Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
Childish Gambino
“Redbone” is about paranoia and infidelity in a relationship. As a slang term, “redbone” distinguishes a lighter-skinned black person of mixed race. Bino fears that his efforts to keep this woman satisfied will drive her away.
In a Genius video, Ludwig Göransson, the song’s producer, recreated “Red...
[Verse 1]
Daylight
I wake up feelin' like you won't play right
I used to know, but now that shit don't feel right
It made me put away my pride
So long
You made a nigga wait for some, so long
You make it hard for boy like that to go on
I'm wishin' I could make this mine, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
(If you want it) Yeah
(You can have it) Oh, oh, oh
(If you need it) Ooh
(We can make it, oh)
If you want it
You can have it
[Chorus]
But stay woke
Niggas creepin'
They gon' find you
Gon' catch you sleepin', ooh
Now stay woke
Niggas creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
[Verse 2]
Too late
You wanna make it right, but now it's too late
My peanut butter chocolate cake with Kool-Aid
I'm tryin' not to waste my time
[Pre-Chorus]
(If you want it) Oh
(You can have it) You can have it
(If you need it) You better believe in somethin'
(We can make it, oh)
If you want it
(You can have it) Ahh!
[Chorus]
But stay woke (Stay woke)
Niggas creepin' (They be creepin')
They gon' find you (They gon' find you)
Gon' catch you sleepin', ooh (Gon' catch you sleepin', put your hands up now, baby)
Now stay woke
Niggas creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
But stay woke (Ooh-ahh)
Niggas creepin' (They gon' find you)
They gon' find you
Gon' catch you sleepin', ooh (Gon' catch you, gon' catch you)
Now stay woke
Niggas creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
[Outro]
How'd it get so scandalous?
Oh, how'd it get so scandalous?
Oh, oh, baby you, how'd it get
How'd it get so scandalous?
How'd it get so scandalous?
But stay woke
But stay woke
Redbone was written by Childish Gambino & Gary Mudbone Cooper & George Clinton & Bootsy Collins & Ludwig Göransson.
Redbone was produced by Childish Gambino & Ludwig Göransson.
Childish Gambino released Redbone on Thu Nov 17 2016.
“Redbone” is a term for a light-skinned black woman.
The instruments used in the very first bit of the song are a kick drum with Mellotron strings in the background.
As the band kicks in, there are acoustic drums, live bass, electric guitar (through a Gibson Maestro G-2 Rhythm N Sound unit), a glockenspiel, synth strings (Mellotron), electric piano (...
“Redbone” is produced entirely by Childish Gambino, Ludwig Göransson, and Vinylz (Anderson Hernandez), and does not contain any samples. That being said, it is speculated that “Redbone” garners some very strong influences from Bootsy’s Rubber Band’s 1976 song, “I’d Rather Be With You,” in addition t...
Like most of Childish Gambino’s last studio album, it can be perceived as an existential song. The hidden meaning depends on the listener’s perception. Some listeners have said he’s talking about a failing relationship with someone who was out of his league. Others say it’s about the systematic oppr...
In a 2014 interview with Peter Rosenberg, Bino said that he didn’t really want to put a name on what his style is because he wants to be on the cutting edge of today’s music. Also, even then he was trying to get away from the genre of rap. You can see the interview here:
In an interview with Triple J, Donald was asked about the composition of the song and he had this to say:
There wasn’t a ton of vocal stuff done, I think people hear ‘Redbone’ and are like ‘Oh, he pitched up his vocals,’ but there was no vocal pitching on the album—I just sang differently.
Produce...
This song was featured in the hit movie “Get Out”. It is a horror movie with an underlying theme of racism, and director Jordan Peele has said that he intentionally used this song because it’s “stay woke” lyric fits the them of the movie of being vigilant of racism.