Song
TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY
"ALRIGHT"

Directions: Using your song lyrics, answer the following. Cite evidence from the text. In MLA format, when citing song
lyrics within the text of your paper, you typically include the artist's name and the page number where the lyrics can be
found in the source. Here's an example: According to John Lennon, "Imagine there's no heaven" (8).

1. Question: Explore the repeated phrase "N**** we gon' be alright" in the chorus. How
does Kendrick Lamar use this refrain to convey a message of hope and resilience?

2. Question: Analyze the lines, "What you want, a house or a car? 40 acres and a mule, a
piano, a guitar." How does Kendrick Lamar use these images to comment on societal
aspirations and the African American experience?

3. Question: Explore the theme of duality in the lines. "I can see the evil, I can tell it I know
when it's illegal. I don't think about it, I deposit every other zero." How does Kendrick
Lamar navigate the complexities of morality and success in these verses?

4. Question: Discuss the significance of the lines, "Lovin' me is complicated. Too afraid, a
lot of changes." How do these lyrics contribute to the exploration of personal struggles
and self-reflection in the song?

5. Question: Examine the reference to "the evils of Lucy" in the verse. What symbolic
meaning does Lucy hold in Kendrick Lamar's narrative, and how does this contribute to
the overall message of the song?