englishR&B, Pop, Hip-Hop

Holy Grail Lyrics

by Jay-Z

Lyricist: Jay-Z, Kanye West

21 views • Published on Sep 25, 2026

Holy Grail Lyrics

[Justin Timberlake:] You'd take the clothes off my back and I'd let you You'd steal the food right out my mouth And I'd watch you eat it I still don't know why, why our love is so much, ohh (Thanks for warnin' me, thanks for warnin' me) You curse my name in spite to put me to shame Hang my laundry in the streets, dirty or clean Give it up for fame But I still don't know why, why I love it so much (Thanks for warnin' me, thanks for warnin' me) And, baby, it's amazin' I'm in this maze with you I just can't crack your code One day you're screamin' you love me loud The next day you're so cold One day you're here, one day you're there, one day you care You're so unfair Sippin' from your cup 'til it runneth over Holy Grail [Jay Z:] Uh, uh, uh Blue told me remind you niggas, uh Fuck that shit y'all talking 'bout, I'm the nigga, uh Caught up in all these lights and cameras, uh But look what that shit did to Hammer, uh Goddamn it, I like it Bright lights is enticin', but look what it did to Tyson All that money in one night, thirty mil' for one fight But soon as all the money blows, all the pigeons take flight Fuck the fame, keep cheatin' on me What I do? I took her back Fool me twice; that's my bad, I can't even blame her for that Enough to make me wanna murder Momma, please just get my bail I know nobody to blame; Kurt Cobain, I did it to myself, uh [Justin Timberlake & Jay Z:] And we all just entertainers And we're stupid and contagious And we all just entertainers [Justin Timberlake:] And, baby, it's amazin' I'm in this maze with you I just can't crack your code One day you're screamin' you love me loud The next day you're so cold One day you're here, one day you're there, one day you care You're so unfair Sippin' from your cup 'til it runneth over Holy Grail [Jay Z:] Now I got tattoos on my body Psycho bitches in my lobby I got haters in the paper, photo shoots with paparazzi Can't even take my daughter for a walk See 'em by the corner store I feel like I'm cornered off Enough is enough, I'm callin' this off Who the fuck I'm kiddin' though? I'm gettin' high, sittin' low Slidin' by in that big body, curtains all in my window This fame hurt, but this chain worse I think back you asked the same person If this is all you had to deal with Nigga, deal with, this shit ain't work This light work, camera snappin', my eyes hurt Niggas dying back where I was birthed Fuck your iris and the IRS Get the hell up off your high horse You got the shit that niggas die for, dry yours Why you mad? Take the good with the bad Or throw the baby out with that bath water You still alive, still that nigga Nigga, you survived, you still gettin' bigger Nigga, living the life, vanilla wafers in a villa Illest nigga alive; Michael Jackson's Thriller [Justin Timberlake:] And, baby, it's amazin' I'm in this maze with you I just can't crack your code One day you're screamin' you love me loud The next day you're so cold One day you're here, one day you're there, one day you care You're so unfair Sippin' from your cup 'til it runneth over Holy Grail You get the air out my lungs whenever you need it And you take the blade right out my heart Just so you can watch me bleed And I still don't know why, why I love you so much, yeah (Thanks for warnin' me, thanks for warnin' me) And you play this game in spite to drive me insane I got it tattooed on my sleeve Forever in ink with guess whose name But I still don't know why, why our love is so much, yeah (Thanks for warnin' me, thanks for warnin' me) And, baby, it's amazin' I'm in this maze with you I just can't crack your code One day you're screamin' you love me loud The next day you're so cold One day you're here, one day you're there, one day you care You're so unfair Sippin' from your cup 'til it runneth over Holy Grail Don't know why

Meaning of Holy Grail

“Holy Grail,” a jarring and ultimately tragic exploration of obsession and the corrosive nature of fame, unfolds through a fractured narrative driven by Justin Timberlake’s yearning vocals and Jay-Z’s brutally honest reflections. The song centers on a volatile relationship characterized by manipulation, unpredictable affection, and a dangerous allure – symbolized repeatedly by the “Holy Grail,” representing an intoxicating yet ultimately destructive prize. Timberlake's verses paint a picture of being exploited, stripped bare emotionally and materially, yet remaining inexplicably drawn to this chaotic partner, highlighting the addictive power of love when laced with instability. Jay-Z’s contributions amplify this theme, grounding it in the harsh realities of the music industry and celebrity culture. He recounts cautionary tales – Hammer, Tyson – illustrating how fleeting success can lead to ruin and self-destruction, mirroring his own experiences with a woman who demands constant attention and validation before abruptly withdrawing affection. The repeated refrain "I still don't know why, why I love it so much" underscores the central paradox: an awareness of the damage alongside an undeniable, almost compulsive attraction. Ultimately, Jay-Z’s confession – “Fool me twice; that's my bad” – reveals a deep-seated vulnerability and self-awareness, acknowledging his own role in perpetuating this cycle. The concluding lines about tattoos, paparazzi, and feeling "cornered off" solidify the sense of being trapped within a gilded cage, fueled by public adoration. The song’s power lies in its bleak honesty; it isn't simply a love story but an examination of how ambition, ego, and the pursuit of validation can lead to profound isolation and self-destructive behavior, solidifying “Holy Grail” as a brutally perceptive commentary on the dark side of celebrity and the human condition.

Tags:

jay-zobsessionheartbreakhip hopholy grail

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