Jay-Z - Pray

Delivery me from my enemies, oh God
Defend me from those that rise up against me
Deliver me from the work of inequity
And save me, from the Bloody men

Look, mind state of a gangster from the 40's
Meet the business mind of Motown's Berry Gordy
Turn crack rock into a chain of 40/40's
Sorry my jewelry so gaudy
Slid into the party with my new pair of Mauris
America, meet the gangsta Shawn Corey
Hey young world, wanna hear a story?
Close your eyes and you could pretend you're me
A cut from the cloth of the Kennedy's
Frank Sinatra having dinner with the Genovese
This is the genesis of a nemesis
Mother America's not witnessed since
The Harlem Renaissance birthed black businesses
This is the tale of lost innocence's, as the incense burn
And the turntables turn and that Al Greens plays
I see my mother's afro, as mama taps her toes as she rolls her J's
And my papa just left the house, in search of the killer of my uncle Ray
And she's tryna calm my nerves, as I observe this is just one day
And what tomorrow has in store, we could never be sure, so all we can do is
Pray

Because of Your strength
While I walked upon thee
For God is my defense (pray for me)

As I head towards my homeroom, I observe the ruins, dope needles on the ground
I hear a car go, "Vrooom", drug dealer in the BM with the top down
As the girls start to giggle, I ask, "Why you laugh?", they say, "You too little
One day you'll understand, when you become a man 'bout things you have to get you"
Fast forward, freeze frame on my pistol
Fist full of dollars, ignorance is so blissful
I didn't choose this life, this life chose me
Around here is the shit that you just do
I just left school, the same BM is pulled over by the boys dressed blue
They had they guns drawn, screaming, "Just move"
"Or is there something else you suggest we can do"
He made his way to the trunk, opened it like, "Huh"
A treasure chest was removed
Cops said he'll be back next month
What we call corrupt, he called paying dues
Now when the rules is blurred, as they is and were, what am I to do?
But pray, pray the Lord forgive me
Pray He guides me by what I'm 'bout go through
Pray

Delivery me in thy righteousness
And cause me to escape
And climb thine air unto me
Save me Lord (pray for me)

Geah, anywhere there's oppression, the drug profession
Flourishes like beverages, refreshing (ah)
Sweet taste of sin, everything I've seen made me everything I am
Bad drug dealer or I victim, I beg
What came first? Moving chickens or the egg?
This is why I be so fresh,I'm tryna beat life 'cause I can't cheat death
Treat shame with shamelessness, aim stainless at anuses
You know who's game this is
Move coke like Pepsi it don't matter what the brand name is
I stand behind mine, everything I do I'm a man behind mine
I'm not a angel, I'm sure, but every night before I lay
I drop my knees to the floor and I pray

The name shall endure forever
The name shall be continued as long as the sun (pray for me)
Men shall be blessed in Him
All nations shall call Him blessed
In your name I pray (pray for me)
Lord bless us

Written by:
Sean Combs, Shawn Carter, Levar Coppin, Alan Hawkshaw, Deleno Matthews

Publisher:
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group

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