[Verse 1: Mary J. Blige] 41 shots And we'll take that ride Across the bloody river To the other side 41 shots Cut through the night You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule Praying for his life [Pre-Chorus: Mary J. Blige] Is it a gun? Is it a knife? Is it a wallet? This is your life It ain't no secret It ain't no secret No secret, my friend, you can get k**ed just for living in Your American skin [Ad-Libs: Mary J. Blige & Kendrick Lamar] Yeah Oh yeah Yeah Oh-oh [Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar] If I die right before I wake Cross my heart, then I seal my fate Life in the dark of the heartless Looking at the remedy for all this Everyday they look at you a target Falling victim, them and Him and her then this one, insensitivity Talk bad religion, skin identity Lack rash decision made by yours Pack facility with the urban boy Gun admitted he bear arm The entity, arm and leg and head made to destroy 80% of the victim was yours Maybe I get to relive years of war Look on the corner, we been here before Look at the momma, you seen tears before? Pain bright and early Rain, sleet, hail, snow, worry More storm barricade the city Prosecution, unhung jury These days murder keep 'em busy Sweet blood flowed on the gurney Yellow tape tied around the street Colin Kaepernick was more than worthy I could reverse the day, reverse the time Reverse the block, reverse the gun, reverse the shot Reverse the law, reverse the flaw That made us all the versions of a danger flock Reverse the love, reverse the hate Reverse the hope, reverse the way we playing sin Reverse the moment, so we can live again Life and times of the American skin [Chorus: Kendrick Lamar] 41 shots 41 shots 41 shots 41 shots American skin [Verse 3: Mary J. Blige] 41 shots Lena gets her son ready for school She says, "Now, on these streets, Charles You got to understand the rules (41 shots) If an officer stops you (41 shots) Always be polite (41 shots) And never ever run away Promise momma you'll keep your hands in sight" [Pre-Chorus: Mary J. Blige (Kendrick Lamar)] Is it a gun? (What is it?) Is it a knife? (What is it?) Is it a wallet? (What is it?) This is your life It ain't no secret (It ain't no secret) Sure ain't no secret (It ain't no secret) No secret, my friend, you can get k**ed just for living in You can get k**ed just for living in You can get k**ed just for living in Your American skin [Outro: Kendrick Lamar & Mary J. Blige] 41 shots You can get k**ed just for living in 41 shots Your American skin 41 shots Be careful out there, oh baby 41 shots Listen to momma [?] 41 shots Don't wanna take the ride 41 shots Don't wanna, don't wanna, don't wanna, don't wanna take the ride 41 shots Don't wanna take the ride 41 shots [?] shots