"Jonah" is the seventh track from Kanye West's tenth studio album, Donda (2021), and the twenty-fourth track from the deluxe version of Donda.[1][2] The song features verses from Vory and Lil Durk, and has backing vocals from Ty Dolla $ign. The song is named after independent artist Jonah Ware, who was shot and killed on August 8, 2020.[3]
In the song, Vory raps about feelings of loneliness and fighting inner demons, which Kanye was also going through during his divorce with Kim Kardashian.[3]
Production[]
The song has a tempo of 177 BPM and is in the A key mith a mode of minor.[4]
Background[]
On August 7th of 2020, 19-year-old Kentucky rapper and friend of Vory Jonah Ware was tragically killed in a shooting just before 2 p.m. in the 900 block of South 43rd Street.[5] As tribute to his deceased friend, Vory would record a song dedicated to him and named after him titled "Jonah" on August 17 of that same month. The song was seemingly finished with what is believed to be three finished verses, though was not released for unclear reasons.[6]
The song was picked back up over a year later where Vory cut out the other two verses of his for open verses on July 14.[7] This was around the time he was working with Kanye, so it's likely he intended to get Kanye to feature on the song. Instead, Kanye taken the song for himself and added production from Ojivolta and recorded his initial freestyle for the song just two days later on July 16.[8] Lil Durk would also record a verse intended for the song.[9] The song would be played at the first Atlanta listening party on July 22nd, although no Kanye verse was present and Vory's second verse had been cut out.[10]
On the 24th, Kanye would record his finished verse for the song.[11] This version was played at the second Donda listening party on August 5th.[12] Between this and the final listening party and release, the song underwent very minor changes, though during this time period Albe Back has stated he recorded a reference track intended for the song and BoogzDaBeast made a beat for the song based around an organ that was ultimately left unused.
The song was originally Vory's song. A snippet of it was leaked on December 5, 2020. In July 2021, Vory gave the song to Ye during the Mercedes-Benz sessions. "Jonah" was first previewed at the Atlanta listening party on July 22, 2021.[3] At some point, the song's beat was based around an organ, but this instrumental was later removed.[13] MIKE DEAN would also add the prominent beeping sound playing through the song some time in early August.[14]
The song was played at the final listening event in Chicago on August 26.[15] Three days later, the song was met with an official release on Donda as the seventh track.
Lyrics[]
[Chorus: Vory]
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
[Verse 1: Vory]
Hard to keep my focus on what matters
Mandem hit my line like, "Some **** just got hit up on your block"
You can rest assured it's not us
'Cause we been out the wave catchin' waves
They say, "We ain't seen you on the block"
'Cause I been out the way
Chasin' millions in my sleep, I found the better way
Somewhere on an island, let me kick it, this my getaway
I pour up a drink for all my **** who ain't see the day
Tryna finish this with who I started with
Way too many fallen soldiers, no, I can't forgot
Hope they got headphones up in Heaven
You can vibe out and just hear this ****
It's just certain **** you can't forget
[Chorus: Vory]
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
[Verse 2: Lil Durk]
Kanye and Jay still brothers, they both billionaires
And we ain't see it, I lost my brother when we was millionaires
I wasn't scared to die, but him, that was my biggest fear
I got your son and your daughter like you still here
Know how it feel to lose a brother, we got a bond still
Twenty-six years, pops got out to see his son killed
And I don't give a **** if I hang with a Crip, I see blood still
I can be the cleanest millionaire, I'm from the mud still
Died with his chain on, I call it blood diamonds
It's to the point I drop my own lo' so they could find us
And it's been months and they still hidin’
Kanye did it for the city, he co-signed
[Chorus: Kanye West]
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
[Verse 3: Kanye West]
Smoke a opp pack ain't funny like that
It get ugly like that, can't get no money like that
Holy Father, please, let me step in
Can't talk to buddy like that, it get bloody like that
Whole lotta steppers and they steppin'
And they sunny like that, and they comin' right back
And when you on tour, I bet you check in
'Cause my guys back to work, it's a Monday like that
And when you text, change the beginnin' of every word
You will speak to me with only no cap
Me and your big homie go back
And homie don't rap, you don't know me like that
[Chorus: Vory]
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need the demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need the demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
Like who's here when I need a shoulder to lean on?
I hope you're here when I need them demons to be gone
And it's not fair that I had to fight 'em all on my own
References[]
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/5CnpZV3q5BcESefcB3WJmz
- ↑ https://open.spotify.com/album/2Wiyo7LzdeBCsVZiRA6vVZ
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://genius.com/Kanye-west-jonah-lyrics
- ↑ https://songbpm.com/@kanye-west/jonah-MHUvuK6nBN#:~:text=Jonah%20is%20a%20melancholic%20song,a%20tempo%20of%20177%20BPM.
- ↑ https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/08/07/lmpd-investigating-young-mans-death-west-louisville/3321952001/
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/b00f01073717f3681360ba3829d3eaff
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/003bfea56a99833ab22a09cec5e4a905
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/4bad67a980c78e3c595b68d5a1305edb
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/c9b186afd6403aaa30b3c57df22f2532
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KDoCD1RTFs&t=5s
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/3960eea12444d0c83f8fe81ccdb87514
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3f7zFWTfjA
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/bbf788f0aaf9d578e2c700c659031fef
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/d3ba66f3a1221a20ae83fe2af2a4b79f
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpNA62HWtTA
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