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  1. Tracks
  2. Khalid
  3. Black Panther: The Album
  4. The Ways

TRACK

Khalid

The Ways

Release date: 9th February 2018

From Black Panther: The Album
Spotify
More on Khalid

About This Track

Khalid and Swae Lee's 'The Ways' was written by Kendrick Lamar and Swae Lee as an ode to the strong female characters in the film Black Panther, appearing on the curated soundtrack album. Lamar contacted Khalid whilst he was performing with Lorde in Norway to invite him onto the project, pairing him with Swae Lee for a track that frames admiration as devotion. The song casts its subject as a 'power girl' who runs through the narrator's thoughts all day, someone whose strength lifts him when he stumbles. Khalid's verses describe radiant presence and unwavering support, whilst Swae Lee's contribution acknowledges the limits of his reach against her boundless capability. The chorus repeats its central question, 'I really wanna know your ways', with the insistence of someone trying to learn resilience by proximity. The production carries a smooth, mid-tempo pulse that lets both vocalists work in unhurried phrases, the arrangement less urgent than reverent. It sits comfortably within the soundtrack's broader mission to honour the film's depiction of women who carry nations and brothers alike.

"The Ways" is a track by Khalid, from the album Black Panther: The Album, released 9th February 2018. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 3 articles about Khalid.

About the Artist

Khalid

Khalid

Lyrics

The Ways

[Pre-Chorus: Khalid]

Most of them gon' talk, I know, I know

Most of them gon' fall, I know, I know

We gon' bet it all, I know-oh-oh-oh

We gon' bet it all, I know-oh

[Chorus: Khalid]

Power girl

I really wanna know your ways

I really wanna know your ways

I really wanna know the ways

I really want a power girl

You been runnin' through my section all day

You been runnin' through my mind all day

All day, all day, all day, all day, yeah, uh

[Verse 1: Khalid]

Somethin' in the way you move

Radiant beams castin' vibrant views

Pick me up when I fall down and out

Dust me off and show me all truth

Show me that I'll never fly alone

I fucked up so many times, but I still have you

Show me how you do it like that

Carryin' a brother is no easy on your back

[Pre-Chorus: Khalid]

I know most of them gon' talk, I know, I know

Most of them gon' fall, I know, I know

We gon' bet it all, I know-oh-oh-oh

We gon' bet it all, I know-oh

[Chorus: Khalid]

Power girl

I really wanna know your ways

I really wanna know your ways

I really wanna know the ways (Wanna know, I wanna know)

I really want a power girl

You been runnin' through my section all day

You been runnin' through my mind all day

All day, all day, all day, all day, yeah, uh

[Verse 2: Swae Lee & Kendrick Lamar]

Your body and your mind is your contribution

I'm here to give your love an evolution

Power girl, power girl

If I had you, I'd travel light years for you

Power girl, power girl

Let me show you what it do, ayy

Workin' on me and you all day (All day)

Makin' sure what we have is safe, doin' it all (Ooh)

She's over the city (She's over the city)

She go there if she been there (She go there if she been there)

I'm only one nigga (I'm only one nigga)

I can't be everywhere (Ooh)

But I can take you anywhere, I know I swear, power girl

[Chorus: Khalid]

Power girl

I really wanna know your ways

I really wanna know your ways

I really wanna know the ways (Wanna know, I wanna know)

I really want a power girl

You been runnin' through my section all day

You been runnin' through my mind all day

All day, all day, all day, all day, yeah, uh

[Outro: Swae Lee]

Power girl out in the city, some niggas, they out in the city

Goin' nowhere, girl, you doin' in it

Goin' everywhere, girl, you don't need it

Goin' everywhere, what you doin' in it?

Power girl, why you move in the city?

Do you know, girl, girl, you know the city?

You over the city, you over the city

Power girl, yeah, she's over the city

Hourglass, yeah, she turned it over

Power girl, yeah, she's over the city

Hourglass, yeah, she turned it over

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Black Panther: The Album

2018
Listen
Album
Black Panther: The Album
Black Panther: The Album
Jay Rock
Release year
2018
  1. —Pray For Me
  2. —Seasons
  3. —The Ways
  4. —X
  5. —Bloody Waters
  6. —King's Dead
  7. —Big Shot
  8. —Opps
  9. —Paramedic!
  10. —Redemption
  11. —Black Panther
  12. —I Am
  13. —All The Stars (Album Version)
  14. —Redemption Interlude

More from Khalid

Albums & EPs

after the sun goes down
after the sun goes down
2025
Sincere (Deluxe)
Sincere (Deluxe)
2024
Sincere
Sincere
2024
Scenic Drive (The Tape)
Scenic Drive (The Tape)
2021
Free Spirit
Free Spirit
2019
Suncity
Suncity
2018

Explore

More tracks by Khalid

  1. angel boy
    3:00
  2. dumbstruck
    2:40
  3. hurt people
    4:29
  4. impulsive
    2:42
  5. in plain sight
    2:25
  6. instant
    3:52
  7. medicine
    2:55
  8. momentary lovers
    3:25
  9. nah
    2:43
  10. out of body
    2:55

Showing 10 of 50

If you like Khalid

Bazzi

Bazzi

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Josh Levi

Normani

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Alina Baraz

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Amber Mark

Chlöe

Chlöe

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Alex Sowinski, BADBADNOTGOOD, Chester Hansen, Kendrick Lamar, Khalid, Leland Whitty, Matthew Tavares, Sounwave, Swae Lee
Producer
BADBADNOTGOOD, Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave
Drums
Alex Sowinski
Additional Vocals
Kendrick Lamar
Bass Guitar
Chester Hansen
Drum Programmer
Sounwave
READ MORE ABOUT KHALIDREAD MORE ABOUT KHALIDREAD MORE ABOUT KHALIDREAD MORE ABOUT KHALID
READ MORE ABOUT KHALIDREAD MORE ABOUT KHALIDREAD MORE ABOUT KHALIDREAD MORE ABOUT KHALID
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