SAFETY Lyrics
[Intro]
Babe, can you go check on her real quick?
[Chorus]
Alright, say where you're from, Bunce Road, throw your hands up (Babe, can you go check on the baby real quick?)
It’s that rap boulevard, pour the line full
I know the whole world blowin' up your phone
I wanna know, n!gga, when you comin' home? (Yeah)
Alright, say, Kane Road, Eutaw, throw your hands up
[?], know it’s been a while
I know the whole world blowin' up your phone
I wanna know, n!gga, when you comin' home?
[Verse 1]
Yeah
Yo, Jermaine, what's the word?
I got a new number, delete that old one
By now, I'm sure you must've heard
'Bout how I got jammed up and had to sit somе
It's nothin’, though I did longer bids, this was a quick one
I nevеr hit you ’cause I know n!ggas be playin' victim
Beggin’ you for big sums of dough
When income's low, that ain't my style, it'll never be
To me, you’ll always be my dog, not a celebrity
And plus, you did enough, wired me bands
Way back when it was rough last night
When it was dusk, ran into Jizzle at Cross Creek
You know how he be movin' like he in a rush
Told him, "Come through to the crib over at Haymount Hills"
We sat in my living room, where then we lit a Dutch
I ain't even know that he smoke like that
Drank a few beers, it's been years since we joked like that
Yo, I seen Brina on the 'Gram, she don't post like that
But bro, she's still bad, one of the baddest b!tches the Ville had
Lotta these hoes fallin' off, and it's real sad
How time can rob us of our best days
As we slave for peasant wage with no nest egg
Saved for rainy days, but anyways, what's up?
I thought about you, holla at me
I would love to catch up, I know you busy
But you in my prayers, God bless you and your affairs
Stay aware 'cause real n!ggas is rare, dawg, safety
[Chorus]
Safety, safety, safety (Westside, Cliffdale, throw your hands up, Merc Mob, Charlesboro, reportin' live from)
I know the whole world blowin' up your phone (Safety, safety)
I wanna know, n!gga, when you comin' home?
Safety, safety, safety (Northside, Terror Garden, where my dawg from, [?], clean streak, yeah, it's been a while)
I know the whole world blowin' up your phone
I wanna know, n!gga, when you comin' home? (Uh)
[Verse 2]
Ayy, boy, what's goin' on?
I feel no way when you don't respond, dog
I know your heart, and I know I pawn
I know a lot is on your plate and more is on your mind
But still I hit you time to time when you crossin' mine
I heard that big Mal died, and no, I couldn't tell you the cause
I know fentanyl's been leavin' brothers cross-eyed and things
Can't tell what's killin' more n!ggas, dr*gs or crossfire
When moms cry, it's a shame, as of late, I've seen
An uptick in motorcades, but not for the president
These processions are for the negligent
So I don't care to hang out
These younger n!ggas even quicker than I was to bang out
Oh, shit, forgot to say I got a daughter now
Here's a picture, she startin' to look more like her father now
When she cries, her mama put on your songs to calm her down
It's wild, how just the sound of your voice, it brought a smile
Dog, I'm proud, you made it out of this b!tch
Few things are better when a n!gga from the bottom get rich
Although I'm sure it brings its own set of problems
Most of the city love you, though a couple seem jealous of your stardom
Like, what's up with old buddy that's makin' songs 'bout you?
Was about to punish him vicious, but then I thought about you
And what you would say, might tell me to chill, but he violatin' for real
Let me know when you comin' back to the 'Ville, dog, safety
[Chorus]
Safety, safety, safety ([?], Faye' State, throw your hands up, Hillsborough, central jive, reportin' live from)
I know the whole world blowin' up your phone (Safety, safety)
I wanna know, n!gga, when you comin' home
Safety, safety, safety ([?], whole county, put your hands up, [?] underdogs, now we worldwide)
I know the whole world blowin' up your phone
I wanna know, n!gga, when you comin' home
[Verse 3]
Yo, hit me back when you get the chance
So many of our peers passed away through the years
My appreciation for airs in my lungs has been enhanced
Yo, Quay passed last night from medical conditions that were too advanced
For doctors to intervene, they couldn't do a thing
They say he dwindled away until his size was that of a figurine
It seemed just like a mystery
Some say it was acquired immune deficiency syndrome
We been on what team he acknowledged
Since we was kids, he lived in a closet
But that changed soon as he went to college
Up there wilin' in the A&T, runnin' with fruity types
D**k in the booty types, tight pants
Switchin' their hips, paintin' their nails
So n!ggas from the Ville had to distance ourselves
He felt a way, remember, he was beefin' with me
That's when he moved to the A, I guess, so he could be free
But years later, I heard they seen him walkin' on Bragg (Oh-oh)
At 2 a.m. with a lace front, dressin' in drag
I shook my head, but still, I began to feel bad
It's like his lifestyle was blockin' all the love that we had
We turned our backs on him, some of us called him a fa—
Nah, time's changed, I know that's wrong
Now that we grown, I wish I could apologize, 'cause we did him wrong
Man, why it feel like recently n!ggas ain't livin' long?
Rest in peace to your boy Filthee, I heard about that too
Last summer, lotta brothers had got murdered out the blues
Shit was wild, but anyhow, just reachin' out
Bearin' bad news infused with what I'm thinkin' bout
Here go the obituary, and just in case
There's a program attached that gives you the time and place
It's that funeral home off the merc', the one adjace'
To that used car lot where I copped that Ford Escape
I know fame make that shit hella awkward to be at wakes
But I bet it mean a lot to his family to see your face
If you can make it home, the viewin' is on Thursday
Funeral on Friday, by plane or by highway, yo' safety
[Outro]
(Safety, safety, safety)
Safety (Safety, safety)
Huh, alright, safety
[?] time's up, too stressed to reply (Safety, safety)
________________ End _______________
SAFETY Song Meaning [J. Cole]
"SAFETY", the third track on J. Cole’s seventh studio album "The Fall‑Off", arrived February 6, 2026 as part of a long‑anticipated double‑disc project that the rapper has framed as both a creative apex and a thematic full circle from his earliest work. "The Fall‑Off" was envisioned as his final album, exploring personal evolution, hometown ties, and emotional honesty as Cole reflects on life, legacy, and self‑awareness over a sprawling 24‑song sequence. "SAFETY" sits early in the album’s narrative arc, setting a tone that blends introspection with grounded reflection.
Song Meaning
"SAFETY" opens with a sense of vulnerability, immediately establishing a theme that balances personal connection with the emotional weight of distance. Rather than shouting bravado, Cole calls to loved ones and friends, framing the song less as a flex and more as a personal check‑in — an emotional outreach rather than a declaration.
As the first verse unfolds, Cole recounts reconnecting with an old friend. Through everyday details — new phone numbers, catching up, reminiscing — he paints a picture of how time and circumstances change relationships. There’s a clear undercurrent of growth: maturity over ego, gratitude over resentment. This isn’t simply nostalgia; it’s a thoughtful meditation on loyalty and the evolution of brotherhood.
The chorus’s recurring themes emphasize concern and belonging rather than fame. Listeners hear repeated affirmations that mirror the everyday worries of someone invested in his community and in the wellbeing of individuals he’s left behind. Safety, in this sense, becomes both literal — asking loved ones to stay well — and figurative, a marker of emotional security rooted in human connection.
In the second verse, Cole reflects on loss and the unpredictability of life. Rapping about peers who have passed and the tragedies that follow too many from his circle, he balances grief with a grounded awareness of how fragile life can be. He speaks not from detachment, but from someone who’s seen joy and sorrow side by side — as a witness and participant — reinforcing the song’s emphasis on introspection over bravado.
The closing verse deepens this contemplative worldview. Cole addresses regrets and reconciliations, sparking a narrative around missed chances to support those who needed it. Rather than sugarcoating or absolving himself, he confronts his own imperfections with clarity and empathy, capturing an emotional honesty that resists cliché and inviting listeners to feel alongside him.
Emotional Core and Themes
At its heart, "SAFETY" thrives on emotional authenticity. Unlike conventional hip hop tracks that foreground power or success, this song is anchored in concern, growth, and the human cost of time and distance. It juxtaposes personal achievement with the burden of remembrance — of friends who’ve been lost, bonds that have shifted, and the quiet longing for connection that remains constant. What emerges is a meditation on care, accountability, and vulnerability — values that resonate beyond music to the broader rhythms of everyday life.
Keywords like connection, vulnerability, reflection, loss, and growth are woven throughout the song’s narrative, helping the listener feel the emotional stakes in each line rather than just hear them. Cole’s control of pacing and detail ensures that this track feels less like a rap boast and more like a personal letter — one written from the intersection of success and humanity.
Connection with Listeners
What makes "SAFETY" impactful for listeners is its relatability. Many people know the feeling of checking on someone you care about, gauging how life has changed them — this universal experience is translated into a hip‑hop narrative with poetic precision. Listeners aren’t just hearing Cole’s story; they’re invited into their own reflections on friends, family, loss, and the passage of time. This track bridges the personal and the universal, helping audiences empathize with Cole’s world even if their backgrounds differ.
SAFETY doesn’t shout its themes; it invites them in gently — a craft that rewards repeated listens and emotional investment.
Conclusion
In "SAFETY", J. Cole offers more than a rap song; he delivers a deeply introspective journey into the intricacies of connection, loss, and emotional care. Through grounded storytelling and relational nuance, he shapes a lyrical space where vulnerability becomes strength and reflection becomes resonance. In the broader frame of The Fall‑Off, SAFETY is a pivotal early marker — a poetic declaration that, no matter life’s twists, the real legacy lies in how we hold and honor the people we love.
______________________________
Song Details
Song Name: SAFETY
Artist: J. Cole
Album: The Fall-Off (2026)
Lyricist: J. Cole, Paris Jones
Producers: DZL, WU10, J. Cole, Sucuki & Powers Pleasant
Genre: Rap
Language: English
Label: Dreamville, Cole World, Inc., Interscope Records
Released: February 6, 2026
[Disclaimer: Lyrics are for educational and entertainment purposes only. All rights belong to the original owners.]
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