Will Smith’s Triumphant Return to BET Awards
Will Smith made an impressive return to his musical roots at the BET Awards by unveiling his new song You Can Make It. Accompanied by Fridayy and the Sunday Service Choir, with an appearance by Kirk Franklin.
Smith performed the gospel-infused song about perseverance and faith. Surrounded by flames on stage, he reminded the audience that faith can turn adversity into opportunity.
This return marks his first solo production in more than five years, thus relaunching his musical career after recent collaborations and surprise performances, such as at Coachella with J Balvin.
LYRICS
[Chorus: Fridayy]
Don’t give up on me, I need you to hold on
Know you’re deep up in the storm
But I know you can face it (Face it), ayy
It can get dark on the road and you’re feeling all alone
Don’t lose sight of where you’re going
‘Cause I know you can make it (Can make it), oh, woah
Yeah, I know you can do it, ooh
I know you can do it, yeah
[Verse 1: Will Smith]
You are in the smoke and the fire
Tight rope on the wire
I see you’re broken and tired
And all your hope is expired
You’re just done with the change and the games and the shame
And the world is insane, all the pain from the flames
That you walk through, but no one to talk to
The ghost that’ll haunt you and thoughts that’ll taunt you
Tryna heal, but the battle’s uphill
And if God is for real you just wonder if He’ll listen
So many tests for the flesh
Exhausted, gasping to catch your breath
Walking through the valley of the shadow of death
And when you think you’ve got nothing left, keep going
[Chorus: Fridayy & Sunday Service Choir]
Don’t give up on me, I need you to hold on
Know you’re deep up in the storm
But I know you can face it (Face it), ayy
It can get dark on the road and you’re feeling all alone
Don’t lose sight of where you’re going
‘Cause I know you can do it, oh, woah
Yeah, I know you can make it (You can make it), ooh
I know you can do it, yeah
I know you can face it (You can face it), ooh
Oh, I know you can do it, yeah
[Verse 2: Will Smith]
The darker the hell you gotta endure
The brighter the heaven you get to enjoy
The harder the fall, the higher you soar
God opens a window when the devil closes the door
Believe me, they tried to bleed Will Smith
In the rearview, I see adversity was the gift
To lift me higher gifts requires faith
So dry your eyes and then you’ll find the way
Out of the madness, out of the maze (Oh)
And out of the saddest into the rays (Oh)
The darkest of nights turns into day
And every storm runs out of rain, hold on
[Bridge: Sunday Service Choir & Fridayy]
Don’t give up on me, I need you to hold on
I know you can handle it
Oh oh oh
I know you can do it
I know you can make it (you can make it)
I know you can do it
I know you can face it (You can make it), ooh
I know you can do it, ayy
[Outro: Will Smith]
Nobody gets an easy ride
We all have a cross to bear
But there is wisdom in the fire
And every moment is an opportunity
Embrace the journey
This text presents several elements that can be considered evangelical, including references to God, faith, and perseverance in the face of adversity. Indeed, it explicitly mentions God and uses language that evokes religious and spiritual concepts, such as going through trials (“walking through the valley of the shadow of death”) and keeping faith in better days (“The darker the **** you gotta endure / The brighter the heaven you get to enjoy”).
