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This Is America Lyrics

by Childish Gambino

Lyricist: Childish Gambino

20 views • Published on Sep 25, 2026

This Is America Lyrics

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, go, go away Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, go, go away Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, go, go away Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, go, go away We just wanna party Party just for you We just want the money Money just for you I know you wanna party Party just for me Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin') Dance and shake the frame We just wanna party (yeah) Party just for you (yeah) We just want the money (yeah) Money just for you (you) I know you wanna party (yeah) Party just for me (yeah) Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin') Dance and shake the frame (you) This is America Don't catch you slippin' up Don't catch you slippin' up Look what I'm whippin' up This is America (woo) Don't catch you slippin' up Don't catch you slippin' up Look what I'm whippin' up This is America Don't catch you slippin' up Look at how I'm livin' now Police be trippin' now Yeah, this is America Guns in my area (word, my area) I got the strap (ayy, ayy) I gotta carry 'em Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh) Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo) Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like yeah (yeah) I'm so dope like yeah (woo) We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh) Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody You go tell somebody Grandma told me Get your money, Black man (get your money) Get your money, Black man (get your money) Get your money, Black man (get your, Black man) Get your money, Black man (get your, Black man) Black man This is America (woo) Don't catch you slippin' up (woo, woo, don't catch you slippin', now) Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woah) Look what I'm whippin' up (Slime!) This is America (yeah, yeah) Don't catch you slippin' up (woah, ayy) Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woo) Look what I'm whippin' up (ayy) Look how I'm geekin' out (hey) I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo) I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci) I'm so pretty (yeah, yeah) I'm gon' get it (ayy, I'm gon' get it) Watch me move (blaow) This a celly (ha) That's a tool (yeah) On my Kodak (woo, Black) Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on) Get it (get it, get it) Ooh, work it (21) Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands) Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband) I got the plug on Oaxaca (woah) They gonna find you that blocka (blaow) Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (America) tell somebody (I just checked my following list and) You go tell somebody (You mothafuckas owe me) Grandma told me Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get down Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody You go tell somebody Grandma told me Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get your money, Black man (Black man) Get your money, Black man (Black man) Black man You just a Black man in this world You just a barcode, ayy You just a Black man in this world Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy You just a big dawg, yeah I kenneled him in the backyard No probably ain't life to a dog For a big dog

Meaning of This Is America

“This Is America” is a jarring and profoundly unsettling exploration of the complexities within contemporary American life, layering a seemingly celebratory trap beat with stark commentary on gun violence, racial injustice, and consumerism. The initial sections, driven by an infectious dance rhythm, initially present a facade of carefree enjoyment – “we just wanna party,” “money just for you” – reflecting the aspirational culture often portrayed in mainstream media and the pursuit of wealth within America. However, this veneer quickly cracks as the song pivots sharply to expose uncomfortable realities. The repeated phrase "Don’t catch you slippin' up" serves as a chilling reminder of systemic surveillance and potential danger, particularly for Black individuals. Gambino masterfully juxtaposes images of opulent consumption – “I’m on Gucci,” “so fitted”– with the brutal reality of gun ownership (“guns in my area,” “I got the strap”) and the legacy of racial trauma, powerfully illustrated by his grandmother's instruction: "Get your money, Black man." The inclusion of a mournful, almost ghostly sample of gospel music underscores the deep-seated sorrow and spiritual struggle at the heart of the narrative. Ultimately, Childish Gambino isn’t simply offering a critique; he’s forcing us to confront the uncomfortable contradictions within American society – the simultaneous celebration of success and the persistent threat of violence, the allure of material possessions alongside systemic inequality. The song's fragmented structure and abrupt shifts mirror the fractured state of America itself, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of unease and demanding reflection on the nation’s troubled past and uncertain future.

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childish gambinosocial commentarydanceablehip hopthis is america

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