To Zion

Lauryn Hill

One day, you're gonna understand
Zion

Unsure of what the balance held
I touched my belly overwhelmed
By what I had been chosen to perform
But then an angel came one day
Told me to kneel down and pray
For unto me a man child would be born
Woe this crazy circumstance
I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
"Look at your career," they said
"Lauryn, baby, use your head"
But instead I chose to use my heart

Now the joy of my world is in Zion (Zion, Zion)
Now the joy of my world is in Zion (Zion, uh, Zion)

How beautiful if nothing more
Than to wait at Zion's door
I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you, my prince, has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of His grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face

That the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion, is in Zion)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Now the joy (joy, is in Zion)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Now the joy (joy, Zion)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion)
Is in Zion
Now the joy (joy)
Of my world (world)
Is in Zion (is in Zion, Zion)
Is in Zion (Zion)

Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (marching)
Marching, marching, marching (we gon' march)
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion

Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion

Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (my joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching (my joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (my joy, my joy)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (my joy, my joy)

Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (my joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching (my joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (now the joy)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (of my life)

Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (is in Zion)
Marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching to Zion (now the joy)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (of my, my life)

Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (is in Zion, Zion)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (is in Zion)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching

Okay, how many people here have ever been in love?
I know none of the guys are gonna raise their hand, but
How many of y'all ever been in love?
Well, I know none of the guys been in-
We don't get in love, right?
Oh, let this black man right here tell what his idea of love is
'Cause not all the time we hear a young black man talk about love
About your personal definition, don't tell me what Webster thinks, huh?
Willingness to do everything for that person (anything)
Okay, everything like, what? Explain
Let him talk, c'mon
If I asked him to talk about a fancy car, he'd be right on point
But we wanna talk about love, you can do it
What do you think? You said you love somebody
You should know why you love 'em right?
The way they act (uh-huh)
The way they carry themselves, stuff like that (okay)
If they with they boys, hang with they boys, whatever
And they just stand out
It's like sometimes it don't even matter, like what they wear or what they look like
It's like, that one, you know? (Yeah)
You know, you know that you want to talk to him because he stands out
It's like he got a glow or something
That's deep (that's what I'm talking about)
I thought that was a beautiful point
Anybody else wanna deal with that?
And sometimes, like, when they, when they try to act funny in front of they boys
When they get around you they say they love you
They can't love you
'Cause love-love-love wouldn't do that
Love is not phony (facts)


Lyrics submitted by Ice

To Zion Lyrics as written by Norman Gimbel Lauryn Hill

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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To Zion song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    this song is beautiful. my favorite part is: "everybody told me to be smart Look at your career they said, "Lauryn, baby use your head" But instead I chose to use my heart."

    cantankerouson May 28, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is so awesome, I think it has a double meaning. I see people saying it's about her son Zion. The song is very Biblical though, it seems to have alot of imagery. The song seems to reenact the immaculate conception. It also her" joy is in Zion, she is marching to Zion", this could also mean the Gods Promise Land. Jesus the immaculate conception Zion.

    ryan3113ozmaon September 20, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    the allusion to the bible with, "But then an angel came one day Told me to kneel down and pray For unto me a man child would be born" is amazingly beautiful.

    mykey589on March 01, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This song I heard was to her son...I think its such a great song...when I have a baby I want to make a song for him/her. I would love if this song was for me...by my mom. I think its so cool that shes with Bob Marley's son...they seem perfect for eachother. I love this song! Get the CD!

    Jackie1228on April 24, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    There are few songs that move me to tears but this is one of them. A woman who puts her family and ultimately a life before fame and money. Much respect to Lauryn! This song could be a Pro Life anthem.

    cuzn_dupreeon May 31, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Pro Life! I love it and it's positive reflection of the joys we take for granted being passed onto a child. There is nothing more important than LIFE.

    Shannynon July 15, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Re: sylviasoven Why can't someone be a feminist and anti-abortion at the same time? The "pro-choice" opinion reflects poorly on feminism, which seemingly is now reduced to pro-choice advocacy and nothing more. The sanctity and autonomy of a woman's body should extend to the baby's separate body i.e. that fetal body has natural rights (like the right to life). This is a beautiful song. It affirms the majesty of life as well as the virtue of preserving life. Children make life worthwhile, as Lauryn Hill understands. The thing I like about Lauryn Hill is that she doesn't make a sex object out of herself like so many other female artists (Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce, Rihanna). She also comes across as mature and wise, offering real-world advice as in "Doo Wop (That Thing)." Nothing makes a person more of an adult than taking care of children.

    Mattius82on December 05, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I couldn’t disagree more with syvliasoven. Thank you Mattius82 for being a voice of reason and logic. Sylviasoven….Who is declaring this to be a religious OR Pro-Life “Anthem”?? Umm, nobody. So what ARE you talking about? Maybe you should open your dictionary and look up Zion. Here, I’ll make it easy for you and highlight…

    Zi-on: noun.

    1. a hill in Jerusalem, on which the Temple was built (used to symbolize the city esp. as a religious or spiritual center.
    2. heaven as the final gathering place of true believers.

    I’m not at all religious OR a Pro-Life campaigner. This song was intended to talk about the perils of unplanned pregnancy and the beautiful CHILD (not CHOICE) that came along with it. “I knew his life deserved a chance.” Not “ I knew my choice deserved a chance.” So whatever your harboring about abortion is your problem, not ours. I advise you to think about children in these situations, and not the political agenda. Children who are adopted grow up and read ignorant statements, much like yours, and will never understand why society as a whole does not acquire perspective before asserting their negative opinions on a commitment (life) that should be smiled upon. Nothing more. Nobody here said anything about anti-abortion, or politics for that matter. We all (sans you) seem to agree that this song is a beautiful and positive reflection of not just a ‘decision’ but a life. (Retards? Are you five?)

    Shannynon December 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    She did write this song for her son. He's gotta love her forever for that!!! :) it's the sweetest thing she could do for him!!! How cute!!!!

    Sunnyon July 31, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I knew that once anyone heard this song they'd know straightaway that it was dedicated to her very first son Zion. The part I really love in this song is the ending which is very cute if i can imagine Lauryn singing to him as he tries to walk- "marching marching marching beautiful Zion". =D

    Litz_Awakeon December 17, 2004   Link

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