He Say She Say

## Song by Lupe Fiasco featuring Sarah Green and GemStones

"**He Say She Say**" is a song by American rapper Lupe Fiasco, released as the sixth track from his debut studio album, *Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor* (2006). It features guest vocals from 1st & 15th labelmates Sarah Green and GemStones on the hook. Production was handled by Soundtrakk, sampling the 1965 song "The Last One to Be Loved" by Burt Bacharach. The accompanying music video was directed by Impakt Studio, though was never officially released by Atlantic Records.

## Background

Part of *The Cool* storyline, it narrates a young boy named Michael Young History ('My Cool Young History') who grows up without a father. Fiasco told *Billboard*, "You could follow *The Cool* outside of the album and arrange certain songs to speak to character development or a prequel. Songs like 'He Say She Say' kinda fit—it may be a little bit of a force, but it's there to be had."

He continued of the situation being seen in real life, the song based on the personal experiences of friends: "[S]ome people don't grow up to go through a 'He Say She Say' situation. That's used as motivation to get up out of it. Some of the kids, they turn into 'The Cool.' Not having a dad or family structure around and being introduced to the streets in a certain way or not having that type of guidance to stop them from making that first wrong move. They can turn into that. It's unfortunate and real serious when we perform 'He Say She Say.' It's one of those joints I have to apologize to people in the crowd who went through this that shouldn't have to."

## Personnel

* Burt Bacharach – writer
* Craig Bauer – mixer
* Demarco "Gemini" Castle – featured artist
* Greg "G-Ball" Magers – recording engineer
* Harold "Hal" David – writer
* Rudolph "Soundtrakk" Lopez – writer, producer
* Sarah Green – featured artist
* Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco – lead artist, writer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Hook: Gemini + Sarah Green]

I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't

Let you leave

I don't know what you want, you want

Want from me

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]

She said to him

"I want you to be a father, he's your little boy

And you don't even bother, like

‘Brother' without the ‘R', and he's starting to harbor

Cool on food for thought, but for you he's a starver

Starting to use red markers on his work

His teacher say they know he's much smarter

But he's hurt

Used to hand his homework in first like he was the classroom starter."

Burst to tears, let him know she's serious

"Now he's fighting in class

Got a note last week that says he might not pass

Ask me if his daddy was sick of us

'Cause you ain't never pick him up

You see what his problem is?

He don't know where his poppa is

No positive male role model

To play football and build railroad models

It's making a hole; you've been digging it

'Cause you ain't been kicking it

Since he was old enough to hold bottles

He wasn't supposed to get introduced to that

He don't deserve to get used to that

Now I ain't asking you for money or to come back to me

Some days it ain't sunny, but it ain't so hard

Just breaks my heart

When I try to provide and he say 'Mommy, that ain't your job'

To be a man, I try to make him understand

That I'm his number one fan

But it's like you booing from the stands

You know the world is out to get him

So why don't you give him a chance?"

[Hook: Gemini + Sarah Green]

I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't

Let you leave

I don't know what you want, you want

Want from me

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]

So he said to him

"I want you to be a father, I'm your little boy

And you don't even bother, like

‘Brother' without the ‘R', and I'm starting to harbor

Cool and food for thought, but for you I'm a starver

Starting to use red markers on my work

My teacher say they know I'm much smarter

But I'm hurt

I used to hand my homework in first

Like I was the classroom starter."

Burst to tears, let him know he's serious

"Now I'm fighting in class

Got a note last week that say I might not pass

Kids ask me if my daddy is sick of us

'Cause you ain't never pick me up

You see what my problem is?

That I don't know where my poppa is

No positive male role model

To play football and build railroad models

It's making a hole; you've been digging it

'Cause you ain't been kicking it

Since I was old enough to hold bottles

Wasn't supposed to get introduced to that

I don't deserve to get used to that

Now I ain't asking you for money or to come back to me

Some days it ain't sunny but it ain't so hard

Just breaks my heart

When my momma try to provide and I tell her 'That ain't your job'

To be a man, she try to make me understand

That she my number one fan

But it's like you booing from the stands

You know the world is out to get me

Why don't you give me a chance?"

[Hook: Gemini + Sarah Green]

I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't

Let you leave

I don't know what you want, you want

Want from me

I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't

Let you leave

I don't know what you want, you want

Want from me

## References

1. ↑ Lamarre, Carl (June 16, 2022). "Black Music Month: Lupe Fiasco Talks Dodging the Sophomore Jinx with 'The Cool'". *Billboard*.