"He Say She Say" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as the sixth track from his debut studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor (2006). It features guest vocals from 1st & 15th labelmates Sarah Green and GemStones on the hook. Production was handled by Soundtrakk, sampling the 1965 song "The Last One to Be Loved" by Burt Bacharach. The accompanying music video was directed by Impakt Studio, though was never officially released by Atlantic Records.
Background[]
Part of The Cool storyline, it narrates a young boy named Michael Young History ('My Cool Young History') who grows up without a father. Fiasco told Billboard, "You could follow The Cool outside of the album and arrange certain songs to speak to character development or a prequel. Songs like 'He Say She Say' kinda fit—it may be a little bit of a force, but it's there to be had."
He continued of the situation being seen in real life, the song based on the personal experiences of friends: "[S]ome people don't grow up to go through a 'He Say She Say' situation. That's used as motivation to get up out of it. Some of the kids, they turn into 'The Cool.' Not having a dad or family structure around and being introduced to the streets in a certain way or not having that type of guidance to stop them from making that first wrong move. They can turn into that. It's unfortunate and real serious when we perform 'He Say She Say.' It's one of those joints I have to apologize to people in the crowd who went through this that shouldn't have to."[1]
Personnel[]
- Burt Bacharach – writer
- Craig Bauer – mixer
- Demarco "Gemini" Castle – featured artist
- Greg "G-Ball" Magers – recording engineer
- Harold "Hal" David – writer
- Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – writer, producer
- Sarah Green – featured artist
- Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – lead artist, writer
Lyrics[]
[Hook: Gemini + Sarah Green]
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want, you want
Want from me
[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
She said to him
"I want you to be a father, he's your little boy
And you don't even bother, like
‘Brother' without the ‘R', and he's starting to harbor
Cool on food for thought, but for you he's a starver
Starting to use red markers on his work
His teacher say they know he's much smarter
But he's hurt
Used to hand his homework in first like he was the classroom starter."
Burst to tears, let him know she's serious
"Now he's fighting in class
Got a note last week that says he might not pass
Ask me if his daddy was sick of us
'Cause you ain't never pick him up
You see what his problem is?
He don't know where his poppa is
No positive male role model
To play football and build railroad models
It's making a hole; you've been digging it
'Cause you ain't been kicking it
Since he was old enough to hold bottles
He wasn't supposed to get introduced to that
He don't deserve to get used to that
Now I ain't asking you for money or to come back to me
Some days it ain't sunny, but it ain't so hard
Just breaks my heart
When I try to provide and he say 'Mommy, that ain't your job'
To be a man, I try to make him understand
That I'm his number one fan
But it's like you booing from the stands
You know the world is out to get him
So why don't you give him a chance?"
[Hook: Gemini + Sarah Green]
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want, you want
Want from me
[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
So he said to him
"I want you to be a father, I'm your little boy
And you don't even bother, like
‘Brother' without the ‘R', and I'm starting to harbor
Cool and food for thought, but for you I'm a starver
Starting to use red markers on my work
My teacher say they know I'm much smarter
But I'm hurt
I used to hand my homework in first
Like I was the classroom starter."
Burst to tears, let him know he's serious
"Now I'm fighting in class
Got a note last week that say I might not pass
Kids ask me if my daddy is sick of us
'Cause you ain't never pick me up
You see what my problem is?
That I don't know where my poppa is
No positive male role model
To play football and build railroad models
It's making a hole; you've been digging it
'Cause you ain't been kicking it
Since I was old enough to hold bottles
Wasn't supposed to get introduced to that
I don't deserve to get used to that
Now I ain't asking you for money or to come back to me
Some days it ain't sunny but it ain't so hard
Just breaks my heart
When my momma try to provide and I tell her 'That ain't your job'
To be a man, she try to make me understand
That she my number one fan
But it's like you booing from the stands
You know the world is out to get me
Why don't you give me a chance?"
[Hook: Gemini + Sarah Green]
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want, you want
Want from me
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want, you want
Want from me
References[]
- ↑ Lamarre, Carl (June 16, 2022). "Black Music Month: Lupe Fiasco Talks Dodging the Sophomore Jinx with 'The Cool'". Billboard.