[Intro: Martin Luther King Jr.]
When the architects of our republic
Wrote the magnificent words
Of The Constitution and The Declaration of Independence
They were signing a promissory note
This note was a promise that all men
Yes, Black men, as well as White men
Would be guaranteed the "Unalienable rights"
Of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness"
We refuse to believe that the Bank of Justice is bankrupt
So we've come to cash this check
A check that will give us, upon demand
The riches of Freedom and the security of Justice
[Verse 1: Beyoncé]
Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder
Tell the storm, I'm new
I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular
Painting white flags blue
[Refrain: Beyoncé]
Lord, forgive me, I've been running
Runnin' blind in truth
I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love
Tell the sweet I'm new
[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]
Ooh, I'm telling these tears
"Go, and fall away, fall away," oh!
May the last one burn into flames
Sing it, y'all
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Freedom, freedom, I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Say, yeah
Freedom, freedom, where are you?
'Cause I need freedom too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey
I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
Nah!
[Verse 2: Beyoncé]
I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters
Tell the tide, "Don't move"
I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders
Call me bulletproof
[Refrain]
Lord, forgive me, I've been runnin'
Runnin' blind in truth
I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love
Tell the deep, I'm new
[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]
I'm telling these tears
"Go and fall away, fall away," oh-oh
May the last one burn into flames
Yeah
[Chorus: Beyoncé]
Freedom, freedom, I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose
Say, yeah, yeah
Freedom, freedom, where are you? (Freedom!)
'Cause I need freedom too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell
Hey, I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves
No!
[Bridge: Kendrick Lamar]
Huh, what you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? Oh, ah, Father, can you hear me?
Huh, what you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? Oh, ah, Father, can you hear me?
[Live Breakdown: Beyoncé]
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
Ah!
[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]
Meet me at the finish line
Fourty acres, gimme mine (Ah!)
Revolution televised
Hopin' that you see the signs (Ah!)
Meet me at the finish line
Forty acres, gimme mine (Ah!)
Lemonade all the time, keep that in mind (Ah!)
Formation, Formation
Exclamation, Formation
Fellow great Americans, hello
This is heritage for my medicine (Ah!)
Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice (Ah!)
Channel 9 news tell me I'm movin' backwards
Eight blocks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona (Ah!)
Six redlights aimin' in my direction (Ah!)
Five-O askin' me what's in my possession, yeah
Yeah, I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts
Fire marshallsand hazardous
Smoke alarms on the back of us
Mama, don't cry for me, ride for me
Try for me, live for me
Breathe for me, sing for me
Obviously guidin' me
I could be more than I gotta be
Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy
Code on me, drive on me
Wicked, my spirit inspired me, like (Yeah)
Open correctional gates in higher desert (Yeah)
Open our mind as we cast away oppression (Yeah)
Open the streets and watch our beliefs
You cry my name, inside the concrete
I pray it forever reads
[Chorus: Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, & Both]
Freedom, freedom, I can't move (Yeah)
Freedom, cut me loose, yeah
Sing it, y'all
Freedom, freedom, where are you? (Huh?)
'Cause I need freedom too
I break chains all by myself (Yeah, yeah)
Won't let my freedom rot in hell (Yeah, yeah)
Hey, I'ma keep running
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves (Don't, don't, don't, don't)
Oh, no, they don't!
[Outro: Kendrick Lamar & Beyoncé]
Oh, what you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? Oh, uh, father can you—?
I said, oh, what you want from me?
Is it truth you seek? Oh, uh, father can you hear me?
Hear me out
Freedom, freedom, I can't move
Freedom, cut me loose, yeah
Freedom, freedom, where are you?
'Cause I need freedom too
