(soft hip-hop music plays)
- [Kendrick] ♪ When the lights shut off ♪
♪ And it's my turn to settle down ♪
♪ My main concern ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ I said, when the lights shut off ♪
♪ And it's my turn to settle down ♪
♪ My main concern ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ I woke up this morning and figured I'd call you ♪
♪ In case I'm not here tomorrow ♪
♪ I'm hoping that I can borrow ♪
♪ A peace of mind, I'm behind on what's really important ♪
♪ My mind is really distorted ♪
♪ I find nothing but trouble in my life ♪
♪ I'm fortunate you believe in a dream ♪
♪ This orphanage we call a ghetto is quite a routine ♪
♪ And last night was just another distraction or a reaction ♪
♪ Of what we consider madness, I know exactly what happened ♪
♪ You ran outside when you heard my brother cry for help ♪
♪ Held him like a newborn baby and made him feel ♪
♪ Like everything was alright and a fight he tried to put up ♪
♪ But the type of bullet that stuck ♪
♪ Had went against his will ♪
♪ As blood spilled on your hands, my plans rather vindictive ♪
♪ Everybody's a victim in my eyes ♪
♪ When I ride, it's a murderous rhythm ♪
♪ And outside became pitch black ♪
♪ A demon glued to my back whispering, "Get 'em" ♪
♪ I got 'em, and I ain't give a fuck ♪
♪ That same mentality that told my brother not to duck ♪
♪ In actuality, it's a trip how we trip off of colors ♪
♪ I wonder if I'll ever discover ♪
♪ A passion like you and recover ♪
♪ The life that I knew as a young'n ♪
♪ In pajamas and dun-ta-duns ♪
♪ When thunder comes it rains cats and dogs ♪
♪ Dumb niggas like me never prosper ♪
♪ Prognosis of a problem child, I'm proud and well-devoted ♪
♪ This piru shit been in me forever ♪
♪ So forever, I'mma push it, wherever, whenever ♪
♪ And I love you 'cause you love my brother like you did ♪
♪ Just promise me you'll tell this story ♪
♪ When you make it big ♪
♪ And if I die before your album drop, I hope ♪
(gunshots firing) (shells clattering)
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ I said, when the lights shut off ♪
♪ And it's my turn to settle down ♪
♪ My main concern ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ You wrote a song about my sister on your tape ♪
♪ And called it Section 80 ♪
♪ The message resembled "Brenda's Got a Baby" ♪
♪ What's crazy was, I was hearing about it ♪
♪ But doubted your ignorance ♪
♪ How could you ever just put her on blast and shit ♪
♪ Judging her past and shit, well, it's completely my future ♪
♪ Her nigga behind me right now asking for ass and shit ♪
♪ And I'mma need that forty dollars even if I gotta ♪
♪ Fuck, suck, and swallow in the parking lot ♪
♪ Gonzales Park, I'm followed by a married man ♪
♪ A father of three ♪
♪ My titties bounce on the cadence of his tinkling keys ♪
♪ Matter of fact, he my favorite 'cause he tip me with E's ♪
♪ He got a cousin named David and I seen him last week ♪
♪ This is the life of another girl damaged by the system ♪
♪ These foster homes, I run away and never do miss 'em ♪
♪ See, my hormones just run away and if I can get 'em back ♪
♪ To where they used to be ♪
♪ Then I'll probably be in the denim ♪
♪ Of a family gene that show women how to be woman ♪
♪ Or better yet, a leader, you need her to learn somethin' ♪
♪ Then you probably need to beat her ♪
♪ That's how I was taught ♪
♪ Three niggas in one room, first time I was tossed ♪
♪ And I'm exhausted ♪
♪ But fuck that "Sorry for your loss" shit ♪
♪ My sister died in vain ♪
♪ But what point are you trying to gain ♪
♪ If you can't fit the pumps I walk in ♪
♪ I'll wait ♪
♪ Your rebuttal a little too late ♪
♪ And if you have a album date ♪
♪ Just make sure I'm not in the song ♪
♪ 'Cause I don't need the attention ♪
♪ Bring enough of that on my own ♪
♪ And matter fact, did I mention ♪
♪ That I physically feel great ♪
♪ A doctor's approval is a waste of time ♪
♪ I know I'm straight ♪
♪ I'll probably live longer than you and never fade away ♪
♪ I'll never fade away, I'll never fade away, I know my fate ♪
♪ And I'm on the grind for this cake ♪
♪ I'mma get it or die trying ♪
♪ I'm eyeing every male gender with intentions of buying ♪
♪ You lying to these motherfuckers ♪
♪ Talking about you can help 'em ♪
♪ With my story, you can help me ♪
♪ If you sell this pussy for me, nigga ♪
♪ Don't ignore me, nigga, fuck your glory, nigga ♪
(voice gradually fades)
♪ When the lights shut off ♪
♪ And it's my turn to settle down ♪
♪ My main concern ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ I said, when the lights shut off ♪
♪ And it's my turn to settle down ♪
♪ My main concern ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ Sometimes I look in a mirror and ask myself ♪
♪ Am I really scared of passing away ♪
♪ If it's today, I hope I hear a ♪
♪ Cry out from heaven so loud it can water down a demon ♪
♪ With the holy ghost 'til it drown in the blood of Jesus ♪
♪ I wrote some raps that make sure that my lifeline ♪
♪ Reeking the scent of a reaper, ensuring that my allegiance ♪
♪ With the other side may come soon, and if I'm doomed ♪
♪ May the womb help my mother be blessed for many moons ♪
♪ I suffer a lot, and every day the glass mirror ♪
♪ Get tougher to watch, I tie my stomach in knots ♪
♪ And I'm not sure why I'm infatuated with death ♪
♪ My imagination is surely an aggravation of threats ♪
♪ That can come about, 'cause the tongue is mighty powerful ♪
♪ And I can name a list of your favorites ♪
♪ That probably vouch ♪
♪ Maybe 'cause I'm a dreamer ♪
♪ And sleep is the cousin of death ♪
♪ Really stuck in the schema of wondering when I'mma rest ♪
♪ And you're right, your brother was a brother to me ♪
♪ And your sister's situation was the one that pulled me ♪
♪ In a direction to speak of something ♪
♪ That's realer than the TV screen ♪
♪ By any means, wasn't trying to offend or come between ♪
♪ Her personal life, I was like, "It need to be told" ♪
♪ Cursing the life of twenty generations after her soul ♪
♪ Exactly what'd happen if I ain't continued rappin' ♪
♪ Or steady being distracted by money drugs and four ♪
♪ Fives, I count lives all on these songs ♪
♪ Look at the weak and cry, pray one day, you'll be strong ♪
♪ Fighting for your rights even when you're wrong ♪
♪ And hope that at least one of you ♪
♪ Sing about me when I'm gone ♪
♪ Am I worth it ♪
♪ Did I put enough work in ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ I said, when the lights shut off ♪
♪ And it's my turn to settle down ♪
♪ My main concern ♪
♪ Promise that you will sing about me ♪
♪ Promise that you'll sing about me forever ♪
♪ Promise that you'll sing about me for, ooh ♪
♪ Promise that you'll sing about me forever ♪
♪ Promise that you'll sing about me for ooh ♪
♪ Promise that you'll sing about me forever ♪
♪ Promise that you'll sing about me for ooh ♪
- [Friend] Nigga, the homie's brother- nigga,
Right here, he gone, my nigga, he gone!
We right here on the block, my nigga!
Like, nigga, we're right here. - [Friend 2] Relax!
- [Friend] Nigga, they just killed the only brother,
my nigga.
Right here on the block, my nigga!
Alright, nigga, nigga just come-
Alright, alright, just call me back, man.
- [Friend 2] Okay, back up, relax!
- [Friend] (groans) Fuck.
So what we gon' do, my niggas?
What we gon' do?
Bro, we can go back right now, my nigga.
Like nigga, I don't give a fuck, my nigga!
We can go back right now.
- [Friend 3] Fuck, I'm tired of this shit!
I'm tired of fuckin' runnin'! I'm tired of this shit!
My brother, homie.
- [Kendrick] ♪ Tired of running, tired of hunting ♪
♪ My own kind but retiring nothing ♪
♪ Tires are steady screeching, the driver is rubbing ♪
♪ Hands on the wheel, who said we wasn't ♪
♪ Dying of thirst, dying of thirst, dying of thirst ♪
♪ Dope on the corner, look at the coroner ♪
♪ Daughter is dead, mother is mournin' her ♪
♪ Strayed bullets, AK bullets ♪
♪ Resuscitation was waiting patiently, but they couldn't ♪
♪ Bring her back, who got the footage ♪
♪ Channel 9, cameras is looking ♪
♪ It's hard to channel your energy ♪
♪ When you know you're crooked ♪
♪ Banana clip, split his banana pudding ♪
♪ I'm like Tre, that's Cuba Gooding ♪
♪ I know I'm good at ♪
♪ Dying of thirst, dying of thirst, dying of thirst ♪
♪ How many sins, I'm running out ♪
♪ How many sins, I lost count ♪
♪ Dreams of balling like Spalding ♪
♪ But only shotty bounce ♪
♪ The reaper calling, I'm cottonmouth ♪
♪ Money is power ♪
♪ Yours is ours ♪
♪ Lay with a snitch, die with a coward ♪
♪ Hope we get rich, hope we can tower ♪
♪ Over the city with vanity with the music louder ♪
♪ The same song, a black flower ♪
♪ I'll show you how to dye your thirst ♪
♪ Dye your thirst, dye your thirst ♪
♪ What are we doing, who are we fooling ♪
♪ Hell is hot, fire is proven ♪
♪ To burn for eternity, return of the student ♪
♪ That never learned how to live righteous ♪
♪ But how to shoot it ♪
♪ Tired of running, choirs is hummin' ♪
♪ Tell us to visit, we lying 'bout comin' ♪
♪ Now back to business, loading the guns in ♪
♪ Back of the Buick, your hood is feuding ♪
♪ And the beef is bubblin' ♪
♪ It's no discussion ♪
♪ Hereditary, all of my cousins ♪
♪ Dying of thirst, dying of thirst, dying of thirst ♪
♪ Too many sins, I'm running out ♪
♪ Somebody send me a well for the drought ♪
♪ See, all I know, is taking notes ♪
♪ On taking this life for granted, granted, if he provoke ♪
♪ My best days are stress days ♪
Lord, forgive me for all my sins, for I not know.
♪ My best days are stress days ♪
♪ Say "Fuck the world, " my sex slave ♪
♪ Money, pussy and greed, what's my next crave ♪
♪ Whatever it is, know it's my next grave ♪
♪ Tired of running, tired of running ♪
♪ Tired of tumbling, tired of running ♪
♪ Tired of tumbling ♪
♪ Back once my momma say ♪
♪ "See a pastor, give me a promise ♪
♪ What if today was the rapture ♪
♪ And you completely tarnished ♪
♪ The truth will set you free, so to me be completely honest ♪
♪ You dying of thirst, you dying of thirst ♪
♪ So hop in that water, and pray that it works" ♪
♪ Ooh ♪
- [Friend] Fuck, I'm tired of this shit.
I'm tired of fuckin' runnin'.
I'm tired of this shit. My brother, homie.
- [Passerby] Is that what I think that is?
I know that's not what I think that is.
Why are you so angry?
See, you young men are dying of thirst.
Do you know what that means?
That means you need water.
Holy water.
You need to be baptized with the spirit of The Lord.
Do you want to receive God as your personal savior?
Okay, repeat after me.
Lord God, I come to you a sinner.
- [Friends] Lord God, I come to you a sinner.
- [Passerby] And I humbly repent for my sins.
- [Friends] And I humbly repent for my sins.
- [Passerby] I believe that Jesus is Lord.
- [Friends] I believe that Jesus is Lord.
- [Passerby] I believe you raised him from the dead.
- [Friends] I believe you raised him from the dead.
- [Passerby] I would ask that Jesus come into my life,
- [Friends] I would ask that Jesus come into my life,
- [Passerby] and be my Lord and Savior.
- [Friends] and be my Lord and Savior.
- [Passerby] I receive Jesus to take control of my life,
- [Friends] I receive Jesus to take control of my life,
- [Passerby] and that I may live with him
from this day forward.
- [Friends] and that I may live with him
from this day forward.
- [Passerby] Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me
with your precious blood.
- [Friends] Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me
with your precious blood.
- [Passerby] In Jesus name, amen.
- [Friends] In Jesus name, amen.
- [Passerby] Alright now, remember this day.
The start of a new life.
Your real life.