[verse 1: kendrick lamar] I take a sip of hennessy and then get pissy drunk I ain't a drinker, I'm a thinker, call it what you want But if you turn your back, know That you just missed your chance To witness the realest shit that's ever been told to man I found myself losing focus at a sunday service Embarrassed so I start questioning god "what is my purpose? " He said to live the way he did, that's all he want from me Spread the word and witness He rose on the first sunday I said alright, enthused that my lord gave a listen I opened my bible in search to be a better christian And this from a person that never believed in religion But shit, my life is so fucked up, man I can't help but give in I'm giving testimonies to strangers I never met Hopped on the pulpit and told them How I was truly blessed Felt like I'm free from all my sins When the service was over Walked out the church, then got a call That my homie was murdered Then lost my faith again
[hook: bj the chicago kid] What am I gonna do Gotta have faith Life is too much I'm just through Where is your faith? (don't you give up dont you give in...) Faith, all you need is the size of a mustard seed
[verse 2: kendrick lamar] Single black parent from compton raising children of 4 That's 4 innocent bastards cause papa, they don't know Her day consists of working back and forth With babysitters Can't find no one to watch her kids, so she pay her sister Her baby daddy ain't 'bout shit, that nigga ain't 'bout shit Spilt his daughter milk just to cop a new outfit She pray to god every night hoping that he'll mature And maybe one day his kids, something that he'll live for Baby wanna go back to school but she need some help Because it's hard trying to pay the bills When you're by yourself She thought about credit card scams 'til she heard a voice That said, "the devil is a lie, make a better choice. " And so it's back to mcdonald's and every month dealing With those crazy ass people at the county building Looked to the heavens and asked him To make a better way Then got a letter in the mail, lost her section 8 Then lost her faith again
[hook]
[verse 3: punch] I had dreams of holding a 9 milla to ray's killa Ask him why as my eyes fill up Each day it gets more realer Orangutans bang like gorillas It's jungle when the niggas in zoo The rats lurking, vultures circling the serpents Cats lying through they teeth, my nigga didn't deserve it I flirted with the ideal of caressing the steel To make karma come faster than she normally will It's ill, to see my faith try and leave me It's so hard to get it, to get rid of it is easy I'm tryna reach cloud 9, that's what my niggas 'bout But it never rain in california unless the pistols out Until then, my feet planted on the ground Shadowboxing my conscience Till my faith start responding And if I get no answer, just know I tried I should have never looked into his son's eyes Rayshawn boyce
[hook]
[verse 4: kendrick lamar] This for my people that stressing whenever times is hard Your mind's slipping, wondering, "is there really a god? " Knowing you shouldn't think that way And trying to freeze your brain But whenever there's pain, that feeling forever remains We can't believe what we can't see And reality seems stronger than prayer Cause you tried to change your life And now you live in a wheelchair And your son was born with cancer And he live in urgent care At the tender age of 12, and you feel that no one cares Searching for answers, that's human nature You ain't in the wrong Just know when you feeling That way his spirit's in the room I watched people I know pray and catch the holy ghost And wonder why I ain't ever caught that feeling before Maybe they know him better, or I don't know no better But what I do know, is that he's real and he lives forever So the next time you feel like your world's about to end I hope you studied because he's testing your faith again
[outro: kendrick lamar] I'd rather not live like there isn't a god Than die and find out there really is Think about it