FREEDOM (2016 BET Awards)

[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