[Chorus: T-Boz, Chilli & Jennifer Hudson]

Even though I—

On my way, on my way, on my way down

On my way, on my way, on my way down

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

[Verse 1: J. Cole]

They tell me I should fix my grill 'cause I got money now

I ain't gon' sit around and front like I ain't thought about it

A perfect smile is more appealing, but it's funny how

My shit is crooked—look at how far I done got without it!

I keep my twisted grill, just to show the kids it's real

We ain't picture perfect, but we worth the picture still

I got smart, I got rich and I got bitches still

And they all look like my eyebrows: thick as hell

Love yourself, girl, or nobody will

Though you a woman I don't know how you deal

With all the pressure to look impressive and go out in heels

I feel for you, killin' yourself to find a man that'll kill for you

You wake up, put makeup on

Stare in the mirror, but it's clear that you can't face what's wrong

No need to fix what God already put his paintbrush on

Your roommate yelling, "Why you gotta take so long?!"

What it's like to have a crooked smile

[Chorus: T-Boz, Chilli & Jennifer Hudson (J. Cole)]

Even though I—

On my way, on my way, on my way down

On my way, on my way, on my way down (This crooked smile)

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round (Yeah)

[Verse 2: J. Cole]

To all the women with the flaws, know it's hard, my darling

You wonder why you're lonely and your man's not calling

You keep falling victim 'cause you're insecure

And when I tell you that you're beautiful, you can't be sure

'Cause he don't seem to want you back and it's got you askin'

So all you see is what you lackin', not what you packin'

Take it from a man that loves what you got

And baby girl, you a star, don't let 'em tell you you're not

Now is it real? Eyebrows, fingernails, hair

Is it real? If it's not, girl, you don't care

'Cause what's real is somethin' that the eyes can't see

That the hands can't touch, that them broads can't be

And that's you, never let 'em see your frown

And if you need a friend to pick you up, I'll be around

And we can ride with the windows down, the music loud

I can tell you ain't laughed in a while

But I wanna see that crooked smile

[Chorus: T-Boz, Chilli & Jennifer Hudson]

Even though I—

On my way, on my way, on my way down

On my way, on my way, on my way down

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

[Post-Chorus: J. Cole T-Boz & Chilli]

We got the crooked smile, we can style on 'em

Back round, crooked smile, we can style on 'em

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

[Verse 3: J. Cole]

We don't look nothin' like the people on the screen

You know, the movie stars, picture perfect beauty queens

But we got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em

Look at the nation

That's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten

Seem like half the race is either on probation or in jail

Wonder why we inhale, 'cause we in Hell already

I ask: If my skin pale, would I then sell like Eminem or Adele?

But one more time for the 'Ville

And fuck all of that beef shit, nigga, let's make a mil'

Hey officer man, we don't want nobody gettin' killed

Just open up that cell, let my brother outta jail

I got money for the bail now, and well now

If you askin' will I tell now—ayy, hell nah

I ain't snitchin' 'cause, man, they get them niggas stitches now

If you was around then you wouldn't need a witness now

How you like this crooked smile?

[Chorus: T-Boz, Chilli & Jennifer Hudson (J. Cole)]

Even though I—

On my way, on my way, on my way down

On my way, on my way, on my way down (That crooked smile)

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

[Post-Chorus: J. Cole T-Boz & Chilli]

We got the crooked smile, we can style on 'em

Back round, crooked smile, we can style on 'em

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

[Ad-Libs: Choir]

[Outro: Choir]

La la la, la la la, la-la—la—la

La la la, la la la, la-la—la—la

La la la, la la la, la-la—la—la

La la la, la la la, la-la—la—la

On my way, on my way, on my way down

On my way, on my way, on my way down

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

Back round

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

Back round

You were the one that was tryna keep me way down

But like the sun, know you know I find my way back round

Round

[Music Video]