Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Kanye West
Lead Vocals
Brandy
Vocals
Eric Gorfain
Violin
Daphne Chen
Violin
Alyssa Park
Violin
Audrey Solomon
Violin
Terry Glenny
Violin
Susan Chatman
Violin
Marisa Kuney
Violin
Marda Todd
Viola
Piotr Jandula
Viola
Tom Tally
Viola
David Sage
Viola
Jason Torreano
Contrabass
Richard Dodd
Cello
Frances Senger
Contrabass
Armen Ksajikian
Cello
Denise Briese
Contrabass
Victor Lawrence
Cello
Gary Grant
Trumpet
Dan Fornero
Trumpet
Steve Holtman
Trombone
Bruce Otto
Bass Trombone
Rick Todd
French Horn
Amy Wickman
Violin
Andrew Martin
Trombone
Julie Rogers
Violin
Matthew Cooker
Cello
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Kanye West
Songwriter
Andre Williams
Songwriter
Jon Brion
String Arranger
Eric Gorfain
Orchestrator
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Kanye West
Producer
Jon Brion
Producer
Richard Reitz
Assistant Engineer
Anthony Kilhoffer
Recording Engineer
Matt Green
Assistant Engineer
Craig Bauer
Mixing Engineer
Nate Connelly
Assistant Engineer
Mike Mo
Assistant Engineer
James Aurwarter
Assistant Engineer
Ryan Neuschafer
Assistant Engineer
Tom Biller
Strings Engineer
Vlado Meller
Mastering Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down
Way down, way down
One day, they'd try to bring me down
Always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down
Way down, they'd try to bring me down
[Verse 2]
We goin' to mass today, we have to pray
Besides what the pastor say, I have to say
Since Pac passed away
Most you rappers don't even deserve a track from me
You see, if you ever wanted to ever be anything
There'd always be somebody there to shoot down any dream
There'll always be haters, that's the way it is
Haters **** marry hater bitches and have hater kids
But they gon' have to take my life 'fore they take my drive
'Cause when I was barely livin', that's what kept me alive
Just the thought that maybe it could be better than where we at at this time
Make it out of this grind, 'fore I'm outta my mind
And get some leeway on the he say she say
Your girl don't like me, how long has she been gay?
Spanish girl say, "Yo, no hablo inglés"
And everybody wanna run to me for their single
It's funny how these whack **** need my help
Wasn't around when I couldn't feed myself
Dog, if I was you I wouldn't feel myself
Dog, if I was you I'd kill myself
Made a mil' myself and I'm still myself
And I'ma look in the mirror if I need some help
Now I speak from the heart, y'all are frontin'
Everybody feel the way about K, but at least y'all feel somethin'
[Verse 3]
What you calling?
I let all in for getting what some get will get ya
What kind of dream we found?
See, I'm often catching crosswinds
Forgetting where the hell I met you
And try to bring me down
[Verse 4]
I always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down
Way down, way down
Always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down
Way down
Always knew that one day, they'd try to bring me down
Way down, they'd try to bring me down
Down, down
Down, down
Written by: A. Williams, Jon Brion, Kanye West