
AMERIICAN REQUIEM Lyrics
Nothin' really ends
For things to stay the same, they have to change again
Hello, my old friend
You change your name, but not the ways you play pretend
American Requiem
Them big ideas (Yeah), are buried here (Yeah)
Amen
[Chorus]
It's a lot of talkin' goin' on
While I sing my song
Can you hear me?
I said, "Do you hear me?"
[Pre-Chorus]
Looka there, looka there now
Looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (Oh)
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (Yeah)
[Chorus]
It's a lotta chatter in here
But let me make myself clear (Oh)
Can you hear me? (Huh)
Or do you fear me? (Ow)
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (Ow)
Coming in peace and love, y'all
Oh, a lot of takin' up space
Salty tears beyond my gaze
Can you stand me?
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
Ooh, ah
Can we stand?
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?
Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
Can you stand with me?
[Chorus]
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind
Now ain't the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in
[Bridge]
Thinkin' to myself (Thinkin' to myself)
Oh, it's a lot of talkin' goin' on (Oh)
While I sing my song (Yeah)
Do you hear me when I say?
Do you hear me when I say? Ah
Looka there, looka there
Looka, look
Looka-looka-looka-looka-looka
Looka-looka there, looka there
L-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-looka there
Oh, looka there, looka there
Looka there, looka there
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L-L
(Can you stand me? Can you stand me? Can you stand me?)
[Chorus]
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (Now is the time to face the wind)
Now ain't the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in (To let love in)
Together, can we stand?
[Verse 2]
Looka there, looka in my hand
The grandbaby of a moonshine man
Gadsden, Alabama
Got folk down in Galveston, rooted in Louisiana
Used to say I spoke too country
And the rejection came, said I wasn't country 'nough
Said I wouldn't saddle up, but
If that ain't country, tell me what is?
Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years
They don't, don't know how hard I had to fight for this
When I sang my song
About
‘AMERIICAN REQUIEM’ opens ‘COWBOY CARTER’ – Beyoncés eighth studio album and the second part of her trilogy project that began with the release of ‘RENAISSANCE’ in 2022.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
During the tracking week ending April 13, 2024, the song debuted at #30 on the Hot 100.
In an Instagram post on March 30, 2024, Jon Baptise, co-writer and producer on the track:
This is the moment yall, where we dismantle the genre machine. I was happy to produce and write for AMERIICAN REQUIEM, along with Beyoncé and Dion. When I catch inspiration, the words and chords pour out of me. What an honor to then see how brilliantly Beyoncé made them her own and THEN further enhanced the lyrical statement, synthesizing it into the larger body of work. After the harrowing vocal prelude that happens to start Cowboy Carter, you get to hear these words that read like a proclaimation. “Do you hear me or do you fear me?” or better yet in our Louisiana vernacular “Looka dere, Looka dere”
Prior to this, Dion and I had been on a creative journey, having conversations about the state of music and where we could take it. We’d been having these conversations for years but something about recent times has felt ripe with the power of actualization. When I picked up my guitar and notebook to write this song I put my trust in God to liberate my creative mind, as I always do when channeling inspiration.
Quincy Jones told me, as he also wrote in his foreword to my WE ARE album, “it’s up to you to de categorize American music!!” which is what Duke Ellington told him. I really believe that is our generation’s role, led by a few artists willing to take this leap.
@beyonce, so thrilled to contribute to your brilliant album, a work of such unimaginable impact and artistic firepower by a once in a generation artist. So glad that we finally got to collaborate with each other at this time.
Producing and writing for AMERIICAN REQUIEM was an example of extraordinary alignment—when many leading artists see a similar vision at the same time, that’s when you know a major shift is happening. A new era, long time coming. Let’s liberate ourselves from genre and break the barriers that marginalize who we are and the art that we create. Grateful and impressed by my brother @dixson and the other collaborators who helped make this album opening statement possible.
- 1.AMERIICAN REQUIEM
- 2.BLACKBIIRD
- 3.16 CARRIAGES
- 4.PROTECTOR
- 5.MY ROSE
- 8.BODYGUARD
- 9.DOLLY P
- 10.JOLENE
- 11.DAUGHTER
- 12.SPAGHETTII
- 13.ALLIIGATOR TEARS
- 14.SMOKE HOUR II
- 15.JUST FOR FUN
- 16.II MOST WANTED
- 17.LEVII’S JEANS
- 18.FLAMENCO
- 20.YA YA
- 21.OH LOUISIANA
- 22.DESERT EAGLE
- 23.RIIVERDANCE
- 25.TYRANT
- 27.AMEN