[Intro]
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—


[Verse 1: Nicki Minaj]
Ayo, trophy wife, out, you won me
Until you had to find out it's one me
No-no-now you benched, aww, your bum knee
Now I'm the bad guy, call me Chun-Li (Ooh)
'Cause you was slippin', yep, you clumsy
And everything I peeped, can't just unsee
Sips tea, and it's unsweet
Re-respect bad gyal when mi done speak (Now, now)
Now he shooting his shot like drive-by
Why-why-why you had to make me go call up my side guy?
Ca-ca-can't let a f-boy eff up my nice vibes

Yo, Ariana, come let me give you a high five

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
"What did she say?," "What did he say?"
You don't listen 'cause you know everything
You don't even need dreams
Tellin' everybody, "Stay woke, don't sleep"

[Refrain: Ariana Grande]
Ah, gonna break that shit down
You don't wait, tell 'em wait another round
Ah, guess you're way above it now
And that's your way to love it now

[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
How can they tell you shit that you've been through?
They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?
If it ain't your view
That's the bottom line
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)
Give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all (Blow it all)
As if it were shade, you would just throw it all (Throw it all)
It's like you're trying not to glow at all (Glow at all)
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
[Verse 3: Ariana Grande]
Why do we have chemistry? (Ayy, yeah)
With a need for speed (Ayy, yeah)
Doin' things that trouble clings (Ayy, yeah) to
And burns off our wings

[Refrain: Ariana Grande]
Ah, gonna break that shit down (Ayy, yeah)
You don't wait, tell 'em wait another round (Ayy, yeah)
Ah, guess you're way above it now (Ayy, yeah)
And that's your way to love it now

[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]
How can they tell you shit that you've been through?
They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?
If it ain't your view
That's the bottom line
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)
Give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all (Blow it all)
As if it were shade, you would just throw it all (Throw it all)
It's like you're trying not to glow at all (Glow at all)
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and inst—

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About

Genius Annotation

“the light is coming,” a promotional single from Ariana Grande’s fourth studio album Sweetener, is about relying on positivity to get you through hard times. Before its official release on June 20th, 2018, Ariana previewed it during her performance at Wango Tango on June 2nd.

This track was first teased in the music video for “No Tears Left To Cry,” and was hinted at again in the second part of the behind-the-scenes series. Ariana once again teased the track at the end of her Billboard Music Award Performance, and on May 27, 2018, she posted a snippet of the song on social media. Later that day, Minaj teased the track by tweeting lyrics from her verse. It was teased again when Ariana posted an Instagram story in which she seemed to be rehearsing for Wango Tango 2018.

Ariana’s collaboration with Reebok was promoted in the music video, and the video was even a Reebok.com exclusive for its first 24 hours. This is similar to how Ari’s campaign with Guess was promoted in the video for “Side to Side.”

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Ariana Grande say about "the light is coming"?
Verified Commentary
Ariana Grande
via The Fader
Genius Answer

That’s what Nicki Minaj does, she elevates a record. If you’re going to have a rapper on a song, they need to really really really be there for a reason, and she does that every single time

Had Ariana ever collaborated with Nicki before?
Genius Answer

Yes, this track marks Ariana and Nicki’s fifth song together — the two had previously collaborated on “Bang Bang," “Get On Your Knees," “Side to Side,” and “Bed,” which was released six days before “The Light Is Coming.”

What has the media said about the song?
Genius Answer

Rolling Stone ranked the track as Ariana’s #47 best song, saying:

The combination of Minaj and Grande was the stuff of superstar-collab pop dreams, with cheeky verses and slinky synths.

How did the song perform commercially?
Credits
Featuring
Video Best Boy Grip
Video Key Grip
Video Focus Puller
Video Grip
Video Lighting Technician
Video Gaffer
Arranger
Mastering Engineer
Audio Editor
Video Producer
Video Editor
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Programmer
Mixing Engineer
Video Director
Recorded At
Chalice Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA), Glenwood Place Studios (Burbank, CA), Jungle City Studios (New York, NY), The Lunchtable (Los Angeles, CA) and Conway Recording Studios (Hollywood, CA)
Released on
June 20, 2018
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