During the 2016 ESPY Awards, Chance the Rapper, Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment paid homage to the late, great boxer Muhammad Ali. The song features an excerpt from an interview Ali did in July 1977, where he visited England to help raise money for Boys Boxing Clubs of the country, and gave...
[Intro: Kid and Muhammad Ali]
Kid: "I'd like to know what you're going to do when you retire from boxing?"
Ali: "I really don't know, I want to say something right here this might make you all think. When I get out of Boxing or when I'm through, I want to do all I can to help people. What's the best thing I can do? Get ready to meet God."
[Verse 1: Chance the Rapper]
Back in time
I lost track of time
Rolling on the road
Christmas Eves and Valentines
Seemed like the days before
I came I went I did well
I did I really meant well
But I almost missed my beat
So thank you for saving me a seat
[Bridge: Chance the Rapper]
I swear ain't no where greater
Ain't no where brighter
Ain't no where better, better, better, better
Ain't no one prettier
Ain't no one wiser
Ain't no where better, better
[Muhammad Ali]
God is watching me
God don’t praise me because I beat Joe Frazier
God don’t give nothing about Joe Frazier
God don’t care nothing about England or America
As far as wealth
It’s all his
He wants to know how do we treat each other
How do we help each other
[Chorus: Chance the Rapper + Choir]
I was a rock
I was a rock and roller
Back in my day (Back in my day)
But now I'm just a rock (I was a rock)
I was a rock and roller
Back in my day (Back in my day)
But now I'm just a rock
I was a rock
[Verse 2: Chance the Rapper]
Steady hold
I've grown weary and old
We're as close as we'll ever be
I was gone I had places to be
And of course you're in the last place I look
[Bridge: Chance the Rapper]
I swear ain't no where greater
Ain't no where brighter
Ain't no where better, better, better, better
Ain't no one prettier
Ain't no one wiser
Ain't no one better, better
[Pre-Chorus: Chance the Rapper]
And I'm still standing here
Standing still
I won't be moved
How used to do when
[Chorus: Chance the Rapper + Choir]
I was a rock
I was a rock and roller
Back in my day (Back in my day)
But now I'm just a rock (I was a rock)
I was a rock
I was a rock and roller
Back in my day (Back in my day)
But now I'm just a rock
I was a rock (I was a rock)
I was a rock and roller
Back in my day (Back in my day)
But now I'm just a rock (I was a rock)
I was a rock and roller
Back in my day (Back in my day)
But now I'm just a rock
I was a rock
I Was a Rock (Muhammad Ali ESPYs Tribute) was written by Peter CottonTale & Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment & Teddy Jackson & Jamila Woods & Chance the Rapper.
I Was a Rock (Muhammad Ali ESPYs Tribute) was produced by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment.
Chance the Rapper released I Was a Rock (Muhammad Ali ESPYs Tribute) on Wed Jul 13 2016.
In a Twitter Q&A, Chance said that since this song, as well his SNL version of “Sunday Candy” and his Nike Olympics song were made for TV moments, he would like them to stay that way and he doesn’t think that they will ever be recorded.
https://twitter.com/chancetherapper/status/779509727919243...
“Since I was young I’ve always felt a close "connection to him (Muhammad Ali). Me and my dad always bonded through watching old boxing clips. So, to be up there with his face behind me, being able to give glory to God and give glory to him, and consult his family, it was one of the best moments I’v...