Nothing Lasts Forever

J. Cole · Other Songs - J. Cole

[Hook]

I tried, you tried, we tried

All of the times that we had together

We should've known nothing lasts forever

[repeat]



[Verse 1]

When this sh*t end, man it's gon' get ugly

Real real ugly, your grandmama love me

And your mama love me, little sister hugs me

Even got a few homegirls that wanna f*ck me

Soon as this sh*t end, forget about it

You been stayin' in my crib, you gotta get about it

Cause if you layin' in my bed, let's admit about it

One time f*ckin' and we no longer upset about it

Cause when this sh*t ends it's either all or nothin'

I thought you loved me, how the hell you gon' call yo cousin?

You know the diesel ass, half slow, evil ass

N*gga in that Honda showin' up with that drama

On my mama, we been through it all

From the goods to the bads, rise to the fall

You done seen me at my best, seen me at my worst

So when this sh*t ends, know it's gon' hurt



[Hook]

(You can't say we didn't try, you can't say we didn't try)

I tried, you tried, we tried

All of the times that we had together

We should've known nothing lasts forever

[repeat]



[Verse 2]

They say we won't last

I know you suspicious, but you don't ask

And I don't tell, that's where we both fell

A good n*gga gone bad

Good chick a lil mad as f*ck, she done had enough

I be, out here tryna raise my status up

But success bring b*tches, and they bad as f*ck

Ass fat as f*ck, with a little ol' waist

I ain't want the whole meal, just a little ol' taste

Should have looked both ways 'fore I crossed you

I guess I never thought I could have ever have lost you

Now I'm out stuntin' with this b*tch, you ain't about nothin'

While some n*gga learnin' all the sh*t I taught you

Damn, guess you deserve that, a new start

But deep down you know we grew apart

Long before I broke your heart, if I lost your respect

I'm just hopin' you don't look at me as somethin' you regret



[Hook]

(You can't say we didn't try, you can't say we didn't try)

I tried, you tried, we tried

All of the times that we had together

We should've known nothing lasts forever

[repeat]



[Verse 3]

I got your message I been meanin' to respond, know it's been awhile

Apologies, I ain't been around

I wanna kick it, but I know that sh*t is different now

And times have changed

Let me know if I'm out of bounds, are the lines the same?

I mean ya, lookin' good, yeah you still got it

Been reminiscin' and I'm not sure how I feel about it

Now we can say that all good things come to an end

But we know each other way too well to pretend

We went from friends to somethin' much more

To breakin' up to makin' up and f*ckin' once more

Second chances, we gave enough to finally

We gave it up, but some days I be wakin' up and wantin' one more

But what for? Maybe it's just the weather

We break each others hearts, so maybe it's for the better

Holler whenever, cause you always got a friend in me

And nothin' lasts forever, least we got these memories



[Hook]

(You can't say we didn't try, you can't say we didn't try)

I tried, you tried, we tried

All of the times that we had together

We should've known nothing lasts forever

[repeat]

Nothing Lasts Forever

J. Cole's 'Nothing Lasts Forever' stands as a defining track from his 2011 debut album, Other Songs. The song exemplifies the artist's signature blend of introspective lyricism and melodic hip-hop, exploring themes of impermanence and the fleeting nature of relationships. Recorded during Cole's early career, the track showcases his ability to weave personal narrative with broader social commentary, a hallmark of his discography. With its smooth production and reflective tone, the recording helped establish Cole as a serious voice in contemporary rap, influencing a generation of artists who prioritize lyrical depth alongside melodic flow. The song remains a staple in discussions about early 2010s hip-hop and Cole's evolution as a songwriter.