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"Jail" is the second track from Kanye West's tenth studio album Donda (2021) and the sixth track on the deluxe version of Donda.[1][2] The song features a verse from Jay-Z, who references their previous joint album Watch The Throne (2011) in his verse.

Both versions of Donda come with an alternate version titled "Jail pt 2", which is the twenty-fourth track on Donda and the thirty-first track on Donda (Deluxe). This version swaps out Jay-Z's verse for one performed by DaBaby. It also features backing vocals from Marilyn Manson on the chorus.[3] When the album was updated on September 28, 2021, Manson's vocals were made clearer.[4] "Jail pt 2" remained at the end of the album with the other "pt 2" tracks, but was shifted from track 24 (fourth from last) to 31 (second from last) in the deluxe.

In the songs, Kanye sings about his failing marriage with Kim Kardashian and prays that God can save him from his sins.[2]

In 2022, the song won the award for the Best Rap Song at the Grammy Awards.[5]

Production[]

The guitar riff samples The Boomtown Rats' 1979 song, "Sleep (Fingers' Lullaby)".[6]

Background[]

The first known freestyle of "Jail" was made on May 13, 2021, during the Spirits Over The Horizon era.[7] By July, the song seemed much more finished and even featured Jay-Z's verse, which was previewed at the Atlanta listening party.[8] It was reported that Jay's verse was recorded at 4:00 PM ET a day before the listening party.[9]

At the third listening party in Chicago, an alternate version of the song was unveiled with a guest verse from DaBaby and backing vocals from Marilyn Manson. Fans feared that Jay's verse was removed and criticized Ye for adding the duo since DaBaby went on a homophobic rant the month prior and Marilyn was accused of sexually harassing actress Evan Rachel Wood.[10] After Donda released, "Jail pt 2" was noticeably unplayable until 10:00 PM that night. This was due to clearance issues surrounding DaBaby's verse.[11]

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
Take what you want
Take everything
Take what you want
Take what you want

[Verse 1]
Better that I change my number so you can't explain
Violence in the night, violence in the night
Priors, priors, do you have any priors?
Well, that one time
I'll be honest, I'll be honest
We all liars
Let it go

[Pre-Chorus]
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'm pulled over and I got priors
Guess we goin' down, guess who's goin' to jail?

[Chorus]
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
God gon' post my bail tonight

[Verse 2]
Don't you curse at me on text, why you try to hit the flex?
I hold up, like, "What?"
I scroll, I scroll up like, "Next"
Guess who's getting 'exed?
Like, next
Guess who's getting 'exed?
You made a choice that's your bad, single life ain't so bad
But we ain't finna go there
Something's off, I'll tell you why
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
What a grand plan to sell you out
I could scream and shout, let it out

[Pre-Chorus]
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'm pulled over and I got priors
Guess we goin' down, guess who's goin' to jail?

[Chorus]
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
God gon' post my bail tonight

[Verse 3]
God in my cells, that's my celly
Made in the image of God, that's a selfie
Pray five times a day, so many felonies
Who gon' post my bail? Lord, help me
Hol' up, Donda, I'm with your baby when I touch back road
Told him, "Stop all of that red cap, we goin' home"
Not me with all of these sins, castin' stones
This might be the return of The Throne (Throne)
Hova and Yeezus, like Moses and Jesus
You are not in control of my thesis
You already know what I think 'bout think pieces
Before you ask, he already told you who he think he is
Don't try to jail my thoughts and think precincts
I can't be controlled with programs and presets
Reset
On my cell, in my cell tonight
Don't have to see you to touch you
This is what braille look like, it's on sight
If they take me to jail, call my girl, tell her send my mail
We know what Hell look like
Still, it's a hell of a life, yikes

[Chorus]
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
God gon' post my bail tonight

[Intro]
Take what you want
Take everything
Take what you want
Take what you want

[Verse 1]
Better that I change my number so you can't explain
Violence in the night, violence in the night
Priors, priors, do you have any product?
Well, that one time, I'll be honest
I'll be honest, we all liars, let it go

[Pre-Chorus]
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'm pulled over and I got priors
Guess we goin' down, guess who's goin' to jail?

[Chorus]
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
God gon' post my bail tonight

[Verse 2]
Don't you curse at me on text, why you try to hit the flex?
I hold up, like, "What?" I scroll, I scroll up like, "Next"
Guess who's getting X'ed? Like, next
Guess who's getting X'ed?
You made a choice, that's your bad
Single life ain't so bad
But we ain't finna go there
Something's off, I'll tell you why
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight
What a grand plan to sell you out
I could scream and shout, let it out

[Pre-Chorus]
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'll be honest, we all liars
I'm pulled over and I got priors
Guess we goin' down, guess who's goin' to jail?

[Chorus]
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
God gon' post my bail tonight

[Verse 3]
Man, tell them haters open up the jail (Open up the jail)
And you can tell my baby mamas get the bail money (Bail me)
I said one thing they ain't like, threw me out like they ain't care for me
Threw me out like I'm garbage, huh?
And that food that y'all took off my table
You know that feed my daughters, huh? (Mmm)
But I ain't really mad, 'cause when I look at it
I'm getting them snakes up out my grass and, ****, that's a good habit
I'm ready for war, let's get at 'em
And teaming up ain't gon' help 'em
'Cause beating the odds too deep
Just me and God, ****, ****, I'm good at it
Matter of fact, I'm great at it, my cell phone back at it
I know these people gon' try to tell me how to talk
Don't know what I seen or what I was taught
My mama worked two or three jobs to take care of three of her kids, my uncles watched
Yeah, we was raised by the crack addicts
Mmm, raised by the drug dealers, killers, and the junkies (Junkies)
Mama couldn't save us 'cause she had to get the—
Mama couldn't save us 'cause she had to get the money
Feel like your world falling, getting too hard to catch it, ain't it?
You and your girl arguin', you don't like how she actin' lately
Giving it everything that you can give and you don't get half the patience
You was busy hustlin', the things come with your hustle
They got in her head, corrupted her
Yeah, that's probably what happened, ain't it?
Large amount of capital, invested in myself
Underground, I ain't even have a basement, I read the affidavit
Let's see what it is with you
Only thing I did to you
Was always keep it real and true
Guilty, guess they gon' have to take me

[Chorus]
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
Guess who's goin' to jail tonight?
God gon' post my bail tonight

Trivia[]

  • "Jail" marks Jay-Z and Ye's first collaboration together since "Pop Style".
    • As of today, it is also Jay-Z and Ye's last released collaboration.
  • As of today, "Jail pt 2" marks DaBaby and Ye's last released collaboration and Marilyn Manson and Ye's only released collaboration.
    • Both artists worked with Ye during the Donda 2 sessions, although none of their contributions released.

References[]

Donda
Singles
"Hurricane" • "Life Of The Party"
Radio singles
"Believe What I Say" • "Off The Grid"
Other tracks
"Donda Chant" • "Jail" • "God Breathed" • "Praise God" • "Jonah" • "Ok Ok" • "Junya" • "24" • "Remote Control" • "Moon" • "Heaven and Hell" • "Donda" • "Keep My Spirit Alive" • "Jesus Lord" • "New Again" • "Tell The Vision" • "Lord I Need You" • "Pure Souls" • "Come to Life" • "No Child Left Behind"
Deluxe tracks
"Up From The Ashes" • "Never Abandon Your Family"
Chronology
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