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  1. Tracks
  2. Beyoncé
  3. COWBOY CARTER
  4. AMERIICAN REQUIEM
AMERIICAN REQUIEM by Beyoncé

TRACK

Beyoncé

AMERIICAN REQUIEM

Release date: 29th March 2024

From COWBOY CARTER
Track 1
5:25
CountryMusicPop
Spotify Apple Music More on Beyoncé

About This Track

The opening track of Beyoncé's eighth studio album 'Cowboy Carter', released in 2024 as the second instalment of the trilogy that began with 'RENAISSANCE' in 2022. The song is both a somber remembrance and full of hope, framing the album's country-inflected project as a reckoning with genre and belonging. Beyoncé addresses the contradictions of her reception, paraphrasing the criticism that she spoke too country for some audiences and not country enough for others, before asking plainly: 'If that ain't country, tell me what is?' The lyric roots her lineage in Gadsden, Alabama, Galveston, and Louisiana, invoking the granddaughter of a moonshine man as a claim to the tradition. The refrain 'Can we stand for something?' recurs throughout, positioning the song as both personal testimony and a call for collective resolve. The track has found a second life in school choirs, adopted as an anthem in classrooms two years after the album's release.

"AMERIICAN REQUIEM" is a track by Beyoncé, from the album COWBOY CARTER, released 29th March 2024. The track is 5:25 long. It's filed under Country. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 17 articles about Beyoncé.

About the Artist

Beyoncé

Beyoncé

Lyrics

AMERIICAN REQUIEM

Nothin' really ends
For things to stay the same, they have to change again
Hello, my old friend
You change your name, but not the ways you play pretend
American Requiem
Them big ideas (Yeah), are buried here (Yeah)
Amen

It's a lot of talkin' goin' on
While I sing my song
Can you hear me?
I said, "Do you hear me?"

Looka there, looka there now
Looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (Oh)
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (Yeah)

It's a lotta chatter in here
But let me make myself clear (Oh)
Can you hear me? (Huh)
Or do you fear me? (Ow)

Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (Ow)
Coming in peace and love, y'all
Oh, a lot of takin' up space
Salty tears beyond my gaze
Can you stand me?
Ooh, ah
Can we stand?
Can you stand with me?

Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind
Now ain't the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in

Thinkin' to myself (Thinkin' to myself)
Oh, it's a lot of talkin' goin' on (Oh)
While I sing my song (Yeah)
Do you hear me when I say?
Do you hear me when I say? Ah

Looka there, looka there
Looka, look
Looka-looka-looka-looka-looka
Looka-looka there, looka there
L-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-looka there
Oh, looka there, looka there
Looka there, looka there
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)

Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (Now is the time to face the wind)
Now ain't the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in (To let love in)
Together, can we stand?

Looka there, looka in my hand
The grandbaby of a moonshine man
Gadsden, Alabama
Got folk down in Galveston, rooted in Louisiana
Used to say I spoke, "Too country"
And the rejection came, said "I wasn't country 'nough"
Said I wouldn't saddle up, but
If that ain't country, tell me what is?
Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years
They don't, don't know how hard I had to fight for this
When I sang my song

(When I sang the song of Abraham)
(When the angels guide and take my hand)
(Oh, no)
Goodbye to what has been
A pretty house that we never settled in
A funeral for fair-weather friends
I am the one to cleanse me of my Father's sins
American Requiem
Them big ideas (Yeah) are buried here (Yeah)
Amen

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From COWBOY CARTER

5:252024
Listen
Album
COWBOY CARTER
COWBOY CARTER
Beyoncé
29th March 2024
Track number
1
Release year
2024
  1. 1AMERIICAN REQUIEM
    5:25
  2. 2BLACKBIIRD
    2:12
  3. 316 CARRIAGES
    3:47
  4. 4PROTECTOR
    3:04

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  • 26SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN'
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  • 27AMEN
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  • —BLACKBIIRD
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  • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Beyoncé, Cam, Dan Walsh, Derek Dixie, DIXSON, Ink, JAŸ-Z, Jon Batiste, Khirye Tyler, Michael Price (Songwriter), No I.D., Raphael Saadiq, Stephen Stills, Tyler Johnson
    Producer
    Beyoncé, Jon Batiste, No I.D.
    Co-Producer
    Cam, Tyler Johnson
    Bass
    Khirye Tyler
    Drums
    DIXSON, Khirye Tyler, Raphael Saadiq
    Guitar
    Jon Batiste, No I.D.
    Keyboards
    Jon Batiste, No I.D.
    Additional Production
    Derek Dixie, Khirye Tyler
    Additional Vocals
    Cam, DIXSON, Ink, Tanner Adell
    Assistant Engineer
    conjust8, Danforth Webster, Garrett Duncan, Jeremy Dilli, Jonathan Lopez Garcia, Matheus Braz, Nick Sutton, Patrick Gardner, Terena Dawn
    Choir
    Broke Brewer, Camille Grigsby, Cedric Leonard, Channel Tres, Chelsea Miller, Donald Paige, Dwanna Orange, George Young, Jason Morales, Jenelle Dunkley, Kiandra Richardson, Lakeisha Lewis,
    Choir Director
    Derek Dixie
    Digital Audio Editor
    Andrea Roberts, John Cranfield, Matheus Braz
    Mastering Engineer
    Colin Leonard
    Mixing Engineer
    Stuart White
    Percussion
    Khirye Tyler
    Piano
    Ian Fitchuk
    Recording Engineer
    Andrea Roberts, Dani Pampuri, Henrique Andrade, Jelli Dorman, John Cranfield, Justin Batad, Kuk Harrell, Lester Mendoza, Stuart White
    Sitar
    Jon Batiste
    Sound Effects
    Khirye Tyler
    Synthesizer
    Khirye Tyler
    Vocal Producer
    Beyoncé, Kuk Harrell
    LaMarcus Eldridge
    , Mabvuto Carpenter
    , Naarai Jacobs
    , Nava Morris
    , Phylicia Hill
    , Princess Fortier
    , Steve Epting
    , Storm Chapman
    READ MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉ
    READ MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉREAD MORE ABOUT BEYONCÉ
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