement that emphasizes the difficulty of his journey

Me and security ain't getting along
The artist is having trouble with security personnel

And when I got to the front they told me all of the tickets were gone
Despite his efforts and desires, he is still unable to attend or participate in this event

So just take me home where the mood is mellow
A request to be taken back to a place of comfort and relaxation

And the roses are thrown
A sign of appreciation and respect from fans and supporters

M&M's are yellow
A reference to a trivial detail that is an important part of his daily life

And the light bulbs around my mirror don't flicker
A symbol of stability and consistency in his life

Everybody gets a nice autograph picture
A gesture of gratitude and thanks to his fans

One for you and one for your sister
A way to include and appreciate his fans and their families

Who had to work tonight but is an avid listener
Acknowledging the dedication and support of his fans, even if they are not present at the moment

Every songs a favorite song
Acknowledging the universal appeal and recognition of his music

And mikes don't feed back
No technical issues or flaws interrupt his performance

All the reviewers say you need to go and see that
Positive feedback and critical acclaim for his work

And everybody claps cause everybody is pleased
The crowd shows their appreciation and enjoyment of the performance

Then they all take the stage and start performing for me
A reference to how his influence and success have inspired others to follow in his footsteps or perform for his enjoyment

Like ha ha ha ha ha
Vocalizations of joy and happiness

Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Continuation of the vocalizations of joy and happiness