Mother I Sober By Kendrick Lamar: A Raw and Unflinching Exploration of Trauma and Healing

6th May, 2024

Mother I Sober Lyrics Reveal Kendrick Lamar’s Personal Struggles

Released on May 13, 2022, as part of Kendrick Lamar’s critically acclaimed album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Mother I Sober instantly captured the attention of music fans and critics alike.

The track, co-written by Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, and Brock Korsan and produced by Lamar, Sounwave, and Oklama, features Beth Gibbons of Portishead on the chorus and Sam Dew on the outro.

Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Album Cover

A Masterful Blend of Vulnerability and Artistry

From the opening lines, Mother I Sober pulls no punches, with Kendrick Lamar laying bare his innermost struggles and traumas.

The sparse, intimate production perfectly complements the raw lyricism, allowing Lamar’s words to take centre stage.

As he delves into themes of sexual abuse, intergenerational trauma, and the lasting impact of childhood experiences, Kendrick Lamar’s delivery is equal parts haunting and cathartic.

Lyrics That Cut to the Core

In a standout quote, Lamar laments, “You ain’t felt grief / until you felt it sober.”

This line encapsulates the song’s overarching message: that true healing can only come from confronting pain head-on, without the numbing effects of substances or distractions.

Mother I Sober Lyrics Breakdown: A Journey Through Trauma and Healing

Unearthing Childhood Trauma

The lyrics of Mother I Sober take listeners on a deeply personal journey through Lamar’s childhood trauma.

He recounts the false accusation of his cousin sexually abusing him, which triggered his mother’s own history of sexual abuse.

Kendrick Lamar’s vivid storytelling paints a picture of the lasting impact these events had on his family, with lines like “Mother cried, put they hands on her; it was family ties.”

Confronting Addiction and Infidelity

As the song progresses, Lamar turns his unflinching gaze inward, acknowledging his struggles with lust and infidelity.

In a particularly raw moment, he admits to lying about his addiction, confessing, “I asked my momma why she didn’t believe me when I told her, ‘No’ / I never knew she was violated in Chicago, I’m sympathetic.”

Breaking the Cycle of Trauma

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of Mother I Sober is Lamar’s determination to break the cycle of trauma that has plagued his family and community.

He confronts the devastating legacy of sexual abuse within black families, declaring, “The devastation, hauntin’ generations and humanity.”

Ultimately, Kendrick Lamar finds solace in forgiveness—not for the sake of his abusers but as a means of liberation for himself and those impacted by trauma.

In the song’s climactic outro, he proclaims, “So I set free myself from all the guilt that I thought I made / So I set free my mother all the hurt that she titled shame.”

Listen to Mother I Sober by Kendrick Lamar: A Powerful Invitation

A Profound Invitation to Heal

Kendrick Lamar’s raw and vulnerable lyricism, coupled with his soulful delivery, creates a visceral experience that will leave you profoundly changed.

As you listen to the Mother I Sober lyrics unfold, you’ll find yourself drawn into Lamar’s intimate exploration of trauma, addiction, and healing.

His words cut deep, resonating with a rawness and authenticity that can only come from someone who has lived through these experiences.

Prepare to be challenged, stirred, and ultimately uplifted by Kendrick Lamar’s unflinching honesty and his refusal to shy away from the harsh realities of life.

This is not just a song; it’s a powerful invitation to confront your own demons, embrace vulnerability, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing.

You might also like:

Kendrick Lamar Mother I Sober Lyrics

Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar
I’m sensitive, I feel everything, I feel everybody
One man standin’ on two words, heal everybody
Transformation, then reciprocation, karma must return
Heal myself, secrets that I hide, buried in these words
Death threats, ego must die, but I let it purge
Pacify, broken pieces of me, it was all a blur
Mother cried, put they hands on her, it was family ties
I heard it all, I should’ve grabbed a gun, but I was only five
I still feel it weighin’ on my heart, my first tough decision
In the shadows clingin’ to my soul as my only critic
Where’s my faith? Told you I was Christian, but just not today
I transformed, prayin’ to the trees, God is taking shape
My mother’s mother followed me for years in her afterlife
Starin’ at me on back of some buses, I wake up at night
Loved her dearly, traded in my tears for a Range Rover
Transformation, you ain’t felt grief ’til you felt it sober

Chorus: Beth Gibbons
I wish I was somebody
Anybody but myself
Ooh, I wish I was somebody
Anybody but myself

Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar
I remember lookin’ in the mirror knowin’ I was gifted
Only child, me for seven years, everything for Christmas
Family ties, they accused my cousin, “Did he touch you, Kendrick?”
Never lied, but no one believed me when I said “He didn’t”
Frozen moments, still holdin’ on it, hard to trust myself
I started rhymin’, copin’ mechanisms to lift up myself
Talked to my lawyer, told me not to be so hard on myself
He has an aura, I hope to achieve, if I find some help
Congratulations, made it to be famous, still I feel uneasy
Water watchin’, live my life in nature, only thing relieves me
Spirit guide whisper in my ear, tell me that she sees me
“Did he touch you?” I said “No” again, still they didn’t believe me
Mother’s brother said he got revenge for my mother’s face
Black and blue, the image of my queen that I can’t erase
‘Til this day can’t look her in the eyes, pain is takin’ over
Blame myself, you never felt guilt ’til you felt it sober

Chorus: Beth Gibbons
I wish I was somebody
Anybody but myself
Ooh, I wish I was somebody
Anybody but myself

Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar
I was never high, I was never drunk, never out my mind
I need control, they handed me some smoke, but still I declined
I did it sober sittin’ with myself, I went through all emotions
No dependents, except for one, let me bring you closer
Intoxicated, there’s a lustful nature that I failed to mention
Insecurities that I project, sleepin’ with other women
Whitney’s hurt, the purest soul I know, I found her in the kitchen
Askin’ God, “Where did I lose myself? And can it be forgiven?”
Broke me down, she looked me in my eyes, “Is there an addiction?”
I said “No,” but this time I lied, I knew that I can’t fix it
Pure soul, even in her pain, know she cared for me
Gave me a number, said she recommended some therapy
I asked my momma why she didn’t believe me when I told her “No”
I never knew she was violated in Chicago, I’m sympathetic
Told me that she feared it happened to me, for my protection
Though it never happened, she wouldn’t agree
Now I’m affected, twenty years later trauma has resurfaced
Amplified as I write this song, I shiver ’cause I’m nervous
I was five, questioning myself, ‘lone for many years
Nothing’s wrong, just results on how them questions made me feel
I made it home, seven years of tour, chasin’ manhood
But Whitney’s gone, by time you hear this song, she did all she could
All those women gave me superpowers, what I thought I lacked
I pray our children don’t inherit me and feelings I attract
A conversation not bein’ addressed in Black families
The devastation, hauntin’ generations and humanity
They raped our mothers, then they raped our sisters
Then they made us watch, then made us rape each other
Psychotic torture between our lives we ain’t recovered
Still livin’ as victims in the public eyes who pledge allegiance
Every other brother has been compromised
I know the secrets, every other rapper sexually abused
I see ’em daily buryin’ they pain in chains and tattoos
So listen close before you start to pass judgement on how he move
Learn how he cope, whenever his uncle had to walk him from school
His anger grows deep in misogyny
This is post-traumatic Black families and a sodomy, today is still active
So I set free myself from all the guilt that I thought I made
So I set free my mother all the hurt that she titled shame
So I set free my cousin, chaotic for my mother’s pain
I hope Hykeem made you proud ’cause you ain’t die in vain
So I set free the power of Whitney, may she heal us all
So I set free our children, may good karma keep them with God
So I set free the hearts filled with hatred, keep our bodies sacred
As I set free all you abusers, this is transformation

Chorus: Beth Gibbons
I wish I was somebody
Anybody but myself
Ooh, I wish I was somebody
Anybody but myself

Interlude: Whitney Alford
You did it, I’m proud of you
You broke a generational curse
Say “Thank you, dad”
Thank you, daddy, thank you, mommy, thank you, brother
Mr. Morale

Outro: Sam Dew
Before I go in fast asleep, love me for me
I bare my soul and now we’re free