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Artist: Childish Gambino
Track: Hold You Down

Lyrics
Oh, I want it, yeah
Whenever you need my hand
I'll hold you down, oh
Oh, you want it, yeah
Why in the fuck these niggas
Try and hold me down, oh?

You such a fuckin' lame
That's what they used to yell back in seventh grade
My mama said she'd get me that new jacket when the cost go down
Hit the office, stole some Tommy Hill from lost and found
Not bad for a family of foster child
Lookin' fly man, I'm flossin' now
But them niggas saw through me
Are you serious? What is this?
Took the jacket off third period, ellipses
Listening to "Sky is the Limit" on my Walkman
Thinking if Biggie can make it through it, man, then I can
Dope boy swag
I always wanted that
But my persona was always more of that Arthur Ashe
But no love for the son of a commuter
Who was a radio head and okay at them computers
At the post office
It's funny how you smoke niggas, then you start coffins
All my people need throat lozenge
My fear is dead
Ambition drove the hearse
But niggas got my feelin' I ain't black enough to go to church
Culture shock at barber shops 'cause I ain't hood enough
We all look the same to the cops, ain't that good enough?
The black experience is blackened serious
'Cause being black, my experience, is no one hearin' us
White kids get to wear whatever hat they want
When it comes to black kids, one size fits all

Oh, I want it, yeah
Whenever you need my hand
I'll hold you down, oh
Oh, you want it, yeah
Why in the fuck these niggas
Try and hold me down, oh?

We the baddest, nigga, we the baddest, nigga
Yeah
We the baddest, nigga, we the baddest, nigga
Uh
We the baddest, nigga, we the baddest, nigga
We the baddest, nigga
Uh
We the baddest, nigga

The reason that they say I'm nothin' what they seen or heard's
The same reason Will Smith always opposite Latino girls
They only see you how they wanna see you
'Til you make them see you in some other way
I'm trippin' off the other day
'Cause God knows what these white kids sayin'
Dude, you're not not racist cause The Wire's in your Netflix queue
Subtle racism
It's hard to pin it 'cause you'd only understand
If you were me for just a minute
This one kid said somethin' that was really bad
He said I wasn't really black because I had a dad
I think that's kinda sad
Mostly 'cause a lot of black kids think they should agree with that
If you're a father, you should stick around if you could
'Cause even if you're bad at it, you get Tiger Woods
Or MJ
We warriors, we all need senseis
Change everything that we've done so far
I don't mean makin' B.E.T. T.E.R
I mean just the way that we see each other
I won't stop until they say, "James Franco is the white Donald Glover"
Yeah, these niggas wanted Cookie but instead I gave 'em Loch Ness
Sick Boi for life, my swag is in the hospice
Aimin' for the throne, Jay and Ye said to watch that
They ask me what I'm doin', and I said I'm stealin' rock back
Nigga

Oh, I want it, yeah
Whenever you need my hand
I'll hold you down, oh
Oh, you want it, yeah
Why in the fuck these niggas
Try and hold me down, oh?

Oh, I want it, yeah
Whenever you need my hand
I'll hold you down, oh
Oh, you want it, yeah
Why in the fuck these niggas
Try and hold me down, oh?
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Meanings
Childish Gambino – Hold You Down
“Hold You Down” deals with Gambino’s experiences with racism in school and neither fitting in with the black nor the white demographic.
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Childish Gambino – Letter Home
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KAYTRANADA & Childish Gambino – 2:15
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“12.38” is an experimental R&B track that has Gambino singing about an escapade with a girl, and what their journey entailed. It features verses from past collaborator 21 Savage as
Childish Gambino – Fire Fly
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Childish Gambino – L.E.S.
On the eighth track, Gambino sets up and knocks down a collection of hipster stereotypes in this ode to attempting to get laid on New York City’s Lower East Side.
Frank Ocean – Pink + White
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Childish Gambino – II. Shadows
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Childish Gambino – Heartbeat (Treasure Fingers Remix)
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The second track off of Gambino’s debut EP, which ended up being his most loved songs he’s ever released. When Camp was released, it was re-released onto the deluxe edition of the
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On this track, Chance and Childish Gambino give everyone solid reasons why this should be their favorite song. Whether it’s about the beat, the “lyrical acrobatics,” or the silly
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Turn up the lights in here baby / Extra bright, I want y'all to see this / Turn up the lights in here, baby / You know what I need / Want you to see everything / Want you to see
2Pac – 16 on Death Row
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Hold You Down" by Childish Gambino
The song "Hold You Down" by Childish Gambino touches on themes of self-empowerment, overcoming adversity, and racial identity. The lyrics serve as a reflec...
Genius Albums
Camp by Childish Gambino
Camp is Gambino’s debut studio album, released in November 15, 2011. The album is themed around a summer camp, ending with a monologue where Gambino tells a story about confessing
SongMeanings Interpretations
Childish Gambino - Waiting for My Moment Lyrics
... you. I will hold you so deep in the light, oh. Oh I will fight for you. I will hold you into the night. Oh Waiting for my moment, it's now or never. Heartbroken ...
Childish Gambino - Urn Lyrics
I watch them all pass by. The moon and stars. Let me hold you in my arms, forevermore. These cold nights, the park is ours. Standing, by the side
Childish Gambino - Heartbeat Lyrics
I was wrong, but would you have listened to you? Uh, you were crazy. I got a heart, but the art of choking's. Only thing girls want when you in that smoke and ...