Pray For Me
Producers
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
[Verse 1: The Weeknd]
I'm always ready for a war again (A war again)
Go down that road again (That road again)
It's all the same (It's all the same)
I'm always ready to take a life again (That life again)
You know I'll ride again (I'll ride again)
It's all the same (Ooh, ooh, ooh)
[Pre-Chorus: The Weeknd]
Tell me who's gon' save me from myself
When this life is all I know
Tell me who's gon' save me from this hell
Without you, I'm all alone
[Chorus: The Weeknd]
Who gon' pray for me? Take my pain for me?
Save my soul for me? 'Cause I'm alone, you see
If I'm gon' die for you, if I'm gon' kill for you
Then I'll spill this blood for you, hey
[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
I fight the world, I fight you, I fight myself
I fight God, just tell me how many burdens left
I fight pain and hurricanes, today, I wept
I'm tryna fight back tears, flood on my doorsteps
Life a livin' hell, puddles of blood in the streets
Shooters on top of the building, government aid ain't relief
Earthquake, the body dropped, the ground breaks
The poor run with smoke lungs and Scarface
Who need a hero? (Hero)
You need a hero, look in the mirror, there go your hero
Who on the front lines at ground zero? (Hero)
My heart don't skip a beat, even when hard times bumps the needle
Mass destruction and mass corruption, the souls of sufferin' men
Clutchin' on deaf ears again, rapture's comin'
It's all prophecy and if I gotta be
Sacrificed for the greater good, then that's what it gotta be
Who gon' pray for me? Take my pain for me?
Save my soul for me? 'Cause I'm alone, you see
If I'm gon' die for you, if I'm gon' kill for you
Then I'll spill this blood for you, hey
[Bridge: The Weeknd]
Hey, hey (La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Hey, hey (La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Hey, hey (La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Hey, hey (La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
[Chorus: The Weeknd]
Who gon' pray for me? Take my pain for me?
Save my soul for me? 'Cause I'm alone, you see
If I'm gon' die for you, if I'm gon' kill for you
Then I'll spill this blood for you, hey
[Outro: Kendrick Lamar & The Weeknd, The Weeknd]
Just in case my faith go, I'll live by my own law
I'll live by my own law, I'll live by my own
Just in case my faith go, I'll live by my own law
I'll live by my own law, I'll live by my own
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la
About
“Pray For Me” preaches loyalty, sacrifice and redemption—with both artists taking on the voice of a despondent hero. Kendrick knows a thing or two about a hero/Messiah-complex from years of dispute over his role as this generation’s “Savior of Rap” dating back to good kid, m.A.A.d city.
Lamar feels his fate is inevitable or even ‘prophesied,’ as stated in the last bar of his verse:
It’s all prophecy and if I gotta be sacrificed for the greater good,
then that’s what it gotta be…
This song title calls back to a prevalent theme from DAMN.—in particular, Kendrick’s feelings of isolation, as expressed on “FEEL.” Throughout the album, Kendrick would constantly say, “Ain’t nobody praying for me.”
Feel like removin' myself,
No feelings involved
I feel for you, I been in the field for you
It’s real for you, right? Shit, I feel like–
Ain’t nobody prayin' for me…
This song can be heard playing in the Black Panther movie when T'Challa, Nakia, and Okoye arrive at a Korean casino to pursue Ulysses Klaue.
This song is similar to Kendrick’s “Mortal Man,” which both serve as the closing track to each of the respective albums. Both also challenge the listeners’ loyalty to Kendrick.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
The song was teased by The Weeknd hours before releasing on Twitter (below), while the album was teased by Kendrick Lamar on his twitter
Yes, The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar also have worked together on a song called “Sidewalks.”
“Pray For Me” was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA on January 30, 2019.
- 3.X
- 4.The Ways
- 5.Opps
- 6.I Am
- 7.Paramedic!
- 9.King’s Dead
- 11.Redemption
- 12.Seasons
- 13.Big Shot
- 14.Pray For Me