More songs by J. Cole
Description
Vocalist: J. Cole
Producer: TaeBeast
Composer Lyricist, Producer: Beat Butcha
Additionalproducer: T-Minus
Additionalproducer: Wu10
Recording Engineer: Kuldeep Chudasama
Recording Engineer: Javier Valverde
Recording Second Engineer: Joel Olivier Vaval
Recording Second Engineer: Jose Trujillo
Mixing Engineer: Juro "Mez" Davis
Mastering Engineer: Joe LaPorta
Composer Lyricist: Jermaine Cole
Composer Lyricist: Morae Ruffin
Composer Lyricist: Donte Perkins
Composer Lyricist: Tyler Williams
Composer Lyricist: Kelvin Wooten
Lyrics and translation
Original
This for everybody out there that ever fell out with somebody you love.
Famous motherfuckers.
Just to look back and be like, "Damn, it didn't have to go like that. "
Yeah.
What if?
What if?
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? You'd still be my nigga to this day.
I'm sayin' what if?
What if?
What if? What if the bullshit never got in the way?
I'd still have my nigga to this day.
Uh, what's up Pac? I heard that record that you did that just dropped.
It's bubblin', got me wonderin' when the love stopped.
Hit him up, I'm like, "Maybe I should write you before shit go left.
" The streets is a bit upset, you claimin' that you fucked my bitch, but check.
Instead of escalatin' at a time when niggas say, "Big, let's decimate him," I'm tellin' him chill, 'cause although he violatin', in my heart I could never hate him. I love you. I hope it ain't too late to tell you.
When you got shot, I came to visit you at Bellevue, but you were sleepin'.
They let me peek in. I said a prayer by your bedside, bandages covered the bleedin'.
I'm thinkin', "Dog, I told you, watch them niggas you close to.
I know dudes, and they won't hesitate to smoke you if shit go left.
" While you was locked I shoulda wrote you, but life happens. Promo, mad shows to do.
Still no excuse, I didn't do what I was 'posed to.
And maybe that's what provoked you to use your vocals to speak my name with a negative tone as you stared at the walls of that cell on your own. Wonder how long it be before they let you come home and get your money.
You maybe started lookin' at me funny.
Perhaps you mighta felt that I betrayed you or played you, or thought that I knew about that set-up and coulda saved you.
And maybe that made you come out on some war shit.
East Coast, West Coast, now media is tryna force it.
Of course it's entertainment, but the world is full of ignoramus that view the rich and famous as either heroes or villains with no feelings, not knowin' most drama only leads to more killings.
Well, fuck that, nigga, I'm hurt. I miss my dog, I ain't gotta hide. If I hurt you, I apologize.
What if? If I could turn back the hands of time. What if?
Turn back the hands of time. What if? What if the bullshit never got in the way?
You'd still be my nigga to this day. I'm sayin' what if? If I could turn back the hands of time. What if?
Turn back the hands of time. What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? I'd still have my nigga to this day.
Uh, today was goin' to Vegas until I opened your letter.
I cried through all of its pages, been tryna get it together. I'm comin' out there, and why?
I gotta find you in person and look you dead in your eyes and let you know I been hurtin', been movin' off pure adrenaline, never knowin' for certain who's on my side and who's obliged for closin' my curtains.
So in the midst, with clenched fists, I picked up this war. I know there's money in violence, I know there's profit in war.
Plus, yeah, I felt that you left me to hang. I gave you game.
"Rap for the bitches," I said, saw you switch up your lane.
Your content ressemblin' mine, it brought you fame. I didn't complain, I cheered you on with no disdain.
And at the same time, my destiny brought me pain from kickin' it with some venomous niggas
I know the same. Ones that you warned me 'bout, I ain't listen.
The trigger squeezed, my paranoia noticed you in the vicinity.
So when they sentenced me, lawyers milked me for every penny.
All I had inside that cell was my memories, and plus the fear that while I'm gone they forgettin' me.
How niggas shoutin' me out but never visit me. And as the time crept, that mindset became a mission.
You came to represent my opposition. So when I got out, I chose drama.
Took the war route and went all out, not care about the fallout.
Suddenly now I got the mob out, plus a whole side ready to ride.
But now I gotta tell 'em stall out 'cause tears fillin' my eyes.
Your letter helped me understand the power in love, the choice to be the bigger man. Know shit got outta hand, I'll take the blame for it.
For my mistakes, I couldn't take you gettin' slain for it.
For fallin' victim to ego, vengeance, and dollar signs. I wanna say from the heart, I apologize. What if?
If I could turn back the hands of time. What if? Turn back the hands of time.
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? You'd still be my nigga to this day.
I'm sayin' what if? If I could turn back the hands of time. What if?
Turn back the hands of time. What if? What if the bullshit never got in the way?
We'd still have them niggas to this day.
What if?
What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if?
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
English translation
This for everybody out there that ever fell out with somebody you love.
Famous motherfuckers.
Just to look back and be like, "Damn, it didn't have to go like that. "
Yeah.
What if?
What if?
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? You'd still be my nigga to this day.
I'm sayin' what if?
What if?
What if? What if the bullshit never got in the way?
I'd still have my nigga to this day.
Uh, what's up Pac? I heard that record that you did that just dropped.
It's bubblin', got me wonderin' when the love stopped.
Hit him up, I'm like, "Maybe I should write you before shit go left.
" The streets is a bit upset, you claimin' that you fucked my bitch, but check.
Instead of escalatin' at a time when niggas say, "Big, let's decimate him," I'm tellin' him chill, 'cause although he violatin', in my heart I could never hate him. I love you. I hope it ain't too late to tell you.
When you got shot, I came to visit you at Bellevue, but you were sleepin'.
They let me peek in. I said a prayer by your bedside, bandages covered the bleedin'.
I'm thinkin', "Dog, I told you, watch them niggas you close to.
I know dudes, and they won't hesitate to smoke you if shit go left.
" While you was locked I shoulda wrote you, but life happens. Promo, mad shows to do.
Still no excuse, I didn't do what I was 'posed to.
And maybe that's what provoked you to use your vocals to speak my name with a negative tone as you stared at the walls of that cell on your own. Wonder how long it be before they let you come home and get your money.
You maybe started lookin' at me funny.
Perhaps you mighta felt that I betrayed you or played you, or thought that I knew about that set-up and coulda saved you.
And maybe that made you come out on some war shit.
East Coast, West Coast, now media is tryna force it.
Of course it's entertainment, but the world is full of ignoramus that view the rich and famous as either heroes or villains with no feelings, not knowin' most drama only leads to more killings.
Well, fuck that, nigga, I'm hurt. I miss my dog, I ain't gotta hide. If I hurt you, I apologize.
What if? If I could turn back the hands of time. What if?
Turn back the hands of time. What if? What if the bullshit never got in the way?
You'd still be my nigga to this day. I'm sayin' what if? If I could turn back the hands of time. What if?
Turn back the hands of time. What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? I'd still have my nigga to this day.
Uh, today was goin' to Vegas until I opened your letter.
I cried through all of its pages, been tryna get it together. I'm comin' out there, and why?
I gotta find you in person and look you dead in your eyes and let you know I been hurtin', been movin' off pure adrenaline, never knowin' for certain who's on my side and who's obliged for closin' my curtains.
So in the midst, with clenched fists, I picked up this war. I know there's money in violence, I know there's profit in war.
Plus, yeah, I felt that you left me to hang. I gave you game.
"Rap for the bitches," I said, saw you switch up your lane.
Your content ressemblin' mine, it brought you fame. I didn't complain, I cheered you on with no disdain.
And at the same time, my destiny brought me pain from kickin' it with some venomous niggas
I know the same. Ones that you warned me 'bout, I ain't listen.
The trigger squeezed, my paranoia noticed you in the vicinity.
So when they sentenced me, lawyers milked me for every penny.
All I had inside that cell was my memories, and plus the fear that while I'm gone they forgettin' me.
How niggas shoutin' me out but never visit me. And as the time crept, that mindset became a mission.
You came to represent my opposition. So when I got out, I chose drama.
Took the war route and went all out, not care about the fallout.
Suddenly now I got the mob out, plus a whole side ready to ride.
But now I gotta tell 'em stall out 'cause tears fillin' my eyes.
Your letter helped me understand the power in love, the choice to be the bigger man. Know shit got outta hand, I'll take the blame for it.
For my mistakes, I couldn't take you gettin' slain for it.
For fallin' victim to ego, vengeance, and dollar signs. I wanna say from the heart, I apologize. What if?
If I could turn back the hands of time. What if? Turn back the hands of time.
What if?
What if the bullshit never got in the way? You'd still be my nigga to this day.
I'm sayin' what if? If I could turn back the hands of time. What if?
Turn back the hands of time. What if? What if the bullshit never got in the way?
We'd still have them niggas to this day.
What if?
What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if?
What if? What if? What if?
Oh yeah.
Yeah.