On “Sidewalks,” Abel and Kendrick use sidewalks as a metaphor for their path from humble beginnings to fame and fortune.
Both The Weeknd and Kendrick grew up in less-than-ideal settings. Abel was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, an area with one of the highest crime rates in Greater Toronto, while Kendrick grew up in Compton, California, one of the deadliest cities in the world.
Lyrics of Sidewalks
Uh-uh, uh, uh, uh-uh, uh, yeah, like
I ran out of tears when I was 18
So nobody made me but the main streets
'Cause too many people think they made me
Well, if they really made me then replace me
Homeless to Forbes List, these niggas bring no stress
I feel like Moses, I feel like I'm chosen
And if you ain't my nigga then your girl single to me
I don't give a damn if a nigga said he knew me
Grew up with no father so nobody ever "son" me
My flow too sick, Kevin Costner couldn't touch me
I know you wish that nobody ever love me
I feel useless when I'm never makin' money
Well, this the life we always fantasized
Rich folk problem through a Queen Street nigga's eyes
Every time you see me pullin' up in Aventadors
Just know we been grindin' on them sidewalks
Sidewalks saved my life
They don't ever lie
Sidewalks saved my life
They showed me all the signs
They don't let me down
But they lead me on
And they don't let me down
But they lead me on
And they lead me on
Say, say, say
I come from murder one, brung late night melee
Say, say, say
We hung all summer, sprung mattress with bae-bae
Say, say, say
Trippin' off Dyke, and my name strike with payday
Say, say, say
Flippin' blue lightnin', tightenin', strapped with AK
Say, say, say
OG one, told me one, show me one, eight ways
How to segue, pussy, power, profit, and headache
I reminisce my life innocence or life innocent or life intimate, with fame
Light limo tint with light women, dark women in it, awe Kenny, good game
She wanna hang with a Starboy
The sun and the moon and star, boy
Astronomer, anonymous
I line 'em up, we grind 'em up, there's nine of us
And five of us have probably fucked
She mollied up, I tallied up all the parts, boy
20 legs, arms, head (head)
Head, head, and more head (head)
Oh, God, bless the dead (yah)
I'm livin' life, high off life
I wear my chokes off to bed
I'm the greatest nigga, why you scared to say it?
I wanna rock, I wanna rock
I wanna cop more land, I never stop
I wanna quick advance on a bill if it ain't one
Break everythin', I'm a hustler, came from
Sidewalks saved my life (sidewalks saved my life)
They don't ever lie
Sidewalks saved my life (sidewalks saved my life)
They showed me all the signs
They don't let me down
But they lead me on
And they don't let me down
But they lead me on
And they lead me on