Audio clips heard throughout the first half of the song are from Christopher Nolan’s film The Prestige, a movie which Jay often references.

The gorgeous beat following the audio clip is J Dilla’s classic… Read More [Intro]

Executioner: Do you have anything to say?

Alfred Borden: ...Abracadabra

[Verse 1]

Wake up to your grave it's the reminder on the clock

And those fleeting bits of satisfaction, turn to afterthoughts

But if you say the magic word

You could call back all the birds

And see that fire in the sky, burn everything back to life

You don't have to sleep to dream and live in paradise

Abracadabra, are you watchin' closely?

Can you feel the dawn approaching?

[Break]

Jailer: [Mockingly] Why can't you undo real locks, Professor?

Alfred Borden: Maybe I'm just biding my time. Maybe one day I'll open my hand, get your attention, and ask... 'Are you watching closely?' Maybe a magic word or two. And then I'll be... gone

Jailer: [Laughing] How'd you get so famous then, eh?

Alfred Borden: ...Magic

Jailer: Oy! Borden get back here!

Prisoners: [Laugh & applaud]

Alfred Borden: Thank you!

Jailer: Shut up! ...Where's the bloody key?!

[Verse 2]

I overheard niggas saying Jay was on the verge

He could make Rumsfeld resign with rhymes he never heard

Commune with the birds

And can manipulate matter with the usage of words

Throwin' dice on the curb

I'm the best and the freshest with the written text, fuck what you heard

It's the, metaphysical, dolby digital

Any Joe'll tell you, the flow's so pivotal

Every word's literal

Each diatribe is sort of like an interview

Come get an inner view

Right past the man and the myth to the mineral

I was born uptown a mile from the river view

Look, I'm a simple man, ya understand?

Masterin' my temple man, tryin' to expand

But when they think you simple, man

They'll try to play you out like you a simpleton

See what I'm sayin'

Niggas want pain not mercy

I'm writin' in my Moleskine on the train to Canarsie

Stand clear of the closin' doors

The people are in constant fear of a Trojan War

The vehicle that's supposed to free us is just a whore

I gotta call 'em like I see 'em

Even if it means they'll sanction my per diem

The angels will thank me in the streets if I see 'em

Sayin', there he go but I wouldn't wanna be him

Holdin' up a three and reppin' for New Orleans

Let us begin