LUST. by Kendrick Lamar Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Layers of Desire and Routine
Lyrics
Somethin’ came over me
Way too high to simmer down
Might as well overheat
Too close to comfort
As blood rush my favorite vein
Heart beat racin’ like a junkie’s
I just need you to want me
Am I askin’ too much?
Let me put the head in
Ooh, I don’t want more than that
Girl, I respect the cat
I promise just a touch
Let me put the head in
“It’s okay,” she said, “It’s okay”
Yeah, I need everybody’s motherfuckin’ hands up right now
I need everybody’s motherfuckin’
Door and his Nike Air Rattles
Rush the fire exit, no time for battles
Well I, I never expected
This that new, new shit
Wake up in the mornin’ thinkin’ ’bout money, kick your feet up
Watch you a comedy, take a shit, then roll some weed up
Go hit you a lick, go fuck on a bitch
Don’t go to work today, cop you a fit
Or maybe some kicks and make you
Door in his Nike Air Rattles
Rush the fire exit, no time for battles
Well I, I never expected
Wake up in the mornin’ thinkin’ ’bout money, kick your feet up
Watch you a comedy-
Hol’ up
Wake up in the mornin’ thinkin’ ’bout money, kick your feet up
Watch you a comedy, take a shit, then roll some weed up
Go hit you a lick, go fuck on a bitch, don’t go to work today
Cop you a fit or maybe some kicks and make it work today
Hang with your homies, stunt on your baby mama
Sip some lean, go get a pistol, shoot out the window
Bet your favorite team, play you some Madden
Go to the club, or your mama house
Whatever you doin’ just make it count
I need some water
Wake up in the mornin’ thinkin’ ’bout money, kick your feet up
Hop in the shower, put on your makeup, lace your weave up
Touchin’ yourself, call up your nigga, tell him he ain’t shit
Credit card scam, get you a Visa, make him pay your rent
Hop on the ‘gram, flex on the bitches that be hatin’ on you
Pop you a pill, call up your bitches, have ’em waitin’ on you
Go to the club, have you some fun, make that ass bounce
It’s whatever, just make it count
I need some water
Somethin’ came over me
Way too high to simmer down
Might as well overheat
Too close to comfort
As blood rush my favorite vein
Heart beat racin’ like a junkie’s
I just need you to want me
Am I askin’ too much?
Let me put the head in
Ooh, I don’t want more than that
Girl, I respect the cat
I promise just a touch
Let me put the head in
“It’s okay,” she said, “It’s okay”
I wake in the mornin’, my head spinnin’ from the last night
Both in the trance, feelings I did, what a fast life
Manager called, the lobby called, it’s 11:30
Did this before, promised myself I’d be a hour early
Room full of clothes, bag full of money, call it loose change
Fumbled my jewelry, 100k, I lost a new chain
Hop on the bird, hit the next city for another M
Take me a nap and do it again
We all woke up, tryna tune to the daily news
Lookin’ for confirmation, hopin’ election wasn’t true
All of us worried, all of us buried, and the feeling’s deep
None of us married to his proposal, make us feel cheap
Still and sad, distraught and mad, tell the neighbor ’bout it
Bet they agree, parade the streets with your voice proudly
Time passin’, things change
Revertin’ back to our daily programs
Stuck in our ways, lust
Lately, I feel like I been lusting over the fame
Lately, we lust on the same routine of shame
Lately, lately, lately my lust been hiding (Lately)
Lately, it’s all contradiction
Lately I’m not here
Lately, I lust over self
Lust turn into fear
Lately, in James 4:4 says
Friend of the world is enemy of the Lord
Brace yourself, lust is all yours
I need some water
Somethin’ came over me
Way too high to simmer down
Might as well overheat
Too close to comfort
As blood rush my favorite vein
Heart beat racin’ like a junkie’s
I just need you to want me
Am I askin’ too much?
Let me put the head in
Ooh, I don’t want more than that
Girl, I respect the cat
I promise just a touch
Let me put the head in
“It’s okay,” she said, “It’s okay”
In a world oversaturated with a plethora of musical numbers focusing on the surface-level aspects of life’s vices, Kendrick Lamar stands out with his introspective and profound track ‘LUST.’. Diving much deeper than the title implies, the song from his critically acclaimed album ‘DAMN.’ explores the cyclical nature of human desires, the mundanity of routine, and the existential angst that we often try to quench through hedonism.
The narrative of ‘LUST.’ takes listeners through an intricate maze that is as much about individual yearnings as it is about societal critique. Its multi-layered composition demands a closer look to unravel the complexity of its meaning and the impact it holds over our understanding of lust as both a personal and collective experience.
The Repetitive Pulse of Life: A Tale of Two Verses
The song’s structure is a masterful echo of its underlying message. Lamar uses repetition in the lyrics to mirror the repetitive nature of daily routines that many succumb to. ‘Wake up in the mornin’, thinkin’ ’bout money, kick your feet up…’ begins a sequence that is recited with slight variations but resonant monotony, illustrating the treadmill of materialistic and superficial pursuits that society is often criticized for heralding as the endgame of existence.
This repetition not only depicts how these actions become ingrained patterns, but also how easily individuals can lose themselves in the comfort and predictability of these routines, despite their inherent emptiness. Lamar doesn’t pull any punches in painting a portrait of a culture so fixated on the external that it forgets to nurture the internal.
Diving Into the Depths: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
Beyond the explicit verse, ‘LUST.’ harbors a nuanced perspective on lust not simply as a sexual endeavor but as an encompassing force driving human behavior. Lamar deftly transforms lust from a singular act to a symbol for our broader, insatiable appetites – for money, status, excitement, escape, and even self-destructive tendencies.
The hook ‘I need some water’ serves as a metaphorical plea for cleansing, a respite from the heady intoxication of desires and the realization that such thirst can never be truly quenched through external means. It’s a call for introspection, for finding sustainability within rather than in the ephemeral gratification that ‘lust’ promises.
Through the Echo Chamber: Reflecting Society’s Ills
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘LUST.’ becomes a potent social commentary, confronting pressing issues such as gun violence, substance abuse, and rampant consumerism. As the verses unfold, listeners are compelled to question whether their own actions contribute to a wider culture of excess and immediacy.
Lamar does not just observe; he embeds himself within the narrative, acknowledging his entanglement within the very fabric he critiques. This connects the individual’s experience to the collective, prompting an examination of the cyclical nature of vice and virtue in contemporary society.
Memorable Lines: The Soul’s Echo
‘Lately, I feel like I been lusting over the fame’ – Lamar openly confronts his personal battles with the seductions of success and the fear that such desires could lead to his own undoing. In doing so, he taps into the universality of this struggle, resonating with anyone who has been tempted by seemingly greener pastures.
The potency of his words is amplified by their relatability, and by acknowledging his own susceptibility, Lamar offers a vulnerability that serves as an anchor point for the listener, encouraging self-reflection and, potentially, self-realization.
A Testament to Temptation and Redemption
‘Lust turn into fear’ – in this transformative statement, Lamar encapsulates the essence of the song. It is this transformation, from lust to fear, from indulgence to introspection, that gives ‘LUST.’ its narrative and emotional power. The track confronts the listener with the realization that unchecked yearning can lead to a life ruled by fear – fear of loss, of inadequacy, of never being fulfilled.
In ‘LUST.’, Kendrick Lamar does not merely identify the problem but seeks to transcend it, calling for his audience to recognize their patterns, face their desires, and find true satisfaction beyond the superficial lures of the world. It’s an invitation to break the cycle, to find water in the desert of desire, and ultimately, to reach for something deeper within ourselves.
