Ozark Wills is a raw and heartfelt song that dives deep into the struggles of growing up in rural Missouri amidst poverty, crime, and the meth epidemic. Through evocative storytelling and powerful lyricism, Kendrick Lamar paints a vivid picture of life in the Ozark hills, while highlighting the transformative power of music as an escape from the harsh realities. The song reflects on the impact of addiction, the loss of home, and the resilience needed to overcome such challenges.
Intro:
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Ooh, oh, oh…
Verse 1:
Born in the Ozark hills, where the shadows loom wide
Crime on every corner, no place left to hide
Family strung out on meth, lost their soul in the fumes
Four walls crumbling, no escape from the gloom
Mama’s eyes faded, daddy's hands rough and cold
Living in a world so dark, it's a story untold
Young soul in the chaos, trying to find a way
Dreams trapped in a bottle, fighting for a better day
Chorus:
Ozark wills keep pushing, through the pain and the cries
Music as the lifeline, it's where my spirit flies
In the heart of the struggle, where daylight never spills
I'm forging my path, with these Ozark wills
Verse 2:
Echoes in the night, deals go down in the dark
Bullets fly, dreams shatter, leave a scar on the heart
Brother lost to the needle, sister ran away in fright
I'm gripping to my sanity, in the dead of the night
Melodies my sanctuary, rhymes my shield and sword
In a world full of chaos, my refuge in each chord
Notes lifting me higher, from the grime and the filth
In the echo of the hills, found a way to rebuild
Chorus:
Ozark wills keep pushing, through the pain and the cries
Music as the lifeline, it's where my spirit flies
In the heart of the struggle, where daylight never spills
I'm forging my path, with these Ozark wills
Bridge:
Lost home, found soul, in the rhythm and the beat
Every lyric a promise, every verse my retreat
From backroads to microphones, turning pain into gold
This is my story, this is the life I hold
Outro:
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Melodies save me
Ozark wills shape me
From the darkness, my light
In the music, take flight
Chorus (Reprise):
Ozark wills keep pushing, through the pain and the cries
Music as the lifeline, it's where my spirit flies
In the heart of the struggle, where daylight never spills
I'm forging my path, with these Ozark wills
Outro:
Yeah, yeah, yeah
From the grime to the heights
Ozark wills take flight
In the rhythm, I rise
Through the pain and the cries
Chords not available
Beat not available
The song is called “Ozark Wills” a play on Ozark hills. It is about growing up in rural Missouri being broke and around a lot of crime and drugs, especially meth. It is also about using music as an escape from all of that. At this time my entire family were users, I lived in a drug house, and soon after that we lost our home.
Kendrick Lamar