"Come to Life" is the twenty-second track from Kanye West's tenth studio album, Donda (2021), and the eighth track from the deluxe version of Donda.[1][2] The deluxe version of the song features backing vocals by Tyler, The Creator.[3]
The song. which is one of the more somber cuts from the album, is about Ye discussing his marital issues with his then-wife Kim Kardashian while also not wanting to leave her. He also talks about his children, even mentioning North in the second verse.
Production[]
There are several vocals in the song which are sampled from a church service in 2011, led by Rev. Dr. David P. Moten.[4]
Background[]
The song was created during the Spirits Over The Horizon sessions on June 16, 2021.[5] The initial 12-minute demo features Ye freestyling over a piano. Many of the vocals from this freestyle would later be used in the released version of "Come to Life".[6] On July 17, Tyler, The Creator was seen in the studio with Ye, where he recorded reference vocals for the song, which would later be reused in the deluxe version of the song.[3]
The song was first previewed at a private listening party in Las Vegas on July 18. It was later previewed to the public at the third and final public listening party for the album in Chicago as the second-to-last song performed before the concert closed with "No Child Left Behind". While the song played, visuals were played (and enacted) that showed the interior of the house in the center of the stage getting set on fire (reminiscent of one of the "Jesus Walks" music videos.) Ye is shown sitting in a chair as the fire surrounds him and gets on him before he casually walks out the house and falls to his knees as people spray him with fire extinguishers.
As customers received their Stem Players with Donda downloaded on them, they noticed that Tyler, The Creator sung some lines from the song's chorus with Ye towards the two minute mark.[7] These were added to the album when the deluxe was released on November 14.
The song's piano outro was done by a sixth grader who attends the Kaufman Music Center in New York City.[8]
Music video[]
On September 2, 2021, Ye released the music video for "Come to Life", which solely features footage of the Chicago LP.[9]
Live performances[]
On October 16, 2021, Ye performed the song at a wedding in Venice, Italy while wearing a Halloween mask and an oversized suit. Jay-Z and Beyoncé also attended the wedding.[10] Ye also performed the song at the Free Larry Hoover concert on December 9, 2021.
Lyrics[]
[Intro]
My soul cries out Hallelujah and I thank God for saving me
I thank God for...
[Chorus]
Here go all your problems again (I thank God)
Three, two, one, you're pinned (I thank God)
Uncle now he back in the pen' (Hallelujah)
Auntie shut down again
Did she finally come to life? (Thank you, Jesus)
Ever wish you had another life?
Ever wish you had another life?
Ever wish you had another life?
[Verse 1]
Don't you wish the night would go numb?
I've been feelin' low for so long
I ain't had a high in so long
I been in the dark for so long
Night is always darkest 'fore the dawn
Gotta make my mark 'fore I'm gone
I don't wanna die alone
I don't wanna die alone
I get mad when she gone
Mad when she home
Sad when she gone
Mad when she home
Sad when she gone (Loosen right now, the spirit that wants to run)
Floatin' on a silver lining (In the name of Jesus)
Yeah, you know where to find me, ridin' on a silver lining
And my God won't deny me, tell the Devil, "Get behind me"
And all the stars are aligned, lift me up every time
You know exactly where to find me
[Interlude]
Hallelujah (Thank you, Jesus)
Hallelujah (Yes)
Hallelujah...
[Pre-Chorus]
Did those ideas ever really come to life?
Make it all come to life
Make it all come to life
Prayin' for a change in your life
Well, maybe it's gon' come tonight
[Chorus]
Sadness settin' in again
Three, two, one, you're pinned
Uncle right back in the pen'
Tell me how auntie been
Took your thoughts and penciled 'em in
Should've wrote 'em down in pen
And maybe they'll come to life
And maybe they'll come to life
Sadness settin' in again
Three, two, one, you're pinned
Uncle right back to the pen'
Tell me how auntie been
Thoughts, you had penciled 'em in
Probably should've wrote 'em in pen
And maybe they'll come to life
They could finally come to life
They could finally come to life
[Verse 2]
You know where to find me, they cannot define me
So they crucify me, how so fazed when I leave?
Come and purify me, come and sanctify me
You the air that I breathe, the ultra-ultralight beam
Brought a gift to Northie, all she want was Nikes
This is not about me, God is still alive, so I'm free
Floatin' on a silver lining, floatin' on a silver lining
So when I'm free, I'm free
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/5CnpZV3q5BcESefcB3WJmz
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/2Wiyo7LzdeBCsVZiRA6vVZ
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-come-to-life-deluxe-version-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/Come-to-Life/
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_to_Life_(song)
- ↑ https://krakenfiles.com/view/pM20nIRHHg/file.html
- ↑ https://genius.com/Kanye-west-come-to-life-deluxe-version-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.complex.com/music/kanye-west-6th-grader-come-to-life-piano
- ↑ https://www.independent.ie/style/celebrity/celebrity-news/kanye-west-set-on-fire-in-come-to-life-music-video-featuring-kim-kardashian/40811261.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20211017210415/https://etcanada.com/news/828654/kanye-west-performs-donda-tracks-during-rare-live-performance-at-venice-wedding/
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