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Surprise Lyrics by Rhymefest

James & Nikki: A Conversation

2024

[Intro: James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni]
Well, why should a writer be free to write what he wants when a teacher is not free to teach what he wants or a postman-
A teacher who is not free to teach is not a teacher
...
If you're a writer you're forced to look behind the word into the meaning of the word
Into the actions produced by the words
Yes, you're responsible for what that word means, so you have to find the way to use that word to liberate the energy in that word, so it has a positive effect on the lives of people. There is such a thing as the living word
...
No tyrant in history was able to read but every single one of them burned the books

[Bridge]
They nailed his feet
Then they nailed his hands
Just to prove he was a man
Then they placed some thorns upon his head
Then they laughed in his face
As the poor man said, "I don't wanna die
No, I don't wanna die"

[Verse 1: Rhymefest]
You never know the day
Or time
Nor I
Death is always a surprise
Death is always a surprise
(Surprise!)
Give me my flowers while I'm alive
Don't wait until I'm clutching my side at 45
Talking 'bout "he left too soon", with tears in your eyes
(Surprise!)
Nigga, ya died
Who get the house, who get the money
Wait, can I have his ride?
Is you surprised that your cousins wasn't shit to begin with
They wanna cremate you because to bury your ass is too expensive
(Surprise!)
Nigga, ya died
Ain't see it coming, doing a hunnid out on the I-95
Then realize that that woman you thought would take care of you and marry you
Didn't even show up to the burial
You playing with the time that you thought you had
Before you step in that divorce, wait, let me walk you back
We throw away the love of our lives
Whose fault is that?
Man, all I need is me in this world
Who taught you that?

[Refrain]
I don't wanna die
Can you revive me?
No, I don't wanna die
And let me see the sun?
No

[Verse 2: Rhymefest]
(Suprise!)
Nigga, ya died
Making a post, doing the most
Ain't even say your goodbyes
Can I have his ride?
(Let it go)
Yesterday, I didn't know it would be my last day
Writing rhymes with my cigar lit up in the ash tray
Feeling good, finna watch the Bulls and the Cav's play
Til I feel the ugh in my chest, and passed away
I saw my last sunset, I wasn't done yet, Lord
I ain't made up with my son yet
I ain't even took my daughter to prom yet
My wife is still living, I know she upset
Rip off the wings, I don't wanna go up yet
I saw that everything I ever ate was gluttonous
I saw that everything I ever smoked was suspect
I saw that every lie I ever told was fucked, shit
For all the hearts that I broke, a heart attack was justice
Then I woke up from that sleep
With a new peace and new perspective on life
With a renewed lease, know what I learned about being deceased?
Life is brief, life is brief
(Suprise!)
Nigga, ya died
Living in jail, what in the hell man, nobody cried
Yeah, why?
They'd rather fed us fed time and fentanyls
Instead of fruits and vegetables
And teach us death is inevitable
Nah, life is truly incredible
Don't let the Devil unsettle you
How you chasing after revenue
Push you off the stage at the festival
Nat King sings unforgettable
The Grim Reaper keeps a schedule
While King sings unforgettable
Surprise
Surprise
Surprise
Surprise

[Refrain]
I don't wanna die
No, I don't wanna die
Credits

About “Surprise” by Rhymefest

Read the complete lyrics to "Surprise" by Rhymefest from the album "James & Nikki: A Conversation" in 2024. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rap.

"Surprise" is performed by Rhymefest. from the album "James & Nikki: A Conversation" in 2024 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Surprise", explore more songs by Rhymefest using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Rhymefest · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Surprise" is credited to Rhymefest. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Surprise" appears on "James & Nikki: A Conversation" in 2024.

Visit the Rhymefest artist page at /artist/rhymefest for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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