You Must Love Me

[Kelly Price (Jay-Z)]

Talking: 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 (ye yeah) For that

I am eternally grateful.

[Verse 1]

Since my date of birth

bought you nothing but hurt

play those video games

stole change from ya purse

Sat on the cold court bench

'til I was arraigned in ya skirt

Saw the pain in ya face

through 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 seperated

tryin' 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

[Chorus (K. Price) (You must love me repeats in background)]

Say that you love me

All I know say that you must love me.

Ohh yeah

[Verse 2]

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 ya clothes to school

Got intense real intense

as we got older

Never believed it would lead

to be popped in one in ya shoulda

Where my rings? Knew you had it

'cause you took too long

as Mickey, Andy, 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 ya life was just that crazy

and you was beggin' for death

try to justify this in my young mind

but ya drillin' it

and my ego hurt combined

drove me berzerk

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 ya 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 Jazz' house

Like a stranger 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 ya next day

You must love me.

[Chorus (You must love me repeats in background)]

What after all the wrong I've done

I know you must

[Verse 3 (Starts over last line of chorus)]

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

I'm agreed said sender

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 these strange feelings

that I caught and the pain

I'm thinkin' why would I send you

when I knew it ain't right

I'm thinkin' what would

make you sacrifice ya life

You must love me

[Chorus (You must love me repeats in background)]

After everything that I've done wrong

I know inside you must love me

I know that you love me

You showed me I know it

I know

Say that you love me

say that you love me

I know you must love me

Oh yes you do

Inside I know it

you've always shown it

you love me yea yeah

Oh yeah

I know that you love me