I got this fire burnin' in me from within Concentrated thoughts on who I used to be, I'm sheddin' skin Every day, a new version of me, a third of me demented Cemented in pain, juggling opposing kinds of fame I don't know how to make friends, I'm a lonely soul I recollect this isolation, I was four years old Truth be told, I've been battling my soul, tryna navigate the real and fake Cynical about the judgement day
I did bad, slight progression last year and it fucked me up Reincarnated on this earth for a hundred plus Body after body, lesson after lesson Let's take it back to Michigan in 1947 My father kicked me out the house 'cause I wouldn't listen to him I didn't care about his influence, only loved what I was doing Gifted as a musician, I played guitar on the grand level The most talented where I'm from, but I had to rebel
And so I'm off in the sunset, searchin' for my place in the world With my guitar up on my hip, that's the story unfurled I found myself with a pocket full of money, and a whole lot of respect While the record vendors loved me I was head of rhythm and blues The women that fell to they feet, so many to choose But I manipulated power, as I lied to the masses Died with my money, gluttony was too attractive, reincarnated
Another life had placed me as a black woman in a chillin' circuit Seductive vocalist as the promoter hit the curtains My voice was angelic straight from heaven, the crowd sobbed A musical genius what the articles emphasized Had everything I wanted but I couldn't escape addiction Hair on needles had me in fetal position, restricted Turned on my family, I went wherever cameras be Cocaine, no private planes for my insanity
Self-indulged, discipline never been my sentiments I needed drugs, to me, an eight-ball was like penicillin Fuck love, my happiness was in that brown sugar Sex and melodies gave me hope when nobody's lookin' My first assistant was a small-town scholar Never did a Quaalude 'til I got myself around her My daddy looked the other way, he saw sin in me I died with syringes pinched in me, reincarnated
My present life is Kendrick Lamar A rapper looking at the lyrics to keep you in awe The only factor I respected was raising the bar My instincts sent material straight to the charts, huh My father kicked me out the house, I finally forgive him I'm old enough to understand the way I was livin' Ego and pride had me looking at him with resentment I close my eyes hoping that I don't come off contentious
I'm yelling, "Father, did I finally get it right?" Everything I did was selfless I spoke freely when the people needed me, I helped them I didn't gloat even told them no when the vultures came took control Of my fleshly body when the money changed "Son you do well but your heart is closed I can tell residue that linger from your past creates itself" Father I'm not perfect I got urges, but I hold them down "But your pride has to die," okay father show me how
Tell me every deed that you done and what you do it for I kept one hundred institutions paid, "Okay, tell me more" I put one hundred hoods on one stage, "Okay, tell me more" I'm tryna push peace in LA, "But you love war" No, I don't, "Oh, yes, you do," okay then tell me the truth "Every individual is only a version of you How can they forgive when there's no forgiveness in your heart?" I could tell you where I'm going, "I could tell you who you are"
You fell out of heaven 'cause you was anxious Didn't like authority, only searched to be heinous Isaiah fourteen was the only thing that was prevalent My greatest music director was you It was colors, it was pinks, it was reds, it was blues It was harmony and motion I sent you down to earth 'cause you was broken Rehabilitation not psychosis
But now we here now, centuries you manipulated man with music Embodied you as superstars to see how you moving You came a long way from garnishing evil-ish views And all I ever wanted from you was love and approval I learned a lot, no more putting these people in fear The more that word is diminished, the more it's not real The more light that I can capture, the more I can feel I'm using words for inspiration as an ideal
"So can you promise that you won't take your gifts for granted?" I promise that I'll use my gifts to bring understanding "For every man, woman and child, how much can you vow?" I vow my life just to live one in harmony now "You crushed a lot of people keeping their thoughts in captivity" And I'm ashamed that I ever created that enemy Then let's rejoice where we at I rewrote the devil's story just to take our power back, 'carnated