Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Eminem
Vocals
Beyoncé
Vocals
Daphne Chen
String Instrument
Eric Gorfain
String Instrument
Jason Lader
Bass
Leah Katz
String Instrument
Richard Dodd
String Instrument
Rick Rubin
Turntables
Skylar Grey
Piano
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Holly Hafermann
Composer
Marshall Mathers
Composer
Beyoncé Knowles
Composer
Jason Lader
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Rick Rubin
Producer
Skylar Grey
Producer
Manny Marroquin
Mixing Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I walk on water
But I ain't no Jesus
I walk on water
But only when it freezes (Fuck)
[Verse 2]
Why are expectations so high?
Is it the bar I set?
My arms, I stretch, but I can't reach
A far cry from it, or it's in my grasp, but as
Soon as I grab, squeeze
I lose my grip like the flying trapeze
Into the dark, I plummet
Now the sky's blackening, I know the marks hide butter–
Flies rip apart my stomach
Knowing that no matter what bars I come with
You're gonna harp, gripe, and that's a hard Vicodin to swallow
So I scrap these, as pressure increases like khakis
I feel the ice cracking because
[Verse 3]
I walk on water
But I ain't no Jesus
I walk on water
But only when it freezes
[Verse 4]
It's the curse of the standard
That the first of the Mathers disc set
Always in search of the verse that I haven't spit yet
Will this step just be another misstep
To tarnish whatever the legacy, love, or respect I've garnered?
The rhyme has to be perfect, the delivery, flawless
And it always feels like I'm hittin' the mark
Till I go sit in the car, listen, and pick it apart
Like, "This shit is garbage"
God's given me all this
Still, I feel no different regardless
Kids look to me as a god, this is retarded
If only they knew, it's a facade and it's exhaustive
And I try not to listen to nonsense
But if you bitches are tryin' to strip me of my confidence
Mission accomplished
I'm not God-sent
Nas, Rakim, Pac, B.I.G., James Todd Smith, and I'm not Prince, so
[Verse 5]
I walk on water
But I ain't no Jesus
I walk on water
But only when it freezes
'Cause I'm only human just like you
Makin' my mistakes, oh, if you only knew
I don't think you should believe in me the way that you do
'Cause I'm terrified to let you down, oh
[Verse 6]
It's true, I'm a Rubik's
A beautiful mess
At times, juvenile, yes
I goof and I jest
A flawed human, I guess
But I'm doin' my best to not ruin your expectations and meet 'em
But first, the "Speedom" verse
Now Big Sean, he's goin' too fast
Is he gonna shout or curse out his mom?
There was a time I had the world by the balls, eatin' out my palm
Every album, song, I was spazzin' the fuck out on
And now, I'm gettin' clowned and frowned on
But the only one who's lookin' down on me that matters now's DeShaun
Am I lucky to be around this long?
Begs the question though, especially after the methadone
As yesterday fades, and the Dresden home is burnt to the ground
And all that's left of my house is lawn
The crowds are gone
And it's time to wash out the blonde
Sales decline, the curtains, drawn
They're closin' the set, I'm still pokin' my head from out behind
And everyone who has doubt, remind
Now take your best rhyme, outdo it
Now do it a thousand times
Now let 'em tell ya the world no longer cares or gives a fuck about your rhymes
And as I grow outta sight, outta mind, I might go outta mine
'Cause how do I ever let this mic go without a fight
When I made a fuckin' tightrope outta twine?
But when I do fall from these heights though, I'll be fine
I won't pout or cry or spiral down or whine
But I'll decide if it's my final bow this time around, 'cause
[Verse 7]
I walk on water
But I ain't no Jesus
I walk on water
But only when it freezes
'Cause I'm only human just like you
I've been makin' my mistakes, oh, if you only knew
I don't think you should believe in me the way that you do
'Cause I'm terrified to let you down, oh
[Verse 8]
If I walked on water
I would drown
[Verse 9]
'Cause I'm just a man
But as long as I got a mic, I'm godlike
So me and you are not alike
Bitch, I wrote "Stan"!
Written by: Beyoncé Knowles, Holly Hafermann, Marshall Mathers