Throughout my life (uh huh uh huh uh)
No matter what I've done (right)
You've been merciful and your love endureth (yeah)
Through all things (yeah)
For that I am eternally grateful
Since my date of birth bought you nothing but hurt
Play those video games, stole change from your purse
Sat on the cold court bench 'til I was arraigned in your skirt
Saw the pain in ya face, still you maintained a smirk
All you did was motivate me, "Don't let 'em hold you back"
What I do? I turned around and I sold you crack
I was a bastard for that, still I'm drowning in shame
Just remember one thing now, you're not to blame
You was newly separated, tryna to escape ya world
And through my thirst I didn't help you, I just made things worse
I hated me and everybody that created crack
Had me thinkin' the newest kicks and the latest gat
Still haven't apologized, so please play this back
While I try to come to terms with such a heinous act
You know in more than one way cocaine numbs the brain
All I did was think about how the funds once came
Then I ran across this memory and it stung the brain
How can you ever destroy the beauty from which one came
That's a savage, you're the reason
Why me and these beats make a marriage
Why I rhyme above average and I ain't shit
Glad you got yourself together, no thanks to me
Strong and beautiful the way thangs should be
You must love me
Say that you love me
(You must love me)
I know, say that you must love me
(You must love me)
Ohh yeah
(You must love me)
We used to fight every night but I never would suffer
Just smile my big brother's tryna make me tougher
As we grew, fussing and fighting continued
As I plundered through ya stuff and snuck your clothes to school
Got intense, real intense as we got older
Never believed it would lead to me poppin' one in your shoulder
Where my rings? Knew you had it 'cause you took too long
As Mickey, Annie, and the girl that bought it looked on
Huffin' and puffin' gun in my hand told you step outside
Hoping you said no but you hurt my pride
Made our way down the steps
Maybe you thought it was just a threat
Or maybe your life was just that crazy
And you was beggin' for death
Try to justify this in my young mind
But the adrenaline and my ego hurt combined
Drove me berserk, saw the devil in your eyes
High off more than weed
Confused, I just closed my young eyes and squeezed
What a sound, opened my eyes just in time
To see you stumbling to the ground
Damn what the fuck I done now?
Runnin' around in a circle thinking I'm assed out
Hot gun burnin' my waist, ran straight to Jaz' house
Like a strange,r damn I just shot my nigga
And ran off into the night as if it was not my nigga
Left the scene how could I go out that way
Still you asked to see me in the hospital the next day
You must love me
After all the wrong I've done
(You must love me)
I know you must
(You must love me)
Everything in my power and within my frame
To protect you from this life and keep you away from the game
But you was one of the few people that I can trust
And the fact of the matter I slang these pies for us
You put the pressure on me dearly, rarely would you let it go
Was a thousand and one times I had to tell you no
When it was one of those days when nobody was around
And I needed emergency trip out of town
Searched my mental Rolodex for all the numbers I know
As you stared in my face asking me could you go
And my greed said send her, everything'll go smooth
Just tell her what to do and everything'll go through
Strapped her body with them thangs as you boarded the plane
Couldn't explain the strange feeling that I caught in the vein
I'm thinkin' why would I send you when I knew it ain't right
I'm thinkin' what would make you sacrifice your life
You must love me
After everything I've done for
(You must love me)
I know inside, you must love me
(You must love me)
(You must love me)
You must love me
I know that you love me
(You must love me)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(You must love me)
You showed me, I know it
(You must love me)
(You must love me)
Say that you love me, say that you love me
(You must love me)
I know it, you must love me
(You must love me)
(You must love me)
Oh yes you do
(You must love me)
Inside I know it
You've always showed me that you loved me, yeah, yeah
(You must love me)
Oh yeah, I know that you love me
(You must love me)
(You must love me)
(You must love me)
---
You Must Love Me - Jay-Z
