"God Breathed" (originally titled "I Know God Breathed On This") is the third track from Kanye West's tenth studio album, Donda (2021), and the thirteenth track from the deluxe version of Donda.[1][2] The track features vocals from Vory and backing vocals from Justin Austin.[3][4]
Production[]
The song samples a 1981 live performance of Liquid Liquid's song, "Bell Head".[5] In September 2019, Kanye used this sample to create a song during a church performance.[6] The track is played in 4/4 time at 130 BPM, and it is in the key of C Major.
Background[]
Earliest leaks of the song date back to the JESUS IS KING (2019) era, where it originated as a reference track by Arrow (who retained production credits on the released version of the track.)
The song would make it to the unreleased God's Country project that was in the works in the first half of 2020. During this period, the song featured vocalist Victory Elyse Boyd and the Sunday Service Choir.
Work on the song picked up during the DONDA: WITH CHILD era that summer, where it went through some production changes. Some versions utilized a JIK era leak titled "In The Morning" as a backing instrumental. Another version was produced by 88-Keys. Ty Dolla $ign allegedly recorded a reference track when the project was renamed to Spirits Over The Horizon in early 2021.
The song was played at the Las Vegas listening party, as well as the two Atlanta ones. All versions featured Vory but the last two had slight production differences. The song was not played at the Chicago show.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus: Kanye West]
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
[Verse 1: Kanye West with Vory]
I know He got His hands on this
I know we got a chance on this
No, I never planned on this
I might need a band on this
This might get banned off rip
Gon' say somethin' for y'all quick
Let me know something, who y'all with?
Don't know nothing, I know this
[Chorus: Kanye West]
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
[Break: Vory]
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Breathed on this, breathed, breathed, oh, oh
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
More than I can say for you
Before the sons and the daughters
Before the sun and the water
More than I can say for you
But the truth still for you
Once I saw what the Lord do
God, the Son, all the glory
God, the Father, like Maury
Don't care what you say, nothin' on me
I don't care 'bout the lawyer fees
I don't care 'bout your loyalties
God will solve it all for me
Trust man, he a failure
Trust, and God'll heal ya'
Dustin, he a Hoffman
Don't fall what they offerin', uh
Fall far too often, yeah, call God but don't call enough
Fall down but don't fall in love, I know God is all in us
[Chorus: Kanye West]
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
I know God breathed on this
[Verse 3: Vory]
Devil on my shoulders, I can't let 'em breathe
Brush 'em off my sleeve, I'm filled with memories
Pray they remember me, oh, oh-oh
And I know there's an angel watchin' over me
(All times), I inhaled and breathed
They hearts are filled with greed
Okay, now they want the old me
Not too big on peoples talkin'
Okay, now they gotta show me
Okay, okay, Devil's talkin' to me, angel's talkin' to me
But Angels start to tell me, "It's okay to not feel okay"
I know that you'd be proud if you was here today
But it's okay 'cause I'm okay
[Chorus: Vory]
I know God breathed on me
I know God breathed on me
I know God breathed on me
I know God breathed on me
Trivia[]
- The title and chorus of the song likely references either the Bible verse, 2 Timothy 3:16, which reads: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness", or Genesis 2:7, which reads: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."[4]
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/5CnpZV3q5BcESefcB3WJmz
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/2Wiyo7LzdeBCsVZiRA6vVZ
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/track/1nGNm9hTNOcM1rA4SVS4zj
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-god-breathed-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/Kanye-West/God-Breathed/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vvQ3VD_UM6E
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