Throughout this song, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar make allusions to a historical injustice experienced by the Black community and a present day injustice experienced by the Black community. What are the two injustices with an implied connection? [Verse 1: Beyoncé]

Tryna rain, tryna rain on the thunder

Tell the storm I'm new

I'ma walk, I'ma march on the regular

Painting white flags blue

Lord forgive me, I've been running

Running blind in truth

I'ma rain, I'ma rain on this bitter love

Tell the sweet I'm new

[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]

I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away"

May the last one burn into flames

Sing it, y'all

[Chorus: Beyoncé]

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose!

Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

Cause I need freedom too!

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey! I'ma keep running

Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

[Verse 2: Beyoncé]

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through the waters

Tell the tide, "Don't move"

I'ma riot, I'ma riot through your borders

Call me bulletproof

Lord forgive me, I've been runnin'

Runnin' blind in truth

I'ma wade, I'ma wave through your shallow love

Tell the deep I'm new

[Pre-Chorus: Beyoncé]

I'm telling these tears, "Go and fall away, fall away"

May the last one burn into flames

[Chorus: Beyoncé]

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose!

Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

Cause I need freedom too!

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey! I'ma keep running

Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

[Bridge: Kendrick Lamar]

What you want from me?

Is it truth you seek? Oh father can you hear me?

What you want from me?

Is it truth you seek? Oh father can you hear me?

[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]

Meet me at the finish line

40 acres, gimme mine

Revolution televised

Hopin' that you see the signs

Meet me at the finish line

40 acres, gimme mine

Lemonade all the time, keep that in mind

Formation, formation

Exclamation, formation

Fellow great Americans, hello

This is heritage for my medicine

Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice

Channel 9 news tell me I'm movin' backwards

Eight blocks left, death is around the corner

Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona

Six headlights aimin' in my direction

Five-O askin' me what's in my possession

Yeah, I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts

Fire marshalls and hazardous

Smoke alarms on the back of us

But mama, don't cry for me, ride for me

Try for me, live for me

Breathe for me, sing for me

Obviously guidin' me

I could be more than I gotta be

Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy

Code on me, drive on me

Wicked, my spirit inspired me

Like yeah, open correctional gates in higher desert

Yeah, open our mind as we cast away oppression

Yeah, open the streets and watch our beliefs

And when they carve my name inside the concrete

I pray it forever reads

[Chorus: Beyoncé]

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose!

Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

Cause I need freedom too!

I break chains all by myself

Won't let my freedom rot in hell

Hey! I'ma keep running

Cause a winner don't quit on themselves

[Outro: Kendrick Lamar + Beyoncé]

What you want from me?

Is it truth you seek? Oh father can you hear me?

What you want from me?

Is it truth you seek? Oh father can you hear me?

Hear me out

Freedom! Freedom! I can't move

Freedom, cut me loose!

Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?

Cause I need freedom too!


Explanation: