[Intro: R. Kelly, (Jay-Z)]
(Ohhh, ohh, oh, oh, oooooh...)
Dear God, bring our P.O.W.'s home
(Ohhh, ohh, oh, oh, oooooh)
And bring our brothers on lockdown home – amen
Whoa-oh-oh ya-ya-yah
Whoa-oh-oh ya-ya-ya-ya!
[Hook: Jay-Z, w/ the R. Kelly above repeating in background]
G'yeah... he's a nigga from the back block
On everybody laptop, who used to slang crack rock – HOV'!
And this nigga from the Chi', who hold a note
Like the guy who said "the British is comin'" – my nigga Kel'!
Oh yeah, the niggas is comin
Get out your good dishes or somethin'
Like it's Thanksgiving, nigga – it's Hov'!
And none other than the R
Without further adieu, like Freddie, get ready it's
[Verse 1: R. Kelly]
Whatever happen, Lord, don't send me back
Whenever I did wrong it, was your name I cried
I heard you forgave over and over again
But when I found that out, I became immune to my sins
Lay wide awake in the middle of my sleep
"I see dead people," and sometimes it's me, Lord!
I never wanted to be a Thugfather
I only wanted to be a son of a father (Like THAT!)
That's how it sounds, it's sad
Worse than the war in Iraq when it's me against I!
I gave up the weed, and somehow I'm still high
Three years, still seein' them see-through guys, Lord!
Sometimes I don't know what you want from me
But I do know you know what I want from you
GIVE IT TO ME! (C'mon!)
Tke away this Hennessy
Take away me runnin' the streets
Stop people from hatin' me, take away all of this jealousy
And prejudicy
Lord, you said there was a better place
I grew up around pimps, hustlers, hoes, and project gang-sters
Hard to BELIEVE in what I can't see
I gotta get this money and feed my family!
[Refrain 2: Jay-Z]
Whatever deity guides my life
Dear Lord, don't let me die tonight
But if I shall before I wake, what shall I say?
It's been a good run, from hoodlum to island estates
How could one who made such foul mistakes
Still be allowed to have a smile on my face?
Hell, whatever the case, I'm glad it wasn't murder
In a town you never heard of, from a nickel-plated burner
Live my life straight, like a perm
Try to take the spot I earned, muh'fucker better learn – it's Hov'!!
[Hook: Jay-Z]
G'yeah... he's a nigga from the back block
On everybody laptop, who used to slang crack rock – Kel'!
And this nigga from the shower
Who hold a note like the guy who said "the British is comin'" – Hov'!
Oh yeah, the niggas is comin
Get out your good dishes or somethin'
Like it's Thanksgiving, nigga – it's Kel'!
And none other than the R
Without further adieu, like Freddie, get ready it's –
[Verse 2: R. Kelly]
Hey, boy, hear me out – got a few mo' things to say
These niggas be chasin' me like every day
(C'mere) - NO! My life on crutches, devils say I'll never walk again
But the devil is a liar, 'cause I believe within –
That you're the reason that I'm still here
Even though I don't act like it
Even though I hear my calling and fight it
Fools do me so wrong, it's hard to stay righteous
If pimping was a mountain to Heaven, I'd hike it
Believe me, Lord, I want you
Got money and fame, and, still, it just won't do
Sometimes I don't like who I am
When I look in the mirror, my reflection is Uncle Sam (Uncle Sam!)
And every night, I have these weird dreams
There's a creature trapped inside of me
Wake up and can't breathe
I feel like it's twenty of me, goin' 20 different directions on a one-way street
Lord! I got houses, money, and cars
Done met–every single superstar
I–got the whole music industry sewed
But it still don't matter, when I'm gone and my casket closed! Lord!
[Refrain 2: Jay-Z, (R. Kelly)]
Whatever guillotine guides my life (Oh, Lord!)
Dear Lord, don't let me die tonight (Don't let me die)
But if I shall before I wake I'd accept my fate
I did what I did my heart was in the right place (Oh!)
I did so I could live to put food on my plate
You musta loved me not to let it end by 3 that day
Well, whatever the case, I'm glad it wasn't murder
In a town you never heard of, from a nickel-plated burner
I guess I'm not finished with my journey
Please forgive me for my sins, shit, I'm still trying to learn me – Hov'!
[Refrain: Jay-Z]
Whatever deity guides my life
Dear Lord, don't let me die tonight
But if I shall before I wake, what shall I say?
It's been a good run, from hoodlum to island estates
How could one who made such foul mistakes
Still be allowed to have a smile on my face?
Hell, whatever the case, I'm glad it wasn't murder
In a town you never heard of, from a nickel-plated burner
Live my life straight, like a perm
Try to take the spot I earned, muh'fucker better learn – it's Hov'!!
[Gospel singing]
[Outro: R. Kelly]
Wrap your arms around us, God
Let there be peace, and no more war
Bring our soldiers home (C'mon!), let us pray
Hey, hey hey hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey hey hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hey hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey, hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey, hey hey hey...
READ MORE ABOUT JAY-Z
