Selah

"Selah"Song by Kanye West
General information
Featured artist(s)	Sunday Service Choir (uncredited) BONGO ByTheWay (uncredited) Swizz Beatz (uncredited)
Released	October 25, 2019
Recorded	September 2018-October 2019
Genre	Christian hip hop, gospel
Length	2:44
Album	JESUS IS KING
Label(s)	GOOD Music, Def Jam Recordings
Writer(s)	NIKKI GRIER, Consequence, E. Vax, BoogzDaBeast, Sean Leon, CyHi the Prynce, Ab-Liva, Allison LaValley, Clipse, Federico Vindver, Ant Clemons, Kanye West
Producer(s)	Francis and the Lights, Kanye West, BoogzDaBeast, Federico Vindver, E. Vax, ​Benny Blanco
Track list
Previous	"Every Hour"
Next	"Follow God"

"Selah" is the second track from Kanye West's ninth studio album, JESUS IS KING (2019). Adapted from the scrapped Yandhi track "Chakras", the final version features more religious-oriented lyrics and uncredited vocals from the Sunday Service Choir, Jason White, Bongo, Ant Clemons, and Swizz Beatz.

The track has songwriting credits from both Pusha T and No Malice of Clipse, Francis Starlite of Francis and the Lights, and benny blanco.

Background

At Chicago in the fall of 2018, an unknown artist named Ant Clemons freestyled in front of many people, including Kanye. During the freestyle, Ant gave Kanye a demo that he had been working on. From there, Kanye would add to the demo and refine it into "Chakras", which he planned to release on Yandhi.

However, in 2019, Kanye and Nikki Grier would rewrite the lyrics of Yandhi's tracks to fit the more pure theme of Kanye's new project, JESUS IS KING. On August 29, 2019, Kanye's then-wife Kim Kardashian tweeted a track list of JIK, which revealed "Selah" to be the third track on the album. In the same image, the Bible can seen open on Psalm 57:6, a passage which featured the word "Selah". On October 13, 2019, "Selah" leaked in its entirety after being played in listening parties in Detroit, Chicago, and New York.

Remix

A remix of the song was planned for the album, JESUS IS KING: The Dr. Dre Version, but the album never released. However, on September 26, 2023, the album leaked in its entirety.

Lyrics

• Selah
• Chakras
• Intro/Every Hour/Selah

[Verse 1]
God is King, we the soldiers
Ultrabeam out the solar
When I get to Heaven's gates
I ain't gotta peek over
Keepin' perfect composure
When I scream at the chauffeur
I ain't mean, I'm just focused
I ain't mean, I'm just focused
Pour the lean out slower
Got us clean out of soda
Before the flood, people judge
They did the same thing to Noah
Everybody wanted Yandhi
Then Jesus Christ did the laundry
They say the week start on Monday
But the strong start on Sunday
Won't be in bondage to any man
John 8:33
We the descendants of Abraham
Ye should be made free
John 8:36
To whom the son set free is free indeed
He saved a wretch like me

[Chorus]
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, He is wonderful

[Verse 2]
If you woke, then wake up
With Judas, kiss and make up
Even with the bitter cup
Forgave my brothers and drank up
Did everything but gave up
Stab my back, I can't front
Still we win, we prayed up
Even when we die, we raise up (Hallelujah)
Ain't no wantin', no, we need it
The powers that be done been greedy
We need ours by this evening
No white flag or no treaty
We got the product, we got the tools
We got the minds, we got the youth
We goin' wild, we on the loose
People is lying, we are the truth
Everything old shall now become new
The leaves'll be green, bearing the fruit
Love God and our neighbor, as written in Luke
The army of God and we are the truth

[Outro]
Wah, woo, wah, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Wah, woo, wah, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo, woo
Wah, woo, wah, woo, woo, woo, woo

[Intro]
Hatin’ on me, dawg
Stop hatin’ on me, dawg (Sheesh, sheesh)

[Verse 1]
I'm the team's ayatollah (Team's ayatollah) (Still waiting on me, dawg)
Ultrabeam out the solar (They waitin' on me, dawg)
All these n***as dumb-dumb (N***as dumb) (They debatin' on me, dawg)
And they claim they for the culture (Claim it for the) (Stop hatin' on me, dawg)
(Nothin' but models in here, nothin' but dollars in here)
Tryna keep my composure (Keep it)
When I scream at the chauffeur (Mean to the)
(Nothin' but collars in here, nothin' but scholars in here)
I ain't mean, I'm just focused (Mean, I'm just)
I ain't mean, bitch, I'm focused (Mean, I’m just) (Nothin' but greed and envy costing me energy)
Playin' king like it's poker (King like it's)
But you ain't dealin' with the Joker (You ain't with the)
Global warming gettin' closer (Closer, closer, closer)
Thank God I'm bipolar (Woo) (So somebody tell me why I love it)
Whole life on the floater (Whole on the floater)
Don't need rings or the trophies (Only rings)
(So much, oh, so much)
Glasses ringin' from the toasts (From the toasts)
Have a drink for the coldest (Drink for the coldest) (So tell me why I love it)
Pour the lean out slower (Lean out slower)
Got us clean out of soda (Clean out) (So much, oh, so much)
Before the flood, n***as judged (These n***as judge)
They did the same thing to Noah (God) (Same thing to Noah)
Everybody need Yandhi (Need Yandhi)
My cousin's mad at my auntie (Mad at my auntie)
He bought a crib out the country (Mad at my auntie)
And tried to Mitsubishi Galant me? (Skrrrt)
Yeah, this the one and only (This the one and only)
You can't tell a unicorn from a pony? (Pony, pony, pony)
Live freedom, this is freedom (Freedom, freedom)
Fuck your feelings, you can keep 'em (Keep 'em, keep 'em)
Show your grill when you greet him (Grill when you)
Or n***a, kneel when you meet him (Kneel when you meet him)
Know God when you see him (God when you see him)
Love God, you gon' need him (God, we gon' need him)
Don't you love God? Won't you hug God? This is God in the flesh (God, God)
Come and touch God, give a blowjob
Kanye gave up the West (Kanye) (Lord)
Kanye to Yeezy (Yeezy)
Maybe just Ye (Ye, Ye, Ye)
Fuck a slave name (Fuck a slave name) (Wait a minute)
Fuck a slave name (Fuck a slave name) (Ye, Ye, Ye)
Copped the whole gang for four hundred years, the prophecy 2019 ('19, yeah)
Them n***as is woke, those n***as is woke, them n***as ain't woke like me (Woke like me)
Hop off the boat like me (Boat like me)
Y'all ain't want smoke like me (Smoke like me)
Y'all supposed to be mad at them (Them) (Woo)
Y'all ain't supposed to fight me (No)

[Chorus]
Nothing but models in here, nothing but dollars in here
Nothing but collars in here, nothing but scholars in here
Nothing but greed and envy costing me energy
So somebody tell me why I love it

[Verse 2]
Number one spot, you been cheatin' on me (Me) (Ye, Ye)
N***as get you and be thinkin' they me (Me) (Ye, Ye)
You can be you, but you'll never be me (Ye, Ye)
You'll never be me (Ye, Ye)
(Ye, Ye, Ye, Ye)
The universe is on our side (Ye, Ye)
(Ye, Ye)

[Verse 3]
If you woke then wake up, n***a (Wait)
Sob, sob, then we make up, n***a (Wait)
Stop killing and make up, n***a (Wait)
That's the shit that shake up n***as (Wait)
Bars sound like a K-pop, n***a (Ye)
God's somethin' they can't front, n***a (Ye)
Stab your back, they can't front, n***a (Ye)
Time to get what we want, n***a (Ye)
Ain't no wantin', no, we need it (Need it)
We must have, we ain't greedy (Greedy)
Stomp, stomp, they been needy (Needy)
Told the money, they seedy (Seedy)
We are the product, we are the juice (Yeezy, Yeezy)
We goin' wild, we stayin' loose (Yeezy, Yeezy)
Home for the Zeus, we got the proof (Yeezy, Yeezy)
N***as is wrong, fuck what they do (Yeezy, Yeezy)
I’m comin’ through, we in the stu' (Yeezy, Yeezy)
We goin' through, we like the Wu (Yeezy, Yeezy)
Y'all n***as shoot, pumpin' the woo-woo-woo (Yeezy, Yeezy, Yeezy)

[Outro]
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo (Cha-cha, cha, cha-cha-cha, cha, Ye-)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo (Cha-cha, cha, cha-cha-cha, cha, Ye-)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo (Ye-Yeezy, Ye-,Ye-, Ye-Ye-, Ye-, Yeezy)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo, Came for uh (Yow) (Cha-cha, cha, cha-cha)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo (Cha-cha, cha, cha-cha-cha, cha, Ye-)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo (Cha-cha, cha, cha-cha-cha, cha, Ye-)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo-woo (Ye-Yeezy, Ye-,Ye-, Ye-Ye-, Ye-, Yeezy)
Woo-woo (ha) woo-woo-woo-woo-woo, Came for uh (Yow) (Cha-cha, cha, cha-cha)

[Part I: Intro]

[Intro]
Mmm
Oh, thank you Lord
For blessing me, blessing me, blessing me (Oooh)
(Thank you)

[Part II: Every Hour]

[Verse]
Every hour (Every hour)
Every minute (Every minute)
Every second (Every second)
Each and every millisecond
We need (We need)
We need you (We need you)
We need you
Oh, we need

[Refrain]
Sing 'til the power of the Lord comes down
Sing 'til the power of the Lord comes down

[Bridge]
Thank you so much God for this opportunity
In Jesus name we pray, amen

[Part III: Selah]

[Interlude]
I am what I am
And that is all I am
And I am it

[Verse 1]
God is King, we the soldiers
Ultrabeam out the solar
When I get to Heaven's gates
I ain't gotta peek over
Keepin' perfect composure
When I scream at the chauffeur
I ain't mean, I'm just focused
I ain't mean, I'm just focused
Pour the lean out slower
Got us clean out of soda
Before the flood, people judge
They did the same thing to Noah
Everybody wanted Yandhi
Then Jesus Christ did the laundry
They say the week start on Monday
But the strong start on Sunday
Won't be in bondage to any man
John 8:33
We the descendants of Abraham
Ye should be made free
John 8:36
To whom the son set free is free indeed
He saved a wretch like me (huh)

[Bridge]
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah
Hallelujah, He is wonderful
(Ay)

[Verse 2]
If you woke, then wake up
With Judas, kiss and make up
Even with the bitter cup
Forgave my brothers and drank up
Did everything but gave up
Stab my back, I can't front
Still we win, we prayed up
Even when we die, we raise up
Ain't no wantin', no, we need it
The powers that be done been greedy
We need ours by this evening
No white flag or no treaty
We got the product, we got the tools
We got the minds, we got the youth
We goin' wild, we on the loose
People is lying, we are the truth
Everything old shall now become new
The leaves'll be green, bearing the fruit
Love God and our neighbor, as written in Luke
The army of God and we are the truth

[Outro]
We are the truth
We are the truth
We are the truth
We are the truth
We are the truth