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Beyonce’s LemonadeContextLemonade is Beyonce’s sixth album: 12 tracks, accompanied by an hour-long film, which premiered in the United States on Saturday on HBO. It was initially available only on the streaming service Tidal or for purchase through iTunes. Released with next to no advance warning, Lemonade was said to have ‘disrupted’ the ‘album cycle’ but Beyonce had previously done this before in 2013 when she put out 14 songs, each with their own video.Lemonade is a visual album – a number of music video offset by chapter titles like ‘Intution,’, ‘Denial’, ‘Apathy’, Emptiness’ and, eventually, ‘Resurrection’ – connected by a voiceover from Beyonce reading poetry by Warsan Shire, a Somali-British poet, who was named Young Poet Laureate for London in 2013. Story Arc: The title is drawn from Jay Z’s grandmother, who is shown in the film at her 90th birthday party: ‘I was served lemons but I made lemonade.’ The album is a celebration of metaphorical lemonade-making: an ode to overcoming hardship, turning things around, and triumphing over adversity).Lemonade traces a story of infidelity and reconciliation. It starts with Beyonce questioning her relationship ‘Are you cheating on me?’ she asks the viewer. When the evidence of unfaithfulness becomes conclusive, her first move is protest – ‘They don’t love you like I love you,’ she intones – followed by anger: ‘I’m gonna fuck me up a bitch’, she says gleefully in one song, baseball bat in hand. (Later she adds, ‘You ain’t married to an average bitch, boy!’) But after she appears to cut loose from an untrustworthy partner – ‘Me and my babay gonna be alright, we gonna live a good life’ – the tale shifts towards cease-fire and reunion. The hour ends with shots of happy couples and an assertion that our heroine will move forward. ‘My torturer became my remedy,’ Beyonce explains. ‘So we’re gonna heal. We’re gonna start again.’Rumours that Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z had been unfaithful to her had been circulating for years. The rumours came to a head after the singer’s sister Solange was filmed attacking her brother-in-law in a lift at a Met Gala after party in 2014. But Jay Z’s appearance with their daughter, Blue Ivy, at the end of the film, and the softening tone of its latter half – suggests Lemonade is not a critically acclaimed divorce announcement.On her way through the relationship plot, she also tells a story about the experience of black womanhood. A snipped pulled from a speech by Malcolm X declares, ‘The most disrespected in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.’ Men are almost entirely absent from the film, physically and emotionally; in their place, large groups of women appear again and again, presenting a united front of solidarity and sisterhood.Lemonade is packed with the same powerful imagery, and showcases Beyonce’s determination to stand up for black rights and speak out against police brutality and institutional racism. The videos also feature cameos from mothers whose sons have been killed as a result of police brutality or race-fuelled crime, including Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton, who is pictured holding a photograph of her son.Martin,who was unarmed was shot and killed in 2012 at the age of 17. After his killer was acquitted of murder, his death sparked the Black Lives Matter protest. readingLemonade: The hidden meanings buried in Beyonce’s filmic journey through grief reading / reviews:Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ album but a sip of her evolving feminist story: Lemonade review – furious glory of a woman scorned (The New Yorker)’s Notebook: Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ is a Revolutionary Work of Black Feminism is Beyonce at her most profane, political and personal readingSound, Vision and Embodied Performativity in Beyonce Knowles’ Visual Album Lemonade (2016) articles you should read to understand Beyonce’s Lemonade – from poetry to body art Beyond Pain critical review of Beyonce’s ‘Formation’'s_FormationEven further readingPhenomenal list of further reading – especially Black Feminist Studies, English and Critical Theory and Historical and Cultural Studies and understand the context and story arc of this album. Further reading will enhance your knowledge of this. Read as many of these article as you can.You will be assigned a chapter which will include the voice-over (poetry from Warsan Shire), the video and the lyrics to the song. You need toAnalyse the voice overAnalyse the lyricsFor both consider the two potential meanings behind the album: the infidelity and the presentation of the African-American woman.Choose no more than 4 stills from your video that you think best encapsulate Beyonce’s message. Analyse these stills using media terminology and explore how these shots help to convey Beyonce’s message.Read through the critical readings of Beyonce’s album. Consider what is said and thought about this album and arrive at your own viewpoint.You will present your work during Wednesday and Thursday’s lesson (19th/20th)Track listIntuitionI tried to make a home out of you, but doors lead to trap doors, a stairway leads to nothing. Unknown women wander the hallways at night. Where do you go when you go quiet?You remind me of my father, a magician ... able to exist in two places at once. In the tradition of men in my blood, you come home at 3 a.m. and lie to me. What are you hiding?The past and the future merge to meet us here. What luck. What a f*cking curse.Pray you can’t catch meWhen we're introduced to Beyonce, she's almost unrecognizable. Standing in a field, wearing a black hoodie to cover up her signature golden curls, Bey is lurking. In this heart-wrenching ballad, she sings: "You can taste the dishonesty/It's all over your breath as you pass it off so cavalier." Beyonce is watching her man cheat on her, yet she wants him to know that she knows. She's tired of hiding his secret. "I'm prayin' you catch me listening," she sings.YOU CAN TASTE THE DISHONESTY, IT’S ALL OVER YOUR BREATHAS YOU PASS IT OFF SO CAVALIER, BUT EVEN THAT’S A TESTCONSTANTLY AWARE OF IT ALL, MY LONELY EARPRESSED AGAINST THE WALLS OF YOUR WORLDPRAY TO CATCH YOU WHISPERINGI PRAY YOU CATCH ME LISTENINGI’M PRAYING TO CATCH YOU WHISPERINGI PRAY YOU CATCH MEI’M PRAYING TO CATCH YOU WHISPERINGI PRAY YOU CATCH ME LISTENINGI PRAY YOU CATCH MENOTHING ELSE EVER SEEMS TO HURT LIKE THE SMILE ON YOUR FACEWHEN IT’S ONLY IN MY MEMORY, IT DON'T HIT ME QUITE THE SAMEMAYBE IT’S A CAUSE FOR CONCERN, BUT I'M NOT AT EASEKEEPING MY HEAD TO THE CURBPRAY TO CATCH YOU WHISPERINGI PRAY YOU CATCH ME LISTENINGI PRAY TO CATCH YOU WHISPERINGI PRAY YOU CATCH MEI PRAY YOU CATCH MEI PRAY YOU CATCH MEI’M PRAYING YOU CATCH MEDenial I tried to change. Closed my mouth more, tried to be softer, prettier, less awake. Fasted for 60 days, wore white, abstained from mirrors, abstained from sex, slowly did not speak another word. In that time, my hair, I grew past my ankles. I slept on a mat on the floor. I swallowed a sword. I levitated. Went to the basement, confessed my sins, and was baptized in a river. I got on my knees and said 'amen' and said 'I mean.'I whipped my own back and asked for dominion at your feet. I threw myself into a volcano. I drank the blood and drank the wine. I sat alone and begged and bent at the waist for God. I crossed myself and thought I saw the devil. I grew thickened skin on my feet, I bathed in bleach, and plugged my menses with pages from the holy book, but still inside me, coiled deep, was the need to know ... Are you cheating on me?Cheating? Are you cheating on me?Hold upBey is now back to being Bey in "Hold Up." Wearing yellow, her golden hair swinging down her back, she's nearly skipping down the street, seeking revenge. "Hold up/They don't love you like I love you," she sings, almost as a warning. If you get lost in the sweet reggae vibe of the song, you may miss the anger, which is clearly on display in the video. Beyonce swings a baseball bat into a yellow fire hydrant, a car window and even a security camera. No one is catching her.HOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUBACK UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSTEP DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUCAN’T YOU SEE THERE’S NO OTHER MAN ABOVE YOUWHAT A WICKED WAY TO TREAT THE GIRL THAT LOVES YOUHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSOMETHING DON’T FEEL RIGHTBECAUSE IT AIN’T RIGHTESPECIALLY COMING UP AFTER MIDNIGHTI SMELL YOUR SECRETSAND I’M NOT TOO PERFECTTO EVER FEEL THIS WORTHLESSHOW DID IT COME DOWN TO THISSCROLLING THRU YOUR CALL LISTI DON’T WANT TO LOSE MY PRIDE BUT I’MA F---- ME UP A BITCHKNOW THAT I KEPT IT SEXYYOU KNOW I KEPT IT FUNIS THERE SOMETHING THAT I’M MISSING? MAYBE MY HEAD FOR ONEWHAT’S WORSE LOOKING JEALOUS AND CRAZY, JEALOUS AND CRAZYOR LIKE BEING WALKED ALL OVER LATELY, WALKED ALL OVER LATELYI’D RATHER BE CRAZYHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUBACK UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSTEP DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUCAN’T YOU SEE THERE’S NO OTHER MAN ABOVE YOUWHAT A WICKED WAY TO TREAT THE GIRL THAT LOVES YOUHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOULET’S IMAGINE FOR A MOMENTTHAT YOU NEVER MADE A NAMEFOR YOURSELF MASTER WEALTH THEY HAD YOU LABELED AS A KINGNEVER MADE IT OUT THE CASESTILL OUT THERE MOVING IN THEM STREETSNEVER HAD THE BADDEST WOMEN IN THE GAME UP IN YOUR SHEETSWOULD THEY BE DOWN TO RIDE, NOTHEY USED TO HIDE FROM LIE TO YABUT Y’ALL KNOW WE WERE MADE FOR EACH OTHERSO I FIND YOU AND HOLD YOU DOWNHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUBACK UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSTEP DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUCAN’T YOU SEE THERE’S NO OTHER MAN ABOVE YOUWHAT A WICKED WAY TO TREAT THE GIRL THAT LOVES YOUHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUBABE IT'S SUCH A SHAMEYOU LET THIS GOOD LOVE GO TO WASTEI ALWAYS GIVE THAT TOP TIER 5 STARBACK SEAT LOVIN IN THE CARLIKE MAKE THAT WOOD HOLLY LIKE A BOULEVARDWHAT'S WORSE LOOKING JEALOUS AND CRAZY, JEALOUS AND CRAZYOR LIKE BEING WALKED ALL OVER LATELY, WALKED ALL OVER LATELYI’D RATHER BE CRAZYHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUBACK UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSTEP DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUCAN’T YOU SEE THERE’S NO OTHER MAN ABOVE YOUWHAT A WICKED WAY TO TREAT THE GIRL THAT LOVES YOUHOLD UP, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUSLOW DOWN, THEY DON’T LOVE YOU LIKE I LOVE YOUI HOP UP OFF MY BEDAND GET MY SWAG ONI LOOK IN THE MIRROR SAY WASSUPWASSUP WASSUP WASSUPAngerIf it's what you truly want ... I can wear her skin over mine. Her hair over mine. Her hands as gloves. Her teeth as confetti. Her scalp, a cap. Her sternum, my bedazzled cane. We can pose for a photograph, all three of us. Immortalized ... you and your perfect girl.I don't know when love became elusive. What I know is, no one I know has it. My father's arms around my mother's neck, fruit too ripe to eat. I think of lovers as trees ... growing to and from one another. Searching for the same light.Why can't you see me? Why can't you see me? Why can't you see me? Everyone else can.Don’t Hurt YourselfBeyonce gets help from rocker Jack White on this song, which she sings in a garage. Still angry and wearing a fur, Bey sings, "Who the f*** do you think I is?/You ain't married to no average b**** boy." It seems her man isn't willing to reconcile just yet, even though he's caught as Bey sings, "Beautiful man, I know you're lying/I am not broken, I'm not crying, I'm not crying/You ain't trying hard enough."DON’T HURT YOURSELFDON’T HURT YOURSELFWHO THE F--- DO YOU THINK I ISYOU AIN’T MARRIED TO NO AVERAGE B---- BOYYOU CAN WATCH MY FAT ASS TWIST BOYAS I BOUNCE TO THE NEXT D--- BOYAND KEEP YOUR MONEYI GOT MY OWNKEEP A BIGGER SMILE ON MY FACEBEING ALONEBAD MUTHA F----ERGOD COMPLEXMOTIVATE YOUR ASSCALL ME MALCOLM XYOUR OPERATORINNOVATORFUCK YOU HATERYOU CAN’T RECREATE HER NOYOU NEVER RECREATE HER NOWE JUST GOTTA LET IT BE?LET IT BE?LET IT BE?LET IT BE BABYYOU JUST GOTTA LET IT BELET IT BE?LET IT BE?LET IT BE BABYWHEN YOU HURT MEYOU HURT YOURSELFDON’T HURT YOURSELFWHEN YOU DIS MEYOU DIS YOURSELFDON’T HURT YOURSELFWHEN YOU HURT MEYOU HURT YOURSELFDON’T HURT YOURSELFWHEN YOU LOVE MEYOU LOVE YOURSELFLOVE GOD HERSELFI AM THE DRAGON BREATHING FIREBEAUTIFUL MANE I’M THE LIONBEAUTIFUL MAN I KNOW YOU’RE LYINGI AM NOT BROKE AND I’M NOT CRYINGI’M NOT CRYING, YOU AIN’T TRYING HARD ENOUGHYOU AIN’T LOVING HARD ENOUGHYOU DON’T LOVE ME DEEP ENOUGHWE NOT REACHING PEAKS ENOUGHBLINDLY IN LOVEI FUCKS WITH YOU, TILL I REALIZEI’M JUST TOO MUCH FOR YOUI’M JUST TOO MUCH FOR YOUYOU JUST GOTTA LET IT BELET IT BE?LET IT BE?LET IT BE BABYHEY BABYWHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK I ISI SMELL THAT FRAGRANCE ON YOUR LOUIS KNIT BOYJUST GIVE MY FAT ASS A BIG KISS BOYTONIGHT I’M FUCKING UP ALL YOUR SHIT BOYWHEN YOU HURT MEYOU HURT YOURSELFTRY NOT TO HURT YOURSELFWHEN YOU PLAY ME, YOU PLAY YOURSELFDON’T PLAY YOURSELFWHEN YOU LIE TO ME, YOU LIE TO YOURSELFYOU ONLY LYING TO YOURSELFWHEN YOU LOVE ME, YOU LOVE YOURSELFLOVE GOD HERSELFWE JUST GOTTA LET IT BELET IT BE?LET IT BE?LET IT BELET IT BE BABYTHIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNINGYOU KNOW I GIVE YOU LIFEIF YOU TRY THIS SHIT AGAINYOU GONNA LOSE YOUR WIFEApathySo what are you gonna say at my funeral, now that you've killed me? Here lies the body of the love of my life, whose heart I broke without a gun to my head. Here lies the mother of my children, both living and dead. Rest in peace, my true love, who I took for granted. Most bomb p*ssy who, because of me, sleep evaded. Her god listening. Her heaven will be a love without betrayal. Ashes to ashes, dust to side chicks.SorryThe tables have turned in this up tempo track. Now, Beyonce just wants to dance her cares away with her girlfriends. In the video, she turns up on a party bus, having the time of her life. Back at home, Bey is joined by none other than a twerking?Serena Williams?who bounces while she sings, "Middle fingers up/put them hands high/wave it in his face/tell him, boy bye!" She also sheds light on who her man has been cheating with, singing: "He better call Becky with the good hair."I AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYN---- NAHI AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYHE TRYING TO ROLL ME UP (I AIN’T SORRY)I AIN’T PICKING UP (I AIN’T SORRY)HEADED TO THE CLUB (I AIN’T SORRY)I AIN’T THINKING ‘BOUT YOU (I AIN’T SORRY)ME AND MY LADIES SIP MY D'USS? CUPSI DON’T GIVE A F--- CHUCKING MY DEUCES UPSUCK ON MY BALLS PAUSEI HAD ENOUGHI AIN’T THINKING 'BOUT YOUI AIN’T THINKING 'BOUTMIDDLE FINGERS UPPUT THEM HANDS HIGHWAVE IT IN HIS FACE?TELL ‘EM BOY BYETELL ‘EM BOY BYEBOY BYEMIDDLE FINGERS UP?I AIN’T THINKING 'BOUT YOUI AIN’T SORRY?I AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYN---- NAHI AIN’T SORRY?I AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYNO NO HELL NAHNOW YOU WANT TO SAY YOU’RE SORRY?NOW YOU WANT TO CALL ME CRYINGNOW YOU GOTTA SEE ME WILDIN'NOW I’M THE ONE THAT’S LYINGAND I DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT ITIT’S EXACTLY WHAT YOU GETSTOP INDIRECTING MY GRINDINGI AIN’T THINKING BOUT YOUI AIN’T THINKING BOUT YOUI AIN’T THINKING BOUT YOUI AIN’T THINKING BOUT YOUI AIN’T THINKING BOUT YOU?MIDDLE FINGERS UPPUT THEM HANDS HIGHWAVE IT IN HIS FACE?TELL ‘EM BOY BYETELL ‘EM BOY BYEBOY BYEMIDDLE FINGERS UP?I AIN’T THINKING BOUT YOUI AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYN---- NAHI AIN’T SORRY?I AIN’T SORRYI AIN’T SORRYNO NO HELL NAHLOOKING AT MY WATCH HE SHOULD’VE BEEN HOMETODAY I REGRET THE NIGHT I PUT THAT RING ONHE ALWAYS GOT THEM FUCKING EXCUSESI PRAY TO THE LORD YOU REVEAL WHAT HIS TRUTH ISI LEFT A NOTE IN THE HALLWAYBY THE TIME YOU READ IT I’LL BE FAR AWAYI'M FAR AWAYBUT I AIN’T FUCKING WITH NOBODYLET’S HAVE A TOAST TO THE GOOD LIFESUICIDE BEFORE YOU SEE THIS TEAR FALL DOWN MY EYESME AND MY BABY WE GONE BE ALRIGHTWE GON' LIVE A GOOD LIFEBIG HOMIE BETTER GROW UPME AND MY WHOADIES 'BOUT TO STROLL UPI SEE THEM BOPPERS IN THE CORNER?THEY SNEAKING OUT THE BACK DOORHE ONLY WANT ME WHEN I’M NOT THEREHE BETTER CALL BECKY WITH THE GOOD HAIRHE BETTER CALL BECKY WITH THE GOOD HAIREmptinessShe sleeps all day. Dreams of you in both worlds. Tills the blood, in and out of uterus. Wakes up smelling of zinc, grief sedated by orgasm, orgasm heightened by grief. God was in the room when the man said to the woman, "I love you so much. Wrap your legs around me. Pull me in, pull me in, pull me in." Sometimes when he'd have her nipple in his mouth, she'd whisper, "Oh, my God." That, too, is a form of worship.Her hips grind, pestle and mortar, cinnamon and cloves. Whenever he pulls out ... loss. Dear moon, we blame you for floods ... for the flush of blood ... for men who are also wolves. We blame for the night for the dark, for the ghosts.6 inchIn this mid-tempo song, instead of focusing on her failed marriage, Beyonce seems to have refocused her energy on work. Getting help from The Weeknd, he sings, "She's stacking money every where she goes...she don't gotta give it up, she professional." Beyonce later joins him, singing of her own professional prowess: "She fights and she sweats those sleepless nights/but she don't mind, she loves the grind."6 INCH HEELSSHE WALKED IN THE CLUBLIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESSGOT DAMNSHE MURDERED EVERYBODY AND I WAS HER WITNESS(THE WEEKND)STACKIN’ MONEY MONEY EVERYWHERE SHE GO… (WHERE SHE GO)YOU-KNOW…PESOS OUT OF MEXICO… (MEXICO)THEM UNOS… COMMAS AND THEM DECIMALS… (DECIMALS)SHE DON’T GOTTA GIVE IT UP SHE PROFESSIONAL… OHSHE MIXING UP THAT ACE WITH THE HENNESSY… (HENNESSY)SHE LOVE THE WAY IT TASTE THAT’S THE RECIPE.. (RECIPE)RUSHING THROUGH HER VEINS LIKE IT'S ECSTASY.. OH NOSHE ALREADY MADE ENOUGH BUT SHE’LL NEVER LEAVE…6 INCH HEELSSHE WALKED IN THE CLUBLIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESSGOT DAMNSHE MURDERED EVERYBODY AND I WAS HER WITNESSSHE WORKS FOR THE MONEYSHE WORK FOR THE MONEYFROM THE START TO FINISHAND SHE WORTH EVERY DOLLARSHE WORTH EVERY DOLLARAND SHE WORTH EVERY MINUTESHE STACK HER MONEY MONEY EVERYWHERE SHE GOHER YAMAZAKI STRAIGHT FROM TOKYOSHE GOT THEM COMMAS AND THEM DECIMALSSHE DON’T GOTTA GIVE IT UP CUZ SHE PROFESSIONAL6 INCH HEELSSHE WALKED IN THE CLUBLIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESSGOT DAMNSHE MURDERED EVERYBODY AND I WAS HER WITNESSSHE WORKS FOR THE MONEYSHE WORK FOR THE MONEYFROM THE START TO FINISHAND SHE WORTH EVERY DOLLARSHE WORTH EVERY DOLLARAND SHE WORTH EVERY MINUTESTARS IN HER EYESSHE FIGHTS FOR THE POWERKEEP IN TIMESHE GRINDSDAY AND NIGHTSHE GRINDS FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAYWORK FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAYSHE GONE SLAYSHE’S TOO SMART TO CRAVE MATERIAL THINGSSHE PUSHING HERSELFDAY AND NIGHTSHE GRINDS FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAYWORK FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAYSTARS IN HER EYESSHE FIGHTS AND SHE SWEATS THRU SLEEPLESS NIGHTSBUT SHE DON’T MINDSHE LOVES THE GRINDSHE GRINDS FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAYWORKS FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAYSHE GONE SLAYTOO SMART TO CRAVE MATERIAL THINGSSTACKING HER PAPERSTACKING HER PAPERSHE GRINDS FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAYWORK FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY6 INCH HEELSSHE WALKED IN THE CLUBLIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESSGOT DAMNSHE MURDERED EVERYBODY AND I WAS HER WITNESSSHE WORKS FOR THE MONEYSHE WORK FOR THE MONEY (KNOW JUST WHAT TO DO)FROM THE START TO FINISH (TO MAKE YOU LOVE ME)AND SHE WORTH EVERY DOLLAR (LOVE ME)SHE WORTH EVERY DOLLAR (LOVE ME)AND SHE WORTH EVERY MINUTENOW YOU KNOW I MAKE YOU FEEL YOU’LL ALWAYS COME BACK TO ME…..COME BACKCOME BACKCOME BACKCOME BACKCOME BACKAccountabilityYou find the black tube inside her beauty case where she keeps your father's old prison letters. You desperately want to look like her. You look nothing like your mother. You look everything like your mother. Film star beauty. How to wear your mother's lipstick. You go to the bathroom to apply your mother's lipstick. Somewhere no one can find you.You must wear it like she wears disappointment on her face. Your mother is a woman and women like her cannot be contained. Mother dearest, let me inherit the earth. Teach me how to make him beg. Let me make up for the years he made you wait. Did he bend your reflection? Did he make you forget your own name? Did he convince you he was a god? Did you get on your knees daily? Do his eyes close like doors? Are you a slave to the back of his head?Am I talking about your husband or your father?Daddy LessonsBeyonce gets introspective on this track, seemingly dedicated to her father and one-time manager Matthew Knowles. In her first country track ever, the Texas native sings that her dad warned her about men who, like him, cheat. ("Daddy Lessons" is also the first song where Beyonce talks about her parents' failed marriage since her 2014 song, "Ring Off," dedicated to her mother, Tina.) In this song, however, Beyonce croons: "He told me when he's gone, here's what you do/when trouble comes to town, and men like me come around/oh, my daddy said shoot." In the video, Beyonce also slams rumors that her father had never met her daughter, Blue Ivy. Home footage shows the two happily playing.CAME INTO THIS WORLDDADDY’S LITTLE GIRLAND DADDY MADE A SOLDIER OUT OF MEOH, OH, OHDADDY MADE ME DANCEAND DADDY HELD MY HANDAND DADDY LIKED HIS WHISKY WITH HIS TEAAND WE RODE MOTORCYCLESBLACKJACK, CLASSIC VINYLTOUGH GIRL IS WHAT I HAD TO BEHE SAID TAKE CARE OF YOUR MOTHERWATCH OUT FOR YOUR SISTEROH, AND THAT’S WHEN HE GAVE TO MEWITH HIS GUN, WITH HIS HEAD HELD HIGHHE TOLD ME NOT TO CRYOH, MY DADDY SAID SHOOTWITH HIS RIGHT HAND ON HIS RIFLEHE SWORE IT ON THE BIBLEMY DADDY SAID SHOOTOH, MY DADDY SAID SHOOTHE HELD IN HIS ARMSAND HE TAUGHT ME TO BE STRONGHE TOLD ME WHEN HE’S GONEHERE’S WHAT YOU DOWHEN TROUBLE COMES TO TOWNAND MEN LIKE ME COME AROUNDOH, MY DADDY SAID SHOOTOH, MY DADDY SAID SHOOTDADDY MADE ME FIGHTIT WASN’T…ReformationHe bathes me until I forget their names and faces. I ask him to look me in the eye when I come home. Why do you deny yourself heaven? Why do you consider yourself undeserving? Why are you afraid of love? You think it's not possible for someone like you. But you are the love of my life. You are the love of my life. You are the love of my life.Love DroughtIn the seventh song, Beyonce is trying to figure out why her husband cheated. "If I wasn't me, would you still feel me?/Like on my worst day? Or am I not thirsty enough?" she asks him. When she can't figure it out, she asks directly in the song, "Tell me, what did I do wrong?" It's clear that Beyonce wants to move toward reconciliation. In the video, she recites poetry by Warsan Shire, "If we're gonna heal it, let it be glorious."10 TIMES OUT OF 9 I KNOW YOU LYIN'BUT 9 TIMES OUTTA 10 I KNOW YOU TRYING?SO I’M TRYING TO BE FAIRAND YOU’RE TRYING TO BE THEREAND TO CAREBUT YOU’RE CAUGHT UP IN YOUR PERMANENT EMOTIONSAND ALL THE LOVE I’M GIVING IS UNNOTICED?JUST FLOATING IN THE AIR?LOOKIE THERE...ARE YOU AWARE?YOU’RE MY LIFELINE, ARE YOU TRYNA KILL ME?IF I WASN’T ME WOULD YOU STILL FEEL ME?LIKE ON MY WORST DAY?OR AM I NOT THIRSTY?ENOUGH…I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE LIGHTS OR THE BEAMI'D SPEND MY LIFE IN THE DARKFOR THE SAKE OF YOU AND ME?THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS UPSKIN THICK?TOO TOUGHYOU YOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD MOVE A MOUNTAINYOU YOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD CALM A WAR DOWNYOU YOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD MAKE IT RAIN NOWYOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD STOP THIS LOVE DROUGHT9 TIMES OUTTA 10 I’M IN MY FEELINGSBUT 10 TIMES OUTTA 9 I’M ONLY HUMANTELL ME WHAT DID I DO WRONG?FEEL LIKE THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN POSED... I’M MOVING ONI’VE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED I BEEN FOCUSEDI ALWAYS PAID ATTENTION, BEEN DEVOTEDTELL ME WHAT DID I DO WRONG?OH I ALREADY ASKED THAT...MY BADBUT YOU’RE MY LIFELINE THINK YOU TRYNA KILL ME?IF I WASN’T BEY WOULD YOU STILL FEEL ME?LIKE ON MY WORST DAY?OR AM I NOT THIRSTY?ENOUGH…I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE LIGHTS OR THE BEAMSI'D SPEND MY LIFE IN THE DARKFOR THE SAKE OF YOU AND ME?THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS UPTHEM OLE BITCHES SO WACKI’M SO TOUGH, WHAT’S UP?YOU YOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD MOVE A MOUNTAINYOU YOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD CALM A WAR DOWNYOU YOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD MAKE IT RAIN NOWYOU YOU YOU AND ME COULD STOP THIS LOVE DROUGHTForgivenessBaptize me ... now that reconciliation is possible. If we're gonna heal, let it be glorious. 1,000 girls raise their arms. Do you remember being born? Are you thankful for the hips that cracked? The deep velvet of your mother and her mother and her mother? There is a curse that will be broken.SandcastlesIn this rare ballad, Beyonce recognizes that she may have hurt her husband by claiming she was leaving him after his infidelity. But watching him hurting, she sings that she can no longer leave. "Your heart is broken 'cause I walked away/And I know I promised that I couldn't stay baby/Every promise don't work out that way," she sings. The visuals are powerful as Bey's real-life hubby Jay Z acts out scenes where she's kissing his wedding ring and the two are inextricably cuddled up. It's the most intimate fans have seen the very private couple.WE BUILD SAND CASTLESTHAT WASHED AWAYI MADE YOU CRYWHEN I WALKED AWAYAND ALTHOUGH I PROMISEDTHAT I COULDN’T STAYEVERY PROMISE DON’T WORK OUT THAT WAYEVERY PROMISE DON’T WORK OUT THAT WAYDISHES SMASHED ON MY COUNTERFROM OUR LAST ENCOUNTERPICTURES SNATCHED OUT THE FRAMEBITCH I SCRATCHED OUT YOUR NAMEAND YOUR FACEWHAT IS IT ABOUT YOU?THAT I CAN’T ERASE BABYWHEN EVERY PROMISE DON’T WORK OUT THAT WAYNO NO BABYWHEN EVERY PROMISE DON’T WORK OUT THAT WAYAND YOUR HEART IS BROKENCAUSE I WALKED AWAYSHOW ME YOUR SCARSAND I WON’T WALK AWAYAND I KNOW I PROMISED THAT I COULDN’T STAYEVERY PROMISE DON’T WORK OUT THAT WAYEVERY PROMISE DON’T WORK OUT THAT WAYResurrectionSomething is missing. So many young women, they tell you, "I want me a hu — see, all them make me feel better than you." So how we supposed to lead our children to the future? What do we do? How do we lead them? Love. L-O-V-E, love. Mm-mmm-mmm. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. I just love the Lord, I'm sorry, brother. I love the Lord. That's all I got.When your back gets against the wall and your wall against your back, who you call? Hey! Who you call? Who you call? You gotta call Him. You gotta call Jesus. You gotta call Him. You gotta call Him 'cause you ain't got another hope.You are terrifying ... and strange and beautiful.MagicForwardLet's call this track what it is: an interlude. Being only slightly more than a minute long, this song suggests that despite its troubles, the marriage is moving ahead. James Blake sings the word "forward" repeatedly and clarifies for Bey that despite her grind -- detailed in "6 Inch" -- she doesn't love her work more than her marriage. He sang, "I love you more than this job/please don't work for me."FORWARDBEST FOOT FORWARD JUST IN CASEWHEN WE MADE OUR WAY TO NOWIT’S TIME TO LISTENIT’S TIME TO FIGHTFORWARDNOW WE’RE GOING TO HOLD DOORS OPEN FOR A WHILENOW WE CAN BE OPEN FOR A WHILEFORWARDI LOVE YOU MORE THAN THIS JOB PLEASE DON’T WORK FOR MEFORWARDGO BACK TO YOUR SLEEP IN YOUR FAVORITE SPOT JUST NEXT TO MEFORWARDHopeThe nail technician pushed my cuticles back ... turns my hand over, stretches the skin on my palm and says, "I see your daughters and their daughters." That night in a dream, the first girl emerges from a slit in my stomach. The scar heals into a smile. The man I love pulls the stitches out with his fingernails. We leave black sutures curling on the side of the bath.I wake as the second girl crawls headfirst up my throat, a flower blossoming out of the hole in my face.FreedomBeyonce is surrounded by strong women in this music video -- from child actress Quvenzhané Wallis to singer Zendaya to the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. You could look at it as a statement of her right to love, but a closer look reveals a reflection on the civil rights of minorities. Bey gets help from Kendrick Lamar, who raps about being profiled and later jailed. "Open correctional gates in higher desert/Yeah, open our mind as we cast away oppression," he said.TRYING TO REIGNTRYING TO RAIN ON THE THUNDERTELL THE STORM I’M NEWI’MA WALKI’MA MARCHON THE REGULARPAINTING WHITE FLAGS BLUELOVE FORGIVE ME I’VE BEEN RUNNINGRUNNING BLIND IN TRUTHI’MA RAINI’MA REIGNON THIS BITTER LOVETELL THE SWEET I’M NEWI’M TELLING THESE TEARS GONNA FALL AWAY FALL AWAY… OOOHMAY THE LAST ONE BURN INTO FLAMESFREEDOMFREEDOMI CAN’T MOVEFREEDOM CUT ME LOOSEFREEDOMFREEDOMWHERE ARE YOU?CAUSE I NEED FREEDOM TOOI BREAK CHAINS ALL BY MYSELFWON’T LET MY FREEDOM ROT IN HELLI’MA KEEP RUNNING CAUSE A WINNER DON’T QUIT ON THEMSELVESI’M A WADEI’M A WAVE THROUGH THE WATERSTIL THE TIDE DON’T MOVEI’M A RIOT I’M A RIOT THROUGH YOUR BORDERSCALL ME BULLET PROOFLOVE FORGIVE ME I’VE BEEN RUNNING, RUNNING BLIND IN TRUTHI’M A WADEI’M A WAVE THROUGH YOUR SHALLOW LOVETELL THE DEEP I’M NEWI’M TELLING THESE TEARS GONNA FALL AWAY FALL AWAY… OOOHMAY THE LAST ONE BURN INTO FLAMESFREEDOMFREEDOMI CAN’T MOVEFREEDOM CUT ME LOOSEFREEDOMFREEDOMWHERE ARE YOU?CAUSE I NEED FREEDOM TOOI BREAK CHAINS ALL BY MYSELFWON’T LET MY FREEDOM ROT IN HELL HEYI’MA KEEP RUNNING CAUSE A WINNER DON’T QUIT ON THEMSELVES(KENDRICK LAMAR)TEN HAIL MARY'S I MEDITATE FOR PRACTICE (ONE, TWO)CHANNEL 9 NEWS TELL ME I’M MOVING BACKWARDS (ACHACHA)8 BLACKS LEFT DEATH IS AROUND THE CORNER (HAH)SEVEN MISLEADING STATEMENTS BY MY PERSONA (UH WOO)SIX HEAD LIGHTS WAVING IN MY DIRECTION (COME ON)?FIVE-O ASKING ME WHAT’S IN MY POSSESSION… YEAHI KEEP RUNNING JUMP IN THE AQUA DUCTS?FIRE HYDRANTS AND HAZARDOUS?SMOKE ALARMS ON THE BACK OF US?BUT MAMA DON'T CRY FOR ME RIDE FOR METRY FOR ME LIVE FOR MEBREATH FOR ME SING FOR ME?HONESTY GUIDING ME I CAN BE ME MORE THAN I GOTTA BE?STOLE FROM ME LIED TO ME NATION HYPOCRISY?COLD ON ME DRIVING ME WICKEDMY SPIRIT INSPIRE ME LIKE… YEAH?OPEN CORRECTIONAL GATES IN HIGH DESERTS … YEAH?OPEN OUR MIND AS WE CAST AWAY OPPRESSION… YEAHOPEN THE STREETS AND WATCH OUR BELIEFS AND WHEN THEY CARVE MY NAME INSIDE THE CONCRETE I PRAY IT FOREVER READS...FREEDOMFREEDOMI CAN’T MOVEFREEDOM CUT ME LOOSEFREEDOMFREEDOMWHERE ARE YOU?CAUSE I NEED FREEDOM TOOI BREAK CHAINS ALL BY MYSELFWON’T LET MY FREEDOM ROT IN HELL HEYI’MA KEEP RUNNING CAUSE A WINNER DON’T QUIT ON THEMSELVESHUH WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME IS IT TRUE YOU SEE UH? OH FATHER CAN YOU HEAR ME?HUH WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME IS IT TRUE YOU SEE UH? OH FATHER CAN YOU HEAR ME?HEAR ME?? RedemptionTake one pint of water, add a half pound of sugar, the juice of eight lemons, the zest of half a lemon. Pour the water from one jug then into the other several times. Strain through a clean napkin.Grandmother, the alchemist, you spun gold out of this hard life, conjured beauty from the things left behind. Found healing where it did not live. Discovered the antidote in your own kit. Broke the curse with your own two hands. You passed these instructions down to your daughter who then passed it down to her daughter.I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade. My grandma said "Nothing real can be threatened." True love brought salvation back into me. With every tear came redemption and my torturers became my remedy. So we're gonna heal. We're gonna start again. You've brought the orchestra, synchronized swimmers.You're the magician. Pull me back together again, the way you cut me in half. Make the woman in doubt disappear. Pull the sorrow from between my legs like silk. Knot after knot after knot. The audience applauds ... but we can't hear them.All NightIn this mid-tempo song, Bey croons to her husband that she wants to rediscover the love they had by making up "all night long." And although she knows that "so many people" are "just tryna' touch ya'," she still wants to "give you some time to prove that I can trust you again."I FOUND THE TRUTH BENEATH YOUR LIESAND TRUE LOVE NEVER HAS TO HIDETRADE YOUR BROKEN WINGS FOR MINEI’VE SEEN YOUR SCARS AND KISSED YOUR CRIMESSO MANY PEOPLE I KNOW THAT THEY JUST TRYING TO TOUCH YOUKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UPKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UP ON YAGIVE YOU SOME TIME TO PROVE THAT I CAN TRUST YA AGAINI’M GONNA KISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UPKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UP ON YAALL?NIGHT?LONG....(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH )GOOD LOVEALL?NIGHT?LONG......(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH )SWEET?LOVE?ALL?NIGHT?LONG.....(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH )ALL I WANNABE NO OTHERBE TOGETHERI REMEMBERSWEET LOVEALL NIGHT LONG…MY LOVE WAS STRONGER THAN YOUR PRIDEBEYOND YOUR DARKNESS I’M YOUR LIGHTYOU GET DEEP YOU TOUCH MY MINDBAPTIZE YOUR TEARS AND DRY YOUR EYESSO MANY PEOPLE I KNOW THAT THEY JUST TRYING TO TOUCH YOUKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UPKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UP ON YAGIVE YOU SOME TIME TO PROVE THAT I CAN TRUST YA AGAINI’M GONNA KISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UPKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UP ON YAALL?NIGHT?LONG....(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH )GOOD LOVEALL?NIGHT?LONG......(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH)SWEET?LOVE?ALL?NIGHT?LONG.....(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH)ALL I WANNABE NO OTHERBE TOGETHERI REMEMBERSWEET LOVEALL NIGHT LONG…THEY SAY TRUE LOVE’S THE GREATEST WEAPONTO WIN THE WAR CAUSED BY PAINBUT EVERY DIAMOND HAS IMPERFECTIONSBUT MY LOVE’S TOO PURE TO WATCH IT CHIP AWAYBOY NOTHING REAL CAN BE THREATENEDTRUE LOVE BREATHES SALVATION BACK INTO MEWITH EVERY TEAR CAME REDEMPTIONAND MY TORTURER BECAME MY REMEDYSO MANY PEOPLE I KNOW THAT THEY JUST TRYING TO TOUCH YOUKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UPKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UP ON YAGIVE YOU SOME TIME TO PROVE THAT I CAN TRUST YA AGAINI’M GONNA KISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UPKISS UP AND RUB UP AND FEEL UP ON YAALL?NIGHT?LONG....(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH)GOOD LOVEALL?NIGHT?LONG......(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH)SWEET?LOVE?ALL?NIGHT?LONG.....(ALL?NIGHT?YEAH)ALL I WANNABE NO OTHERBE TOGETHERI REMEMBERSWEET LOVEALL NIGHT LONG…YOU KNOW I MISSED YOU MY LOVEFormationExcept in the credits, this song isn't featured in the full-length version of "Lemonade." Still, in this track, we see Bey come full circle and emerge as a confident woman who is "so possessive" that she "rock[s] his Roc necklaces," a nod to her husband's label, Roc Nation. And in a final moment of levity (or redemption?), Bey sings that she rewards her lover by taking him to Red Lobster.YA’LL HATERS CORNY WITH THAT ILLUMINATI MESSPAPARAZZI CATCH MY FLY AND MY COCKY FRESHI’M SO RECKLESS WHEN I ROCK MY GIVENCHY DRESSI’M SO POSSESSIVE SO I ROCK HIS ROC NECKLACESMY DADDY ALABAMAMY MAMA LOUISIANAYOU MIX THAT NEGRO WITH THAT CREOLE MAKE A TEXAS-BAMAVERSE-1I LIKE MY BABY HAIR WITH BABY HAIR AND AFROSI LIKE MY NEGRO NOSE WITH JACKSON 5 NOSTRILSI EARNED ALL THIS MONEY BUT THEY NEVER TAKE THE COUNTRY OUT MEI GOT HOT SAUCE IN MY BAG… SWAGPRE-1I SEE IT I WANT ITI STUNT YELLOW HORNETI DREAM IT I WORK HARD I GRIND TILL I OWN ITI TWIRL ON THEM HATERSALBINO ALLIGATORSEL CAMINO WITH THE SEAT LOW SIPPING CUERVO WITH NO CHASERSOMETIMES I GO OFFI GO HARDGET WHATS MINEIM A STARCAUSE I SLAY… I SLAY I SLAY I SLAYI SLAY I SLAY I SLAY I SLAYIM GON’ SLAY I SLAY I SLAY I SLAYALL DAY I SLAY I SLAY OKAY OKAYHOOK-1OK LADIES NOW LETS GET IN FORMATIONOK LADIES NOW LETS GET IN FORMATIONPROVE TO ME YOU GOT SOME CO-ORDINATIONSLAY TRICK OR YOU GET ELIMINATEDWHEN HE FUCK ME GOOD I TAKE HIS ASS TO RED LOBSTERWHEN HE FUCK ME GOOD I TAKE HIS ASS TO RED LOBSTERIF HE HIT IT RIGHT I MIGHT TAKE HIM ON A FLIGHT ON MY CHOPPERDROP HIM OFF AT THE MALL LET HIM BUY SOME J’S LET HIM SHOPPAVERSE-2I MIGHT GET YOUR SONG PLAYED ON THE RADIO STATIONI MIGHT GET YOUR SONG PLAYED ON THE RADIO STATIONYOU JUST MIGHT BE A BLACK BILL GATES IN THE MAKINGYOU JUST MIGHT BE A BLACK BILL GATES IN THE MAKINGPRE-2I SEE IT I WANT ITI STUNT YELLOW HORNETI DREAM IT I WORK HARD I GRIND TILL I OWN ITI TWIRL ON MY HATERSALBINO ALLIGATORSEL CAMINO WITH THE SEAT LOW SIPPING CUERVO WITH NO CHASERSOMETIMES I GO OFFI GO HARDTAKE WHATS MINEIM A STARCAUSE I SLAY… I SLAY I SLAY I SLAYI SLAY I SLAY I SLAY I SLAYWE GON’ SLAY GON’ SLAY WE SLAY I SLAYI SLAY OKAY I SLAY OKAY OKAY OKAYHOOK-2OK LADIES NOW LETS GET IN FORMATIONOK LADIES NOW LETS GET IN FORMATIONPROVE TO ME YOU GOT SOME CO-ORDINATIONSLAY TRICK OR YOU GET ELIMINATEDOK LADIES NOW LETS GET IN FORMATIONOK LADIES NOW LETS GET IN FORMATIONYOU KNOW YOU THAT BITCH WHEN YOU CAUSE ALL THIS CONVERSATIONALWAYS STAY GRACIOUSBEST REVENGE IS YOUR PAPER ................
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