OutKast

Released: September 23, 2003

Songwriter: André 3000

Producer: André 3000

[Intro: André 3000]
Sophistafunk, aristocats
Distinguished dogs, clean up your acts
Pull up your pants, ladies and gents
Please, act like you got some sense
You know what I really wanna know?
Where do all the good girls go?
What clubs they hang at?

[Chorus: André 3000]
Behold
A lady
I see you standing on the wall
Clap, clap, you deserve it all
Behold (Candy-coated unicorns are)
A lady (Quite hard to find)
I see you standing on the wall
(The classic lady, a rare breed indeed)
Clap, clap, you deserve it all
(Is that make and model discontinued?)

[Verse 1: André 3000]
Today, I might snow, tomorrow, I'll rain
3000's always changing but you stay the same
And I need that
Hey, I need that (in my life)
When I feel washed up and inadequate
And throw all my songs away, no matter how mad I get
You make me smile, you make me smile
You make me smile, you make me (Oh)
You're the anchor that holds me down
When my ship is sinking, you won't let me drown
And I'm grateful (Oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)

[Chorus: André 3000]
Behold (Maybe they disappeared with the dinosaurs?)
A lady (Oh, but that's such a Big Bang Theory)
I see you standing on the wall (Maybe they're still around?)
Clap, clap, you deserve it all
(But only to be seen with appreciative eyes)
Behold (Maybe they were taken for granted?)
A lady (And lost all their magic)
I see you standing on the wall (Oh, how awful)
Clap, clap, you deserve it all (Oh, so tragic)

[Verse 2: André 3000]
Yo mama's old fashioned, yo daddy don't play
You'll always be this lovely 'cause they raised you that way
Hallelujah! Thank ya, Jesus! Thank ya, Lord!
Thank ya, Jesus! Thank ya, Lord!
Thank ya, Jesus! Thank ya, Lord!
You're not extra extra, you're so plain Jane
The ying to my yang, darlin', you've got that thang
And you know it, but yet you don't
But yet you don't and that's what's so cool
You don't say too much, but when you do, it's profound
In the street, you hold your head high
At home, you get low down for me
(Can't get no lower, can't get no lower, can't get no lower, yeah)
Oh, you're the anchor that holds me down
When my ship is sinking, you won't let me drown, ah-ah-ah-ah
Sad, but one day our kids will have to visit museums
To see what a lady looks like

[Chorus: André 3000]
Behold (So if you find one, I beg you, hold her tight)
A lady (Yes, if you spot one, good sir, treat her right)
I see you standing on the wall (Benjamin André, signing off)
Clap, clap, you deserve it all (Thanks a million)
(Good luck and goodnight)
Behold
A lady
I see you standing on the wall
Clap, clap, you deserve it all
Behold
A lady
I see you standing on the wall
Clap, clap, you deserve it all
Behold
A lady
I see you standing on the wall

Atlanta, Georgia natives André “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton are OutKast, one of the most successful rap groups of all time. Along with the production crew Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family collective, André and Big Boi helped popularize and expand the sound of rap in the “Dirty South.”

The duo connected at Tri-Cities High School and after the names “2 Shades Deep” or “The Misfits” didn’t work out, they went with OutKast as a synonym of “misfit.” They signed to LaFace Records in 1992 prior to finishing high school and their first official appearance came on a remix to TLC’s hit single “What About Your Friends.” This led into their debut single “Player’s Ball” being released in 1993 and their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik following in 1994. They had a pivotal moment early in their career as they were named New Artist of the Year at the 1995 Source Awards, leading them to be booed by the New York crowd and André responding with his iconic “The South got somethin' to say.”

Their next two albums, ATLiens (1996) and Aquemini (1998), have sparked debates as to which album is superior. ATLiens saw the duo begin to produce their own music and increase their profile while Aquemini received a perfect “5 Mic” rating from The Source magazine. Their next album, Stankonia (2000), further solidified their superstar status with the hit singles “B.O.B.,” “So Fresh, So Clean” and “Ms. Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group while Stankonia won a Grammy in the Best Rap Album category.

more tracks from the album

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From the albums

Speakerboxxx / The Love Below (2003)
The Love Below (2003)

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