To Be Hunted Lyrics – Childish Gambino

[Intro]
Ooh
Ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Uh
Let me tell you something true

[Verse 1]
I remember, uh, back when I was six years old, uh
Daddy said, “The world’s so cold”
“There is something that you should know”
Uh
“You’re so gorgeous,” thank you, daddy
“Nothing’s really worth your time”
“But someday soon you just might find”
“The truth about the world’s design,” oh

[Chorus]
To be beautiful is to be hunted
I can’t change the truth, I can’t get you used to this
No, no, no, no, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
To be beautiful is to be hunted
I can’t change the truth, I can’t get you used to this
And I know that, yeah

[Verse 2]
Now remember, uh
You do what the hell you want, uh
But someone’s gonna smell your funk
You’re exactly what they want (Truth)
To be happy really means that someone else ain’t
And balance ain’t a one-food plate
Everything is give and take, oh, oh

[Chorus]
To be beautiful is to be hunted
I can’t change the truth, I can’t get you used to this
Oh, oh, yeah, oh yeah
To be beautiful is to be hunted
I can’t change the truth, I can’t get you used to this
And I know

[Post-Chorus]
Go’n, do it like this, okay (Woo)
Shoulder shake, woah (Oh no)
Do it in and out (Nah-nah-nah-nah)
Ayy, ayy, uh (Ooh)

[Chorus]
To be beautiful is to be hunted
I can’t change the truth, I can’t get you used to this
Can’t get you used to this
No, no, no, no
To be beautiful is to be hunted (I can’t, I know)
I can’t change the truth (I said), I can’t get you used to this
Ooh, give it to me now, bring the strings back, uh

[Outro]
To be beautiful is to be hunted
We are beautiful, yeah
That’s so beautiful
That’s so beautiful

[Intro]
The intro sets the tone for the song with repetitive vocalizations and an emphatic “Uh,” signaling the beginning of a heartfelt message or story.

[Verse 1]
Reflecting on childhood memories, the narrator recalls their father’s wisdom about the harsh realities of the world. Despite compliments about their beauty, the father warns that beauty attracts attention and potential harm, hinting at the deeper truths about society’s expectations.

[Chorus]
The chorus bluntly states the central theme: beauty often comes with a price, likening it to being hunted. Despite the desire to change this reality, the narrator acknowledges the futility, expressing a resigned acceptance of the truth about beauty’s pitfalls.

[Verse 2]
In the second verse, the narrator imparts their own insights, advising autonomy despite the inevitable consequences of being noticed. Happiness for one may mean unhappiness for another, emphasizing the delicate balance of give and take in navigating societal norms and personal fulfillment.

[Chorus]
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the song’s main message, emphasizing the inevitability of being hunted for one’s beauty. Despite the desire to shield others from this truth, the narrator acknowledges their inability to alter reality, echoing the resignation expressed earlier.

[Post-Chorus]
The post-chorus introduces a moment of levity amidst the heavier themes, with playful instructions on how to move and dance, perhaps serving as a brief respite from the weighty subject matter.

[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus once more, the narrator reaffirms the inescapable nature of beauty’s scrutiny and the inability to change this reality. The plea to “bring the strings back” suggests a desire to return to the earlier, more soulful part of the song.

[Outro]
The outro reiterates the theme of beauty and its inherent vulnerability, ultimately affirming the beauty within despite the challenges it may bring. It serves as a final acknowledgment of the complexity and worth of being beautiful, ending the song on a poignant note of self-acceptance.