Life Sentence Lyrics – J. Cole

[Intro]
Realest s*it I wrote (Doing life)
Realest s*it I wrote (We doing life, n!gga)
Realest s*it I wrote
This be the realest s*it I wrote
Realest s*it I wrote
Realest s*it I wrote
Be the realest s*it I wrote (Doing life), yeah

[Verse 1]
For all my n!ggas doing life with they day one
Who held it down when the credit wasn’t A1?

You thanking God, you was looking for a great one
He took a rib out your chest and He madе one
To be a man and hold it down, take a bravе one
When the hoes come around and you crave something
My flow switch, slow the pace, this the Ma one
I’m not a player but I’m crushing like the late Pun
Let’s take one, go

[Verse 2]
The definition of rider
The one by my side when I had not a dollar to my name
Before a crowd would holler for Jermaine, you saw potential
Waiting on you to hit my line was suspenseful
Back when we was kids, this was simple
Boy likes girl, girl got a man
Boy stays in lane, maybe provides a friend
Knowing by the end buddy gon’ fumble
Was far from the toughest around, buddy gon’ rumble
When necessary, when n!ggas started talking reckless
Did he not step to them n!ggas with chest poked out?
Over you, that ‘Ville come out, no doubt
We fell in love, but my dreams you ain’t know ’bout
You knew I rap, but, you ain’t know ’bout both of my goals
Wanna take over the globe through a mic’
And one day me and you be doing life

[Chorus]
All types of games are being played, how’s it going down?, yeah
It’s on ’til it’s gone and I gots to know now, yeah
Is you with me or what? A n!gga really think he in love (Uh-huh)
I put this ring on you forever, what’s up?
All types of games are being played, how’s it going down?, yeah
It’s on ’til it’s gone and I gots to know now, yeah
Is you with me or what? A n!gga really think he in love (Uh-huh)
I put this ring on you forever, what’s up? (We doing life)

[Verse 3]
Uh, the puppy love had grown and now it’s full blown
Since childhood, I vowed to have a good home
White picket fence with wife cooking
Yellow rice for a couple kids that’s nice looking
And I promise to treat her right
Unlike what I had seen in my life as examples, marriages in shambles
And I can tell I found a real one
Smart, loyal and real pretty, we can build something
But first, I got work to do
So when I’m spending nights locked in on that mic’, please, don’t take it personal
My skills is growing, the flows more versatile
My name’s ringing and on the evening, I heard the news
I’m getting a deal, the first one I called was you
Even though we been off-and-on a few years
And through tears on rainy nights that you would wipe
I always knew that we’d be doing life

[Chorus]
All types of games are being played, how’s it going down?, yeah
It’s on ’til it’s gone and I gots to know now, yeah
Is you with me or what? A n!gga really think he in love (Uh-huh)
I put this ring on you forever, what’s up?
All types of games are being played, how’s it going down?, yeah
It’s on ’til it’s gone and I gots to know now, yeah
Is you with me or what? A n!gga really think he in love (Uh-huh)
I put this ring on you forever, what’s up? (We doing life)

[Verse 4]
The temptation of other lovers is a hard one
To overcome when you’re young and your star’s done
A line that women that wouldn’t give you time is calling you fine
Lust creeps all through your mind, I’m trying my hardest
To remember why I’m an artist
Is it for b!tches and the riches?
You all suspicious and you should be
I’m doing dirt, but it’s not as much as I could be
That make me feel better
I’m drifting away slowly, that make you feel bitter
The Devil on my shoulder telling me, “Quit her”
Angel on the opposite side sayin, “Stick with her”
God telling me pick whichever is in my heart
Looked inside myself to a place beyond thought
And found out who I want to be
Slowly, but surely he cut off his hoes
If you gon’ do it, do it right
Put ring on your finger, now, me and you is doing life

[Chorus]
All types of games are being played, how’s it going down?, yeah
It’s on ’til it’s gone and I gots to know now, yeah
Is you with me or what? A n!gga really think he in love (Uh-huh)
I put this ring on you forever, what’s up?
All types of games are being played, how’s it going down?, yeah
It’s on ’til it’s gone and I gots to know now, yeah
Is you with me or what? A n!gga really think he in love (Uh-huh)
I put this ring on you forever, what’s up? (We doing life)

[Outro]
I done wrote a lot of songs, but this is gotta be my realest one
Shoutout to anybody that really know what it’s like to do life with somebody
Through the ups, the downs, the goods, the bads, through thick and thin
In a time where they make it so easy to just give up
Know what I mean?