Jesus Walks - Kanye West
(Song Lyrics and Album Review)

I need to recruit all the soldiers… all of God’s soldiers
We at war
We at war with society, racism, terrorism but mostly we at war with ourselves

(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the devil try to break me down
(Jesus walks with me)

You know what the mid-west is? Young and restless
Where restless ni**as might snatch your necklace
And next these ni**as might jack your Lexus
Somebody tell these ni**as who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of Chi where death is
Top floor of the view alone will leave you breathless
Try to catch it… it’s kind of hard hard
Getting choked by detectives yeah yeah now check the method
They be asking us questions, harass and arrest us
Saying “we eat pieces of s**t like u for breakfast”
HUH? Y'all eat pieces of s**t what’s the basis?
We ain’t goin nowhere but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool
But I’ll be gone till November I got packs to move I hope

(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the devil try to break me down
(Jesus walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now
(Jesus walks)
And I don’t think there’s nothing I can do to right my wrong
(Jesus walks with me)
I wanna talk to God but I’m afraid cause we ain’t spoke in so long
(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the devil try to break me down
(Jesus walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now
(Jesus walks)
And I don’t think there’s nothing I can do to right my wrong
(Jesus walks with me)
I wanna talk to God but I’m afraid cause we ain’t spoke in so long

To the hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers
(Jesus walks for them)
To the victims of welfare feel we living in hell here hell yea
(Jesus walks for them)
Now heary heary wanna see thee more clearly
I know he hear me when my feet get weary
Cause we’re the almost nearly extinct
We rappers are role models we rap we don’t think
I ain’t here to argue about his facial features
Or here to create atheists into believers
I’m just tryin to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathy Lee needed Regis that’s the way I need Jesus
So here go my single dawg radio needs this
They said you can rap anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, videotape
But if I talk about God my record won’t get played
Well if this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
Then I hope it take away from sins
And bring the day that I’m dreamin about
Next time I’m in the club everybody screamin out

(Jesus walks)
God show me the way because the devil try to break me down
(Jesus walks with me)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don’t fail me now
(Jesus walks with me)
I wanna talk to God but I’m afraid cause we ain’t spoke in so long

Yes Jesus walks!

Jesus walks for you, Jesus walks for me, Jesus walks for Kanye West, Jesus walks for “hustlers, killers, murderers, drug dealers even the strippers”.

Please don’t be misled; Jesus walks by the side of every sinner, not because they give him respect or a mention on their debut album, or because they “believe”. Jesus doesn’t walk with sinners to accommodate them or condone their language or actions. Jesus walks with us all, waiting for the day that we lay down our pride and confess with our mouths that he is Lord. (Romans 10:9)

When Kanye Wests’ Mom told him “only Jesus can save us” she was right, but this is a two-way street. Salvation is only assured when you bring the burden of your sins to the foot of the cross and give your heart to our Lord.

We Don’t Care (Track 2)

“Drug dealing just to get by, stack your money till it gets sky high
We weren’t supposed to make it past 25, joke’s on you we still alive”

Searing social commentary here, problem being, when you are this slick at delivering irony - it’s not long for the point to be lost and for it to be mistaken as a celebration of the thing you were drawing attention to. On the first few plays it might make a few people sit up and think, but once assimilated, it just becomes cool. I think the joke is really on the children who sing this very catchy chorus.

All Falls Down (Track 4)

Biting commentary… “single black female, addicted to retail” I’m just glad he’s not rapping about me.

Get Em High (Track 9)

“Then maybe I’ll be able to give her d**k all the time and get her high… …all the girls pass the weed to your mother f**kin man”

Um… I’m not sure what to say about this one; maybe it’s an attempt to explode the popular stereotype of the archetypal rapper?

The New Workout Plan (Track 11)

Yes! here we go… if you hate woman, think they’re stupid and that they are continually on the lookout for a “meal ticket” (in the form of a man - possibly you) then you will love this track. Great for reaffirming some widely held beliefs men have about woman.

School Spirit (Tracks 14-15-16)

This is a merciless put down on education, the only thing your certificates will be good for according to Kanye, is keeping you warm, because you are only going to end up homeless anyway.

Overall...

The album goes in a few different directions, one is a general mother f**cking, ni*gaz, bitch, Kanye’s d**k, what’s the point, who gives a sh*t about me anyhow, f**k you, I’m getting mine - theme (refreshingly original), another is a general trashing of education and a no-holds-barred mocking of people that might be interested in getting one. Another, (a minor theme) is an admission that God and Jesus are the only real hope, oh, and not forgetting the woman are stupid and only good for one thing theme, (except your Mom, because she’s the best, right?)

It seems Kanye West has some issues to work out. Now in his late twenties he still seems pretty upset about working at the Gap, and not getting an education. Perhaps if he does get over it he won’t have anything to Rap about, …time will tell. Another theme subtly threaded through most of the album, is that it is still the white man keeping the black man down. Considering that the content of this album will be readily consumed by the up-and-coming generation, you have to wonder who exactly, is keeping who down?

In some ways it’s a shame, Kanye West is indeed a VERY talented artist, some of the writing, vocals and arrangements on this album are (in my opinion) sublime. Musically – All Falls Down and Spaceship are outstanding, and are my personal favorites.

As for the album coming remotely close to being a Christian recording, forget it. Can you really witness the Lord on one track, then be passing the weed and denigrating women on another? Come on.

The parental guidance warning was no joke either, what I mean is, it is a joke. What is “Parental Guidance” supposed to mean anyhow? Are parents actually going to the record stores, buying the CD with their children and then giving them support and guidance while they listen? Hardly. It’s a euphemism for explicit language. It’s a good “out” too for the record company, they can still make money selling explicit material to children while parents turn a blind eye, thinking that somehow a record distributor/retailer is actually looking out for the welfare of their children.

Here’s the breakdown based on the lyrics (including ad-lib cursing). I don’t know… maybe I’m just being picky. Decide for yourself. (Colossians 3:8)

If you love R&B, Hip Hop AND The Lord Jesus, do yourself a favor… go down to the library and get yourself a Kirk Franklin CD. As for me, I sold my copy of The College Dropout on Amazon.

Peace!