Kanye West Wiki
Kanye West Wiki

"Keep My Spirit Alive" is the sixteenth track from Kanye West's tenth studio album, Donda (2021), and the nineteenth track from the deluxe version of Donda.[1][2] The song features verses from Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine, along with backing vocals from KayCyy and Royce da 5'9".[3]

An alternate version of the track, titled "Keep My Spirit Alive pt 2", was also released as the thirty-second and final track from the deluxe version of Donda.[2] This version features KayCyy singing the chorus instead of Ye. Originally, KayCyy sang the chorus on the first part of the song. However, on September 28, 2021, Donda was significantly updated. One of the updates was replacing KayCyy's vocals with Ye's vocals on "Keep My Spirit Alive". On November 14, KayCyy shared a screenshot on Twitter of a conversation he had with Ye, in which Ye revealed that KayCyy's vocals in the song would be rereleased in the deluxe version.[4]

The song revolves around the rappers "reflecting on their pasts and keeping faith in God intact through their best and worst."[5]

Production[]

The track is played 4/4 time in 166 BPM, and it is in the key of C Major.

Background[]

It is rumored that the song was first created as far back as November 2019. It was also seen on many leaked God's Country track lists from early 2020.[6] On July 18, 2020, Ye tweeted a tentative track list for his then-upcoming album, DONDA, which listed "Keep My Spirit Alive" as the fifth track.[7] Another DONDA: WITH CHILD track list was revealed on July 22, moving "Keep My Spirit Alive" to the ninth track.[8] The version intended to release on the original DONDA featured more verses from Ye, who disses Virgil Abloh and Donald Trump. Some of the vocals in this version were later reused in the released version.[9]

After the album was delayed, several people recorded reference vocals for the track, including Dem Jointz and Consequence. It was also featured on the unreleased visual album version of DONDA: WITH CHILD.[10] While it wasn't worked on during the Pio Pico sessions, it was first previewed at the private Las Vegas LP on July 19. It was first previewed to the public at the Atlanta LP on August 5.

Lyrics[]

[Intro]
Ooh, ooh
Keep my spirit alive
Keep my spirit alive, alive

[Chorus]
More than anything
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
Spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, my life
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Verse 1]
Yo
Flushed the work just in time and they raided, thank God (Thank God)
Screamin' through the GT roof like *****, we done made it, thank God (Thank God)
Hundred-round drum didn't jam when my shooter tried to spray it, thank God (Thank God)
Couple thousand grams, got two thousand grands when we waited, thank God (Thank God)
I was facin' fifteen and I beat it (And I beat it)
Just spent about twenty up at Neimans (Up at Neimans)
Did two hundred in a Demon (In a Demon, skrrt)
I'm the illest ***** and I mean it (And I mean it)
My homie droppin' bodies for no reason (Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom)
Now his kids see him on the weekends (Ah)
Got the baking soda for the remix (Remix)
Millionaires on, I can see it

[Chorus]
More than anything
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
Spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, my life
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Verse 2]
Yeah, don't hate me, 'cause my heart is full of love
No weapon formed against me 'cause I'm covered in the blood
Layin' in the hospital when I got shot, fam
Mama prayed for me, said she left it in God's hands, yeah
So I'ma leave it in God's hands
Everything I'm doin' now is God's plan
Doctor said I wouldn't walk no more, now I stand
Then I ran, here I am, Machine

[Chorus]
Keep my spirit alive, alive
More than anything
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side

[Verse 3]
Well, between a mix of bad schools with the fast food
Bad had tools and a bad mood
If you don't turn to a lil' Gotti, they gon' drain all the strength in your lil' body
They turned me into a lil' Gotti, uh, yeah
Not Wakanda but Wakanda is kinda like what we 'bout to make
And who gon' make it? Kan', duh
Who the squad? Donda
Who the mom? Donda
Who can see? Don, duh, get Don C
Who needs practice? I don't do rehearsals
And I don't do commercials, 'cause they too commercial
Give it all to God and let Jesus reimburse you
She said "You in the studio with who? I'ma hurt you"
How I'm forty-two and you got a curfew?
How nerves dictate how they gon' curve you?
Quiet all the cordialness
We walk in God's spiritual ordinance
We know the Blacks, the orphans refused to be runaways
Rebel, renegade, must stay paid

[Chorus]
More than anything
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
Spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, my life
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Intro]
Ooh, ooh
Keep my spirit alive
Keep my spirit alive, alive

[Chorus]
More than enough
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
The spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, my life, yeah
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Verse 1]
Yo
Flushed the work just in time and they raided, thank God (Thank God)
Screamin' through the GT roof like ****, we done made it, thank God (Thank God)
Hundred-round drum didn't jam when my shooter tried to spray it, thank God (Thank God)
Couple thousand grams, got two thousand grands when we waited, thank God (Thank God)
I was facin' fifteen and I beat it (And I beat it)
Just spent about twenty up at Neimans (Up at Neimans)
Did two hundred in a Demon (In a Demon, skrrt)
I'm the illest **** and I mean it (And I mean it)
My homie droppin' bodies for no reason (Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom)
Now his kids see him on the weekends (Ah)
Got the baking soda for the remix (Remix)
Millionaires on, I can see it

[Chorus]
More than enough
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
The spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, my life, yeah
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Verse 2]
Yeah, don't hate me, 'cause my heart is full of love
No weapon formed against me 'cause I'm covered in the blood
Layin' in the hospital when I got shot, fam
Mama prayed for me, said she left it in God's hands, yeah
So I'ma leave it in God's hands
Everything I'm doin' now is God's plan
Doctor said I wouldn't walk no more, now I stand
Then I ran, here I am, Machine

[Chorus]
Keep my spirit alive
More than enough
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side

[Verse 3]
Well, between a mix of bad schools with the fast food
Bad had tools and a bad mood
If you don't turn to a lil' Gotti, they gon' drain all the strength in your lil' body
They turned me into a lil' Gotti, uh, yeah
Not Wakanda but Wakanda is kinda like what we 'bout to make
And who gon' make it? Kan', duh
Who the squad? Donda
Who the mom? Donda
Who can see? Don, duh, get Don C
Who needs practice? I don't do rehearsals
And I don't do commercials, 'cause they too commercial
Give it all to God and let Jesus reimburse you
She said "You in the studio with who? I'ma hurt you"
How I'm forty-two and you got a curfew?
How nerves dictate how they gon' curve you?
Quiet all the cordialness
We walk in God's spiritual ordinance
We know the Blacks, the orphans refused to be runaways
Rebel, renegade, must stay paid

[Chorus]
More than enough
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
The spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, my life, yeah
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Intro]
Keep my spirit alive
Keep my spirit alive, alive

[Chorus]
More than enough
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side
The spirit won't die, I-
Oh, oh, oh, my life, yeah
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize
Lord have mercy

[Verse 1]
Yo
Flushed the work just in time and they raided, thank God (Thank God)
Screamin' through the GT roof like n***a, we done made it, thank God (Thank God)
Hundred-round drum didn't jam when my shooter tried to spray it, thank God (Thank God)
Couple thousand grams, got two thousand grands when we waited, thank God (Thank God)
I was facin' fifteen and I beat it (And I beat it)
Just spent about twenty up at Neimans (Up at Neimans)
Did two hundred in a Demon (In a Demon, skrrt)
I'm the illest n***a and I mean it (And I mean it)
My homie droppin' bodies for no reason (Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom)
Now his kids see him on the weekends (Ah)
Got the baking soda for the remix (Remix)
Millionaires on, I can see it (I can see it)

[Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh, my life, yeah
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

[Verse 2]
Yeah, don't hate me, 'cause my heart is full of love
No weapon formed against me 'cause I'm covered in the blood
Layin' in the hospital when I got shot, fam
Mama prayed for me, said she left it in God's hands, yeah
So I'ma leave it in God's hands
Everything I'm doin' now is God's plan
Doctor said I wouldn't walk no more, now I stand
Then I ran, here I am, Machine

[Chorus]
Keep my spirit alive, keep my spirit alive, alive
More than enough
You can take it all but the Lord on my side (Well, between a mix of bad schools with the fast food)
The spirit won't die, I— (Bad had tools and a bad mood)
Oh, oh, oh, my life, yeah (If you don't turn to a lil' Gotti, they gon' drain all the strength in your lil' body)
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize (They turned me into a lil' Gotti, uh, yeah, Lord on my side)

[Verse 3]
Not Wakanda but Wakanda is kinda like what we 'bout to make
And who gon' make it? Kan', duh
Who the squad? Donda
Who the mom? Donda
Who can see? Don, duh, get Don C
MIB, I told LV like Farrakhan told me
You can take the V, it still won't cure the disease (My life, yeah)
Uh, still won't cure the disease, still won't cure—, yeah

[Chorus]
More than enough (Spirit won’t die)
You can take it all, but the Lord on my side

[Verse 4]
You're more concerned about raising your next round than raising your next child (Spirit won't die)
Here’s the exodus from the one you exiled
We won't panic in a pandemic, we can stand in it
Believe in the word, know the spirit is transcendent
People who stress you out, my vision clear without it (Spirit won't die)
But it's y'all, I swear I’m sorry to hear about it
I'm not sorry it happened
I'm just sorry to hear—
I'm either the best decision or your worst mistake (Spirit won't die)
Every day’s a song, it only takes a hook to break, you know
Headed back to Cody on the first thing smokin'
I'ma get a room at the first thing open, brrrah
Step into the sanctuary (Spirit won't die)
You gon' thank me so much, I'd have to start a thank-tuary
Tell the assassins I escaped from Calabasas
Where they wanna turn my wife to Jackie Joe Jackson
Jackie Robinson, we at bat
Win the World Cup Series and that’s just us practicin', but—
Who needs practice? I don't do rehearsals
And I don't do commercials, 'cause they too commercial
Give it all to God and let Jesus reimburse you
She said "You in the studio with who? I'ma hurt you"
How I'm forty-two and you got a curfew?
How numbers dictate how they gon' curve you?
Quiet all the cordialness
We walk in God's spiritual ordinance
We know the Blacks, the orphans refused to be runaways
Rebel, renegade, must stay paid
(Spirit won’t die)

[Chorus]
More than enough
I can face the world with the Lord on my side
Spirit won’t die

[Verse 5]
My puffer so puffy, you thought it was Sean John
Over a vintage suit my dad wore to my mom's prom
Go home to the wifey to avoid the rom-coms
How you break the net and go to sleep in mom jeans?
Summer basketball camp down in Maryland
Used to play with the Terrapins
Used to play with the Taliban
How the police officer abuse a fellow African?
That DC crossover had me feelin' arrogant
But I got scopiphobia, don't stare at him
Favorite intern worked somewhere else for more cheese
But I can't cry over spilled milk employees
Backup, backup, backup, this the main event
I saw Cassie' trainer, and my girl ain’t had a male trainer since
I need an estate plan with an escape plan
Just in case I’m ambushed by Mr. Fake Tan
You are an example of someone who ain't prayin'
You a sinner, all orange like a fake tan
Satan has Helen Keller'd the people
Until we all agree he a liar, we ain’t equal
Brought soul to Hov, now bring the souls to Jehovah
Raised in the cold, thank God I'm bipolar
I wouldn't do a doc on Mike, I'm not Oprah
Drenched in the blood, I'm not what 'cha call sober
I followed in the word and did what the Lord told us
Now I've got the culture back on my shoulders

[Chorus]
Keep my spirit alive
Keep my spirit alive, alive
More than enough
I can face the world with the Lord on my side
The spirit won't die, die
Oh, oh, oh, my life, yeah
Is in His hands, so I don't stress, I pray and strategize

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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