Around the time that Late Registration came out, Kanye West’s grandmother had a near death experience.

This song samples “Rosie” by Bill Withers[Produced by Kanye West and Jon Brion]

[Verse 1: Kanye West]

I know it's past visitin' hours

But can I please give her these flowers?

The doctor don't wanna take procedures

He claim her heart can't take the anesthesia

It'll send her body into a seizure

That lil' thing by the hospital bed, it'll stop beepin'

Hey, chick, I'm at a loss for words

What do you say at this time? Remember when I was nine?

Tell her everything gon' be fine, but I be lyin'

Her family cryin', they want her to live, and she tryin'

I'm arguin', like, "What kind of doctor can we fly in?"

You know the best medicine go to people that's paid

If Magic Johnson got a cure for AIDS

And all the broke motherfuckers passed away

You tellin' me if my grandma's in the NBA

Right now, she'd be okay?

But since she was just a secretary

Working for the church for 35 years

Things 'sposed to stop right here?

My grandfather tryin' to pull it together, he strong

That's where I get my confidence from

I asked the nurse, "Did you do the research?"

She asked me, "Can you sign some t-shirts?"

"Bitch, is you smokin' reefer?

You don't see that we hurt?" But still–

[Hook: Bill Withers & Tony Williams]

I smile

When roses come to see me

And I can't wait for a sunny day (Seeing it through your eyes)

Can't wait for the clouds to break

[Verse 2: Kanye West]

They outside of the emergency room, room

You can feel my heartbeat, beat, beat

If she gon' pull through, we gon' find out soon

But right now, she 'sleep, sleep, sleep

My momma say they say she could pass away any day

Hey, chick, what these doctors know anyway?

Let me see the X-rays, I ain't no expert, I'm just hurt

Cousin Kim took off of work

Plus, my Aunt Shirley, Aunt Beverly, Aunt Klaye and Aunt Jean

So many aunties we could have an Auntie Team

Feel like Amerie, it's this "1 Thing"

When they said that she made it, you see they eyes gleam

I think we at an all-time high

To get there, we run, we fly, we drive

'Cause with my family, we know where home is

So instead of sending flowers, we the roses

[Hook: Bill Withers & Tony Williams]

I smile

When roses come to see me

And I can't wait for a sunny day (Seeing it through your eyes)

Can't wait for the clouds to break

[Break: Bill Withers & Patti LaBelle]

'Cause Rosie brings the sunshine (Oh)

[Hook: Bill Withers, Tony Williams, Patti LaBelle]

I smile (Oh-oh-ah)

When roses come to see me (Come to-come away)

And I can't wait for a sunny day (I can't wait to-ah, seeing it through your eyes)

Can't wait for the clouds to break (Your eyes, for the clouds to break, oh)

[Hook: Bill Withers & Patti LaBelle]

I smile

When Rosie comes to see me

And I'm sad when Rosie goes away

'Cause Rosie brings the sunshine (Say)

[Outro: Patti LaBelle]

Can't wait, I can't wait, no

Can't wait, I can't wait, no

Can't wait, I can't wait

No, can't wait for

For a sunny day

Say "Momma can't wait

For the clouds to break"

Mm, mm, mm, mm-mm, mm-mm

Oh-oh-oh-oh, no, no, say (Woah, say)

Tellin' you the truth now

Said I can't wait, uh-uh

I won't wait, oh no