The Life of Pablo
Saint Pablo
Kanye West
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
35
End
241
Internal
132
Multi
306
Slant
12
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Sampha]
Yeah, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky
Wonderin'✦ whether✦ God's gonna✦ say hi
Oh, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky
And you're wonderin'✦ where is God in your nightlife✦
Yeah, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky (Father,✦ Father,✦ Father)✦
Wonderin'✦ whether✦ God's gonna✦ say hi (In the night sky, yeah)
I feel like I'm home, yeah, yeah
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
I've been wakin'✦ the spirits of millions✦ more to come
A million✦ illegally downloaded my truth over✦ the drums
I believe in the children, listen✦ to the kids, bro
If the phone ringin',✦ go and get your kids, ho
Brother Don Muhammad told the minister about✦ the presentation✦
He sat back and smiled✦
Black on black lies is worse than black on black crime
The Jews share their truth on how to make a dime
Most black men couldn't balance a checkbook
But buy a new car, talkin'✦ 'bout, "How my neck look?"
Well, it all looks great
Four hundred✦ years later,✦ we buyin' our own chains
The light is before✦ us brothers, so the devil workin'✦ hard
Real family✦ stick together✦ and see through the mirage✦
The smokescreens, perceptions✦ of false reality
Who the real owner✦ if your boss gets a salary?✦
I am one with the people
I am one with the people (Real)
I've been woken✦ from enlightened man's dream
Checkin' Instagram comments to crowdsource my self-esteem
Let me not say too much or do too much
'Cause if I'm up way too much, I'm out of touch
I'm prayin' a out-of-body experience✦ will happen✦
So the people can see my light, now it's not just rappin'✦
God, I have humbled myself✦ before✦ the court
Drop my ego✦ when confidence✦ was my last resort
I know, I know You got a plan, I know I'm on Your beams
One set of footsteps,✦ You was carryin'✦ me
When I turned✦ on the news and they was buryin'✦ me
One set of footsteps,✦ You was carryin'✦ me
When I was negotiatin'✦ with Apple, it was Larry✦ and me
Told Tim Cook to call me, I was scary✦ to see
I would've took a hundred✦ million✦ and gave twenty✦ to Hov
I heard it's the way they did it when we only✦ had the stove
But it's better✦ that I stayed at home with my folks
'Cause if Jay a billionaire, then I'ma✦ never✦ go broke
Only✦ thing I ask is next time I'm on stage we all go
We all go
Not just by myself,✦ lookin'✦ for niggas like Where's✦ Waldo✦
She got the same shoes as my wife but she copped✦ 'em at Aldo✦
Modern-day MJ, with an off-the-wall flow
[Bridge: Sampha]
Nightlife,✦ walk all over✦ me
Walk all over✦ me
I'm deliverin'✦ everything✦ I've ever✦ sent that you'll bring
Fly, fly, fly overseas✦
Fly overseas,✦ oh, anywhere, everything✦ but in between
Oh, yeah
[Chorus: Sampha]
Yeah, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky
Wonderin'✦ whether✦ God's gonna✦ say hi
Oh, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky
And you're wonderin'✦ where is God in your nightlife✦
Yeah, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky (Father,✦ Father,✦ Father)✦
Wonderin'✦ whether✦ God's gonna✦ say hi (In the night sky)
Oh, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky (Father,✦ Father,✦ Father)✦
And you're wonderin'✦ where is God in your nightlife✦ (In the night sky)
[Verse 3: Sampha]
Please face me when I speak
Please say to me somethin' before✦ you leave
You've been treatin'✦ me like I'm invisible,✦ now I'm visible✦ to you
Oh, the invisible✦ truth stay sober✦
I can't quite understand✦ the games✦ you play
Understand,✦ understand✦
Understand✦ I'm standin' under✦ oath
And I promised I, I wouldn't fall anymore
But I'm cryin' at the bar
I'm wishin'✦ that you saw my scars, man
I'm wishin'✦ that you came down here and stood by me
And looked✦ at me like you knew me
But I feel so alone✦
Like I don't know anyone✦ except the night sky above✦
[Chorus: Sampha]
Yeah, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky
Wonderin'✦ whether✦ God's gonna✦ say hi
Oh, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky
And you're wonderin'✦ where where is God in your nightlife✦
Yeah, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky (Father,✦ Father,✦ Father)✦
Wonderin'✦ whether✦ God's gonna✦ say hi (In the night sky)
Oh, you're lookin'✦ at the church in the night sky (Father,✦ Father,✦ Father)✦
And you're wonderin'✦ where is God in your nightlife✦ (In the night sky)
Technical Breakdown
8.8
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.0
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.79
Production
— Kanye West, Mike Dean, Allen Ritter, Noah GoldsteinBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Kanye utilizes high-density internal rhyme schemes and socio-political commentary to bridge the gap between personal confession and collective critique, though his reliance on conversational flows sacrifices some potential wordplay depth for raw, emotive impact.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7
Wordplay
8
Delivery
multisyllabic internal rhymingrhythmic syncopationthematic juxtapositionconversational cadence
Rhyme Architecture: The scheme relies heavily on loose internal assonance followed by definitive end-rhymes (come/drums, kids/kids, checkbook/neck look/great/chains), prioritizing rhythmic momentum and pocket-locking over rigid end-rhyme predictability.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"we buyin' our own chains"
① A historical reference to the commodification of Black bodies in slavery.② A contemporary critique of hyper-consumerism and the pursuit of status symbols like jewelry (chains) that keeps the community in financial bondage.
"Black on black lies is worse than black on black crime"
① A direct critique of institutionalized misinformation within the Black community.② A provocative reversal of the common political trope regarding 'black-on-black crime,' suggesting that internal deception is a more corrosive force than the violence traditionally cited in media.
Compelling socio-political observations
Dynamic cadence that manages complex multisyllabic clusters
Strong emotional resonance through unfiltered lyrical delivery
Occasional reliance on conversational filler
Some metaphors remain surface-level rather than multi-layered
The density of the rhyme scheme occasionally threatens the clarity of the social critique