3 Wishes Lyrics
Yeah
Grew up with killers, I ain't know they was killers
We was just together, man, playing Mega Man on Sega, man
Your mama loved me to death, she reminded me of Afeni
Yeah, a real black queen, if I had a genie
I'd wish that she ain't struggle no more
Y'all wouldn't have to go to sleep with all the roaches if she wasn't so poor
You told me when you came to my house, the shit was like a timeout
From reality, one night you asked me what I'm crying 'bout
'Cause you was staying over for the weekend
I woke up from out my sleep when I heard mama and my stepfather beefin'
I don't know if he'd been drinkin', but I know that shit got loud
And I heard rumbling from struggling and rolling on the ground
Could never get used to that sound, my mama saying "Get off me!"
My tears is tumbling now, I wish that you never saw me, 'cause I
Felt like a coward, so powerless I was only 12
I wish I would've bust right through that door my fucking self
And grabbed the Glock right off the fucking shelf, if nothing else
Scared the nigga shitless, there goes two of my wishes
Forever scarred, determined to get some heart
No matter how big the nigga, no matter how small you are
Fast forward to our older years, two different paths
You used to talk to me 'bout college, but that shit didn't last
Wasted potential, getting cash, what could I say?
So tired of not having things, you'd never see it my way, too proud to fold
Your demise, one day much to my surprise
My nigga called me, told me you just caught a body twice your size
I asked if it was self-defense, he said it was defense of pride
And that they tryna give you ten, but if you lucky you'll do five, damn
Not my nigga, the same one that told me
That things always get better, just trust me, don't cry my nigga
The news call him a killer, but he my nigga
Sad shit, aye yo, genie last wish, free my nigga
About
This song details what J. Cole would do if he were granted 3 wishes. He uses these wishes to better the lives of 3 people in his life for whom he dearly cared for. It’s worthy of note how selfless Cole’s wishes are, wishing the lives of others be bettered rather than wishing for selfish wants like many would.
He wishes that his friend’s mother didn’t have to “struggle” any more, that his mother wouldn’t be beaten, and that his friend would be freed.
Also, note the exact number of wishes he enumerates:
1.) “she ain’t struggle no more”
2.) “you never saw me”
3.) “bust through the door…grabbed the Glock”
4.) Free him
Cole only gets his three wishes, so, metaphorically, the fourth will never be granted.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Let him tell you himself via this Behind the Beat:
- 1.Cole Summer
- 2.Kenny Lofton
- 3.Chris Tucker
- 4.Head Bussa
- 5.Cousins
- 6.3 Wishes
