Kendrick Lamar - Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst lyrics

When the lights shut off and it's my turn
To settle down, my main concern
Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me
I said when the lights shut
Off and it's my turn
To settle down, my main concern
Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me

I woke up this morning and
Figured I'd call you
In case I'm not here tomorrow
I'm hopin' that I can borrow
A peace of mind
I'm behind on what's really important
My mind is really distorted
I find nothing but trouble in my life
I'm fortunate you believe in a dream
This orphanage we call a ghetto
Is quite a routine
And last night was just another distraction
Or a reaction of what we consider madness
I know exactly what happened
You ran outside when you heard
My brother cry for help
Held him like a newborn baby
And made him feel
Like everything was alright in a fight
He tried to put up
But the type of bullet that stuck
Had went against his will
That's blood spilled on your hands
My plan's rather vindictive
Everybody's a victim in my eyes
When I ride it's a murderous rhythm
And outside became pitch black
A demon glued to my back
Whispering "Get 'em!"
I got 'em and I ain't give a fuck
That same mentality I told my
Brother not to duck
In actuality it's a trip how
We trip off of colors
I wonder if I'll ever discover a
Passion like you and recover
The life that I knew as a youngin
In pajamas and dun ta duns
When thunder comes it rains
Cats and dogs dumb
Niggas like me never prosper
Prognosis of a problem child
I'm proud and well-devoted
This Piru shit been in me forever
So forever I'ma push it, wherever, whenever
And I love you 'cause you love
My brother like you did
Just promise me you'll tell this story
When you make it big


Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me
I said when the lights shut
Off and it's my turn
To settle down, my main concern
Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me

You wrote a song about my sister on your tape
And called it Section80
The message resembled "Brenda's
Got a Baby"
What's crazy was I was hearin' about it
But doubted your ignorance
How could you ever just put
Her on blast and shit?
Judgin' her past and shit?
Well, it's completely my future
Her nigga behind me right now
Askin' for ass and shit
And I'ma need that forty dollars
Even if I got to fuck, suck and swallow
In the parking lot, Gonzales Park
I'm followed
By a married man, and father of three
My titties bounce on the cadence
Of his tinklin' keys matter of fact
He my favorite 'cause he tip me with E's
He got a cousin named David and
I seen him last week
This is the life of another
Girl damaged by the system
These foster homes
I run away and never do miss 'em
See, my hormones just run away and
If I can get 'em
Back to where they used to be
Then I'll probably be in the denim
Of a family gene that show
Women how to be woman
Or better yet, a leader
You need her to learn somethin'
Then you probably need to beat her
That's how I was taught
Three niggas in one room
First time I was tossed and I'm exhausted
But fuck that "Sorry for your loss" shit
My sister died in vain
But what point are you tryna gain
If you can't fit the pumps I walk in?
I'll wait… Your rebuttal a little too late
And if you have a album date
Just make sure I'm not in the song
'Cause I don't need the attention
Bring enough of that on my own
And matter fact
Did I mention that I physically feel great?
A doctor's approval is a waste of time
I know I'm straight
I'll probably live longer than you
And never fade away
I'll never fade away, I'll never fade away
I know my fate
And I'm on the grind for this cake
I'ma get it or die tryin'
I'm eyein' every male gender
With intentions of buyin'
You lyin' to these motherfuckers
Talkin' about you can help
'em with my story you can help me if you
Sell this pussy for me, nigga
Don't ignore me, nigga, fuck
Your glory, nigga, you ain't shit

When the lights shut off and it's my turn
To settle down, my main concern
Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me
I said when the lights shut
Off and it's my turn
To settle down, my main concern
Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me

Sometimes I look in the mirror
And ask myself: Am I really
Scared of passin' away?
If it's today, I hope I hear a
Cry out from Heaven so loud it
Can water down a demon
With the Holy Ghost 'til it drown
In the blood of Jesus
I wrote some raps that made
Sure that my lifeline reekin'
The scent of a reaper
Ensurin' that my allegiance
With the other side may come soon
And if I'm doomed may the womb of my mother
Be blessed for many moons i suffer a lot
And every day that glass mirror
Get tougher to watch
I tie my stomach in knots
And I'm not sure why
I'm infatuated with death
My imagination is surely an
Aggravation of threats that can come about
’cause the tongue is mighty powerful
And I can name a list of
Your favorites that probably vouch
Maybe 'cause I'm a dreamer and sleep
Is the cousin of death
Really stuck in the schema of
Wonderin' when I'ma rest
And you're right
Your brother was a brother to me
And your sister's situation was the
One that pulled me
In a direction to speak on somethin'
That's realer than the TV screen
By any means
Wasn't tryin' to offend or come between
Her personal life
I was like "It need to be told"
Cursin' the life of twenty
Generations after her soul
Exactly what'd happen if I
Ain't continue rappin'
Or steady bein' distracted by money
Drugs and 4-5's
I count lives, all on these songs
Look at the weak and cry
Pray one day you'll be strong
Fightin' for your rights
Even when you're wrong
And hope that at least one of you
Sing about me when I'm gone
Am I worth it? Did I put enough work in?

Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me
I said when the lights shut
Off and it's my turn
To settle down, my main concern
Promise that you will sing about me
Promise that you will sing about me

Promise that you'll sing about me forever
Promise that you'll sing about me for ooooh
Promise that you'll sing about me forever
Promise that you'll sing about me for ooooh
Promise that you'll sing about me forever
Promise that you'll sing about me for ooooh
Promise that you'll sing about me forever
Promise that you'll sing about me for ooooh

(On the phone)
"Ay, ay, ay, where you 'bout to go?"
"Nigga, the homie's brother nigga, right
Here, he gone, my nigga, he gone!"
"Hey, come to the store for a nigga
One time"
"We on the block right now, my nigga
Like, we nigga, we right here, my nigga"
"Bring a nigga back a black!"
"Nigga bruh nigga, they just
Killed the homie's brother
My nigga we right here on the block
My nigga al alright, nigga nigga, just come
Alright, alright, just call me back, man
Just call me back"
"Bring a nigga back a black!" (Hangs up)
"Ahh, fuck so, so, what we gon' do
My niggas? What we gon' do?"
"Bro, we can go back right now, my nigga
Like nigga, I don't give a fuck
My nigga we can go back right now"
"Fuck! I'm tired of this shit!
I'm tired of fuckin'
Runnin', I'm tired of this
Shit! My brother, homie!"

Tired of runnin', tired of huntin'
My own kind, but retirin' nothin'
Tires are steady screechin'
The driver is rubbin'
Hands on the wheel, who said we wasn't
Dyin' of thirst, dyin' of thirst
Dyin' of thirst?

Dope on the corner, look at the coroner
Daughter is dead, mother is mournin' her
Stray bullets, AK bullets
Resuscitation was waitin' patiently
But they couldn't
Bring her back, who got the footage?
Channel 9, cameras is lookin'
It's hard to channel your energy
When you know he crooked
Banana clip, split his banana pudding
I'm like Tre, that's Cuba Gooding
I know I'm good at
Dyin' of thirst, dyin' of thirst
Dyin' of thirst

How many sins? I'm runnin' out
How many sins? I lost count
Dreams of ballin' like Spalding
But only shotty bounce
The reaper callin', I'm cottonmouth
Money is power (Money is power)
Yours is ours (Yours is ours)
Lay with a snitch, die with a coward
Hope we get rich, hope we can tower
Over the city with vanity
With the music louder
The same song, a black flower
I'll show you how to
Dye your thirst, dye your thirst
Dye your thirst

What are we doin'? Who are we foolin'?
Hell is hot, fire is proven
To burn for eternity, return of the student
That never learned how to live righteous
But how to shoot it
Tired of runnin', choirs is hummin'
Tell us to visit, we lie about comin'
Now back to business, loadin' the guns in
Back of the Buick, your hood is feudin'
The beef is bubblin', it's no discussion
Hereditary, all of my cousins
Dyin' of thirst, dyin' of thirst
Dyin' of thirst

Too many sins, I'm runnin' out
Somebody send me a well for the drought
See all I know is takin' notes
On takin' this life for granted, granted
If he provoke my best days, I stress days
(Lord, forgive me for all my sins
For I not know) my best days, I stress days
Say "fuck the world" my sex slave
Money, pussy
And greed what's my next crave?
Whatever it is, know it's my next grave
Tired of runnin', tired of runnin'
Tired of tumblin' tired of runnin'
Tired of tumblin' – backwards
My momma say "See
A pastor give me a promise
What if today was the rapture
And you completely tarnished?
The truth will set you free
So to me be completely honest
You dyin' of thirst, you dyin' of thirst
So hop in that water
And pray that it works"

Fuck! I’m tired of this shit!
I’m tired of fuckin' runnin'
I’m tired of this shit!
That’s my brother, homie! Young man
Come talk to me! Is that
What I think that is?
I know that's not what I think that is
Why are you so angry?
See, you young men are dying of thirst
Do you know what that means?
That means you need water, holy water
You need to be baptized
With the spirit of the Lord
Do you want to receive God
As your personal savior?
Okay, repeat after me:
"Lord God, I come to You a sinner"
(Lord God, I come to You a sinner)
"And I humbly repent for my sins"
(And I humbly repent for my sins)
"I believe that Jesus is Lord"
(I believe that Jesus is Lord)
"I believe You raised Him from the dead"
(I believe You raised Him from the dead)
"I would ask that Jesus come into my life"
(I would ask that Jesus come in my life)
"And be my Lord and Savior"
(And be my Lord and Savior)
"I receive Jesus to take
Control of my life"
(I receive Jesus to take control of my life)
"And that I may live for
Him from this day forward"
(And that I may live for
Him from this day forward)
"Thank you, Lord Jesus
For saving me with Your precious blood"
(Thank you, Lord Jesus
For saving me with Your precious blood)
"In Jesus' name, amen"
(In Jesus' name, amen)
Alright now, remember this day
The start of a new life – your REAL life