Here are AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics in English. From the COWBOY CARTER album, the song features Beyoncé Knowles. Penned by Beyoncé, Jon Batiste, Ink, Cam, No ID, Dan Walsh, DIXSON, Derek Dixie, Raphael Saadiq, JAY-Z, Stephen Stills, Tyler Johnson, Michael Price, and Khirye Tyler, AMERIICAN REQUIEM is sung by Beyoncé herself. The album is directed by the visionary Beyoncé, and the music production is helmed by Beyoncé, Jon Batiste, and No ID.
AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics in English
Nothin’ really ends
For things to stay the same they have to change again
Hello, my old friend
You change your name but not the ways you play pretend
American requiem
Them big ideas (yeah), are buried here (yeah)
Amen…
It’s a lot of talkin’ goin’ on
While I sing my song
Can you hear me?
I said, ‘do you hear me?’
Looka there, looka there now
Looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there (oh, yeah)
Looka-looka, looka there, looka there.
It’s a lotta chatter in here
But let me make myself clear (oh)
Can you hear me? (huh)
Or do you fear me? (ow)
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (ow)
Coming in peace and love, y’all
Oh, a lot of takin’ up space
Salty tears beyond my gaze
Can you stand me?
(Can you stand me? can you stand me? can you stand me?)
Ooh, ah
Can we stand?
(Can you stand me? can you stand me? can you stand me?
Can you stand me? can you stand me? can you stand me?)
Can you stand with me?
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind
Now ain’t the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in.
Thinkin’ to myself (thinkin’ to myself)
Oh, it’s a lot of talkin’ goin’ on (oh)
While I sing my song (yeah)
Do you hear me when I say?
Do you hear me when I say? ah…
Looka there, looka there
Looka, look
Looka-looka-looka-looka-looka
Looka-looka there, looka there
L-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-looka there
Oh, looka there, looka there
Looka there, looka there
(Can you stand me? can you stand me? can you stand me?)
L-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-l
(Can you stand me? can you stand me? can you stand me?)
Can we stand for something?
Now is the time to face the wind (now is the time to face the wind)
Now ain’t the time to pretend
Now is the time to let love in (to let love in)
Together, can we stand?
Looka there, looka in my hand
The grandbaby of a moonshine man
Gadsden, alabama
Got folk down in galveston, rooted in louisiana
Used to say I spoke, ‘too country’
And the rejection came, said ‘I wasn’t country ‘nough’
Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but
If that ain’t country, tell me what is?
Plant my bare feet on solid ground for years
They don’t, don’t know how hard I had to fight for this
When I sang my song.
(When I sang the song of abraham)
(When the angels guide and take my hand)
(Oh, no)
Goodbye to what has been
A pretty house that we never settled in
A funeral for fair-weather friends
I am the one to cleanse me of my father’s sins
American requiem
Them big ideas (yeah) are buried here (yeah)
Amen…
AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics Credits
| Album | COWBOY CARTER (2024) |
| Song Name | AMERIICAN REQUIEM |
| Track Position | #1 on album / 27 tracks |
| Release Date | March 29, 2024 |
| Writers/Lyricists | Beyoncé Knowles, Jon Batiste, Ink, Cam, No ID, Dan Walsh, DIXSON, Derek Dixie, Raphael Saadiq, JAY-Z, Stephen Stills, Tyler Johnson, Michael Price, Khirye Tyler |
| Singer/Artists | Beyoncé Knowles |
| Producers | Beyoncé, Jon Batiste, No ID |
| Record Label | Parkwood Entertainment, Columbia Records |
| Recording Studios | Kings Landing West, The Trailer, Westlake Studios |
| Genre | Country, Pop, Americana |
| Duration | 5:25 |
Song Background
“AMERIICAN REQUIEM” opens COWBOY CARTER with a bold declaration of identity, legacy, and genre defiance. Beyoncé confronts cultural rejection and reclaims her Southern roots, challenging the notion of what it means to be “country enough.” The lyrics reference her upbringing in Alabama and Louisiana, her fight for artistic recognition, and the burden of ancestral sins. With poetic lines like “Goodbye to what has been / A pretty house that we never settled in,” Beyoncé sets the tone for an album that’s both personal and political. The song samples JAY-Z’s “Heart of the City” and interpolates “For What It’s Worth,” weaving historical and musical threads into a powerful requiem for American ideals.
Chart Performance & Stats
- Debuted at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday and Country Crossover playlists
- Surpassed 12 million streams on Spotify in the first month
- Lyric video reached 4.2 million views on YouTube
- Nominated for Best Country Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards
Cultural Impact
“AMERIICAN REQUIEM” became a lightning rod for conversations around race, genre, and authenticity in country music. Beyoncé’s lyrical references to being told she wasn’t “country enough” resonated with fans and critics alike. The song was praised by outlets like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork for its genre-blending production and unapologetic storytelling. Jon Batiste, one of the co-writers, described the track as “a proclamation” and “a dismantling of the genre machine”. The song’s outro—“Them big ideas are buried here / Amen”—was widely quoted as a poetic indictment of lost ideals and a call for renewal.
Technical Details
- BPM: 76
- Key: F Minor
- Instruments Used: Piano, sitar, acoustic guitar, drums, synthesizer, choir vocals
Related Songs Section
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FAQs AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics
Q. Who wrote AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song lyrics?
Ans. Beyoncé Knowles, Jon Batiste, Ink, Cam, No ID, Dan Walsh, DIXSON, Derek Dixie, Raphael Saadiq, JAY-Z, Stephen Stills, Tyler Johnson, Michael Price, and Khirye Tyler.
Q. What album is AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics from?
Ans. It’s the opening track on Beyoncé’s eighth studio album COWBOY CARTER, released in 2024.
Q. When was AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics released?
Ans. March 29, 2024.
Q. What is AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics about?
Ans. It’s a reflection on cultural rejection, Southern identity, and the burden of legacy, blending country and Americana influences.
Q. Who sings AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics?
Ans. Beyoncé Knowles.
Q. What genre is AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics?
Ans. Country, Pop, and Americana.
Q. How long is AMERIICAN REQUIEM Song Lyrics?
Ans. 5 minutes and 25 seconds.
Q. Did AMERIICAN REQUIEM win any awards?
Ans. Nominated for Best Country Performance at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Secondary FAQs
Q. Is AMERIICAN REQUIEM based on a true story?
Ans. Yes. It draws from Beyoncé’s personal experiences and cultural heritage.
Q. What instruments are used in AMERIICAN REQUIEM?
Ans. Piano, sitar, acoustic guitar, drums, synthesizer, and choir vocals.
Q. Has Beyoncé performed AMERIICAN REQUIEM live?
Ans. Yes. She performed it during the COWBOY CARTER album launch event.
Q. What are the most popular lines from AMERIICAN REQUIEM?
Ans. “Goodbye to what has been / A funeral for fair-weather friends” and “Them big ideas are buried here / Amen.”
Q. Which streaming platform has AMERIICAN REQUIEM?
Ans. Available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and TIDAL.
