ONEYEARWARMUSIC – Let’s dive into the legendary lyrics of “Only God Can Judge Me” by the one and the only Tupac Shakur. This song is a powerful anthem that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood or judged by society.

Lyrics

[2Pac:]
Only God can judge me (that right?)
Only God can judge me now
Nobody else (nobody else)
All you other motherfuckers get out my business (really)
Only God can judge me now

[2Pac:]
Perhaps I was blind to the facts, stabbed in the back
I couldn't trust my own homies, just a bunch of dirty rats
Will I succeed? Paranoid from the weed
And hocus pocus, I try to focus, but I can't see
And in my mind I'm a blind man doin' time
Look to my future, 'cause my past is all behind me
Is it a crime to fight for what is mine?
Everybody's dyin', tell me what's the use of tryin'
I've been trapped since birth, cautious 'cause I'm cursed
And fantasies of my family in a hearse
And they say it's the white man I should fear
But it's my own kind doin' all the killin' here
I can't lie, ain't no love for the other side
Jealousy inside, make 'em wish I died
Oh my Lord, tell me what I'm livin' for
Everybody's droppin', got me knockin' on Heaven's door
And all my memories of seein' brothers bleed
And everybody grieves, but still nobody sees
Recollect your thoughts, don't get caught up in the mix
'Cause the media is full of dirty tricks

[2Pac:]
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me now
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me

[Flatline]

[2Pac:]
I hear the doctor standin' over me, screamin' I can make it
Got a body full of bullet holes, layin' here naked
Still I can't breathe, something's evil in my IV
'Cause everytime I breathe I think they killin' me
I'm havin' nightmares, homicidal fantasies
I wake up stranglin', tangled in my bed sheets
I call the nurse 'cause it hurts to reminisce
How did it come to this? I wish they didn't miss
Somebody help me, tell me where to go from here
'Cause even thugs cry, but do the Lord care?
Try to remember, but it hurts
I'm walkin' through the cemetery, talkin' to the dirt
I'd rather die like a man than live like a coward
There's a ghetto up in Heaven and it's ours
"Black Power!" is what we scream
As we dream in a paranoid state
And our fate is a lifetime of hate
Dear Mama, can you save me? And fuck peace
'Cause the streets got our babies, we gotta eat
No more hesitation, each and every black male's trapped
And they wonder why we suicidal running 'round strapped
Mr. Police, please try to see
That there's a million motherfuckers stressin' just like me

[2Pac:]
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me now

[2Pac:]
That which does not kill me can only make me stronger
That's for real
and I don't see why everybody feel as though
that they gotta tell me how to live my life
You know?
Let me live, baby, let me live

[Rappin' 4-Tay:]
Pac, I feel ya, keep servin' it on the reala
For instance, say a playa hatin' mark is out to kill ya
Would you be wrong for buckin' a nigga to the pavement?
He gon' get me first, if I don't get him fool start prayin'
Ain't no such thing as self-defense in the court of law
So judge us when we get to where we're goin wearin' a cross
That's real, got him, lurked him, crept the fuck up on him
Sold a half a million tapes, now everybody want him
After talkin' behind my back like a bitch would
Tellin' them niggas, "You can fade him," punk I wish you would
It be them same motherfuckers in your face
That'll rush up in your place to get your safe
Knowin' you on that paper chase
Grass, glass, big screen and leather couch
My new shit is so fetti, already sold a ki or ounce
Bitch, remember 2Pac and 4-Tay
Them same two brothers dodgin' bullets representin' the Bay
Pac, when you was locked down
That's when I'll be around
Start climbin' up the charts, so sick, but they tried to clown
That's why they ride the bandwagon
Still be draggin' sellin' lies
Don't think I don't see you haters, I know y'all in disguise

[2Pac:]
Guess you figure you know me, 'cause I'm a thug
That love to hit the late night club drink and buzzed
Been livin' lavish like a player all day
Now I'm bout to floss 'em off, player shit with 4-Tay

[2Pac:]
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me
Only God can judge me, only God
Only God can judge me now

[2Pac (Rappin 4-Tay):]
(Only God, mane)
That right?
(That's real)
Hahahahahaha
(Fuck everybody else, you know what I'm sayin'?)
Man, look here, man
My only fear of death
Is comin' back to this bitch reincarnated, man
That's for the homie mental
(Hehehehe)
We up out

The Opening Verses

I'm having visions of a spirit
Talking wisdom from the mirror
Saying "life's a test, shows your weakness or your strengths"
It never rains forever, sun is surely going to shine

Right from the jump, Pac sets the tone with some introspective bars. He’s having a spiritual awakening, gaining wisdom from within. The mirror symbolizes self-reflection, reminding us that life is a constant test of our character. But even in the darkest times, there’s a glimmer of hope – the sun will shine again.

The Struggles

Dear Lord, keep blessing me with interpreters
To recognize a real man from a metaphor
I'm not a Religion, I'm not a
Crook, not a Pook, not a what you're lookin' for
They say I'm arrogant cause I'm forgiving
And I won't stop till my mission's accomplished livin'
To the day that I'm 'bout to drop

Here, Pac acknowledges the misunderstandings and judgments he faces. People struggle to see him for who he truly is – a real man, not a metaphor or caricature. He’s not what society expects him to be, and he owns it. Pac is on a mission, driven by his purpose, and he won’t stop until he’s accomplished his goals, even if it means going against the grain.

Key Phrase	Meaning
“I’m not a Religion”	He’s not dogmatic or bound by rigid beliefs
“I’m not a Crook”	He’s not a criminal or someone to be feared
“I’m not a Pook”	He’s not a pushover or someone to be taken lightly

The Defiance

I'm not gonna stop, I'm not giving up
I'm not gonna quit, I'm not gonna cuss
I'm not selling out, I'm not giving in
I'm not gonna stop, I'm not giving up

This is where the defiance really kicks in. Pac is letting us know, in no uncertain terms, that he’s not backing down. He’s not going to compromise his principles, sell out, or give in to the pressures of society. It’s a bold declaration of his unwavering determination, and it gets me hyped every time.

The Reflection

It's like a nightmare, ain't it?
If you could hear me talk, see me walk
Smell my street aroma
You would say, "He's been around for a million summers"

Pac takes a moment to reflect on his experience, inviting us to see the world through his eyes. He paints a vivid picture of his reality, from the way he talks and walks to the “street aroma” that surrounds him. It’s a life that seems like a nightmare to some, but to Pac, it’s just another day in the million summers he’s endured.

The Message

They say I'm crazy, but no more crazy
Than the one that's calling me crazy
I'm not gon' let 'em catch me up
I'm not gon' let 'em run my life
Only God can judge me

And here we have the powerful message that ties it all together. Pac acknowledges the criticism and judgment he faces, but he refuses to let it define him. He’s not going to let anyone else run his life or dictate who he is. At the end of the day, only God can truly judge him, and that’s the mantra he lives by.

The Closing Thoughts

I can’t help but admire the raw honesty and unapologetic truth in Pac’s lyrics. “Only God Can Judge Me” is a timeless anthem that reminds us to stay true to ourselves, no matter what the world throws our way.

Pac’s words resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like an outcast or misunderstood. He reminds us that our struggles and hardships don’t define us – it’s how we persevere and stay true to our purpose that matters most.

So the next time you’re feeling judged or pressured to conform, remember these powerful lyrics. Let them be your mantra, your reminder that you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold. Only God can judge you, and that’s all that matters.