"WHITE LINES" is a song by Kanye West that was released on March 18, 2025 as a part of his demo studio album, BULLY V1 (2025).[1] The song serves as the third track to the demo record and serves as a cover of Stevie Wonder's Talk Box cover of "Close To You" by The Carpenters.
Production[]
"WHITE LINES" samples a live Stevie Wonder talkbox cover of "Close To You" by The Carpenters. The outro is also looped.[2] The track is played 4/4 time in 155.2 BPM, and it is in the key of C Minor.
Background[]
The initial reference track was recorded some time in October 2024 by an artist whose identity is currently unknown and was overlayed with Kanye AI.[3] The song appeared in all known track listings for the album that had been built around the BULLY film.
The song was initially teased in 2024 after someone who went to one of the private viewing LPs stated one of the songs on the record had a sample of "Close To You" by Frank Ocean. Though this song did not sample the Frank song, it is almost certain he was referring to this song. Despite this, the song had not ever been previewed or heard through snippets prior to release.
BULLY Film[]
On March 18, Ye would randomly decide to release the BULLY short film on March 18, 2025, this song being included in all copies of the film.[4] Ye would later take to X (fka Twitter) to Tweet his reasoning for the release, stating he released it as the project was almost completely AI and he had founded a new disdain towards AI and would be reworking the record.[5] It's possible a new version without AI vocals has been recorded since then, but it cannot be stated for sure as the only song Ye had stated he would be rerecording for specifically is "MELROSE".
Eventually, every link to the film would be taken down and the film would be taken off of YouTube and Apple Music, likely to avoid legal troubles between both Ye and Pomme as shortly before the film's takedown it had been confirmed Pomme had became aware of Ye releasing "HIGHS AND LOWS" with her sample despite her stating she will not be clearing it publicly and was seeking legal action to have it taken down.[6]
Lyrics[]
[Intro: Stevie Wonder]
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time that you are near?
[Verse 1: Kanye West]
Sometimes I belong by myself, yeah
Don't feel at home by myself, yeah
It ain't the same feeling with somebody else
Feel like a clone of myself, yeah
See, I ain't gotta lie rather tell the truth
But I tell the truth 'bout everything
Everything, everything, everything
Yeah, tell the truth 'bout everything
[Verse 2: Kanye West]
Sometimes, I just don't wanna feel (Why do birds suddenly appear)
Attitudes, bitter pills (Every time that you are near?)
So I am still, yeah, I'm still
Close to you, close to you (Close to you)
All that we've been through (All that we've been through)
That kept us here together (That kept us here together)
(And decided to make a dream come true)
Well, I said it once, I'll say it again (Well, I said it once, I'll say it again)
(And golden starlight in your eyes)
(So true, ooh, ooh)
And that is why
[Outro: Stevie Wonder]
Why do birds suddenly appear
Every time that you are near?
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
And golden starlight in your eyes
So true, ooh, ooh
And that is why—
Birds suddenly appear
Every time that you are near
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
And golden starlight in your eyes
So true, ooh, ooh
And that is why—
Reference[]
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/54a60d36af642417197043fdfc8f6d74
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c3N_0a_WJc
- ↑ https://pillowcase.su/f/54a60d36af642417197043fdfc8f6d74
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIkI9kjnJ1U
- ↑ https://x.com/kanyewest/status/1902208914319667445
- ↑ https://x.com/yeunrlsd/status/1903417052905242784
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