COUSINS Lyrics
[Refrain]
I saw you outside again, just hanging out with your friends
[Verse 1]
Hanging with my cousin, reading dirty magazines
We seen some n!ggas kissin’, we ain’t know what that shit mean
Then we start re-enacting everything that we had seen
That’s when I gave my cousin head, gave my cousin head
Gave my cousin head, I gave my cousin head
I gave my cousin head
[Refrain]
Saw you outside again, just hanging out with your friends
[Verse 2]
And I know these n!ggas ’bout to judge me now
(And I know these n!ggas ’bout to judge me now)
Started off when we was hanging out (Started off when we hang)
Told my cousin not to tell nobody (Please, no, don’t tell nobody)
People tell me take it to my grave
“Truth will set you free someday”
I don’t think they understand
That I’m not attracted to a man (They thought I was gay)
[Chorus]
Nitrous don’t help me, it just put me in a trance
I’m talkin’ about euphoria, I am not talkin’ about a man
Told her, “Don’t leave me, ’cause I need you by my side
As long as you don’t leave me, then I’ll probably be alright
And that one time that you left me, I didn’t get no sleep that night
And that one time that you left me, I took ten Percs to get high
Ten Percs to get high, pray that I don’t die
But if I die, see you in the sky
Two pints of the Qua’-Qua’, don’t leave, just stay, bae
Let’s go on a vacay, leave the world behind”
[Bridge]
Leave the world behind
Leave the world behind
[Chorus]
Nitrous don’t help me, it just put me in a trance
I’m talkin’ about euphoria, I am not talkin’ about a man
Told her, “Don’t leave me, ’cause I need you by my side
As long as you don’t leave me, then I’ll probably be alright
Then I’ll probably be alright
Took ten Percs to get high
Ten Percs to get high, pray that I don’t die
But if I die, see you in the sky
Two pints of the Qua’-Qua’, don’t leave, just stay, bae
Let’s go on a vacay, leave the world behind”
Summary of this Song Lyrics
_____________________________________
COUSINS Lyrics by Kanye West, explores themes of confusion, trauma, secrecy, substance use, and emotional dependency. It begins with a seemingly innocent scene of childhood exploration but quickly transitions into a deeply controversial and disturbing personal revelation involving a cousin. The artist reflects on a past experience where, as a child, he and his cousin re-enacted explicit acts they had seen, leading to an incident that continues to affect him. This part of the narrative is told with raw vulnerability, acknowledging the confusion and emotional weight it carries.
The refrain, “Saw you outside again, just hanging out with your friends,” acts as a recurring moment of detachment or reflection, possibly addressing someone the artist feels emotionally distant from, or a memory that haunts him.
In the second verse, the artist anticipates judgment for his past, expressing that he is misunderstood and not defined by that moment. He insists he’s not attracted to men, emphasizing a need for people to understand the complexity of what happened. This verse also touches on the shame and secrecy surrounding the event, as he asks his cousin not to tell anyone and wrestles with the idea of keeping it to himself forever.
The chorus shifts tone to focus on the artist’s mental health and dependency on drugs to cope with pain and abandonment. He uses substances like nitrous oxide and Percocet to escape his feelings and begs a significant other not to leave him, fearing he won’t survive the emotional toll. He ties his survival to their presence, showing the depth of his emotional reliance.
Ultimately, the song paints a picture of a person grappling with deeply buried trauma, public perception, and overwhelming emotional pain, using both introspection and escapism in an attempt to process it all.
COUSINS (MV)
Available Soon
Audio Credits & Details
Artist : Kanye West
Album : CUCK
Lyricists : Kanye West, Dave Blunts
Musicians : Digital Nas, Kanye West
Label : Kanye West
Genre: Rap
Date: April 18, 2025