Hook
Come on everybody sit down
People wanna act like they are in and out
Well I'm here to wipe off your smile
And tell you what's the word around town
I know you don't wanna hear the truth
I know you hate the fact that I actually have the proof
But I just need you to believe
I'm talking the good, the bad, the ugly
Verse 1
Remember back in '02
When I was in school and actin' a fool
My soul got saved, my debt had been paid
But still I kept running off on my crew
Sex on my brain, and death in my veins
Had a main thing, we stayed up 'til 2 (Smoke!)
Waking and thinking we naked, my body was loving it
Soul was hating it, man
Time and time after time, our bodies were close
The girl was so fine
Heard a heart beat that wasn't hers or mine
The miracle of life had started inside
Ignored the warning signs
Supressed that truth I felt inside
I was just having fun with this, I'm too young for this
I'm thinking me, myself, and I
Should I sacrifice this life to keep my vanity and live nice?
And she love and trust me so much that whatever I say, she'd probably oblige
But I was too selfish with my time
Scared my dreams were not gonna serve
So I dropped her off at that clinic
That day, a part of us died
Hook
Verse 2
I remember back in the day
I was barely in the first grade
Got teeth missing, watching Tom & Jerry
Tryna go outside so I could play
I was told to watch out for strangers
Keep my eyes out for danger
Folks workin' late, I had a babysitter
I ain't 'bout to sit here and name her
I was almost 8, when she came in late
Woke me up with a game to play
Did a few things that's hard to say
Told me to keep that secret safe
How a young boy supposed to deal
I'm tryna act like it ain't real
Had my innocence just stripped from me
I still don't know how to feel
And I'm wondering how to address it
Can't tell my family, too messy
So I just embrace it, it's hard to face it
I'm too ashamed to confess it
So I kept it in and ain't speak
Can't think, it hit me so deep
So into it, I got promiscuous
And only God can help me get free
But I've been forgiven, my Savior risen
I'm out the prison, I know that
I got the power to say to no to all of my struggles
God will control that
Every time we slip and we fall
Gotta get back up and fight on
We are not defined by our past
The future look bright, I see the light on
Hook
It's like people don't wanna hear the truth
Good, Bad, Ugly
Good, Bad, Ugly Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Released on September 10, 2014, Lecrae's song "Good, Bad, Ugly" presents an unflinching exploration of personal brokenness and the struggle with hidden sin. It quickly became a focal point of the album *Anomaly*, not for its catchy hooks, but for its raw, almost jarring honesty. The song functions as a confessional booth, where the artist lays bare the parts of himself he’d rather keep hidden – not just past mistakes, but the ingrained flaws and ongoing battles that comprise the less-than-presentable aspects of human nature. It’s a vulnerable admission of the internal conflict between the desire to appear righteous and the reality of deep-seated imperfections, a stark contrast to curated self-images.
The narrative woven throughout the song is one of stripping away pretense before a holy God who sees everything anyway. It grapples with the shame and fear associated with past failures and present struggles, acknowledging the temptation to keep secrets locked away. This act of bringing the "good, bad, and ugly" to light isn't done for the benefit of other people, but as a necessary step in relationship with the Divine. It speaks to the internal turmoil of knowing you are known by God, yet still wrestling with the impulse to hide the parts you judge most harshly yourself. The song courageously steps into that tension, choosing the path of transparency, not because it's easy, but because it's the only way to find true freedom.
This theme of divine knowledge and the necessity of revealing hidden aspects of ourselves is profoundly scriptural. Psalm 139 paints a powerful picture of a God who knows us completely, from our innermost thoughts to our every movement, understanding our frame and being present in every corner of our existence. Verses like Hebrews 4:13 echo this, stating that "nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight; everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." The song connects with this truth, suggesting that the effort to conceal our flaws from God is futile. The real work is not in hiding, but in acknowledging that He already knows and choosing to align ourselves with that reality by confessing.
The true power of the song, and its deeply biblical core, lies in the response sought from God. It's not an expectation of judgment or rejection, but an appeal for grace and acceptance despite the revealed mess. This aligns perfectly with the promise found in 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to purify us from all unrighteousness." The song embodies the spirit of Psalm 32, which describes the misery of unconfessed sin and the blessedness that comes when guilt is admitted and forgiven. Isaiah 1:18 offers that incredible assurance that even if our sins are like scarlet, they can be made as white as snow through divine cleansing. By bringing the "ugly" parts to God, the song points to the miraculous possibility of forgiveness and transformation offered through Christ's redemption, as highlighted in Ephesians 1:7. It is in this divine act of forgiveness that the ultimate freedom from shame and condemnation (Romans 8:1) is found.
For anyone who has ever wrestled with shame, regret, or the fear that certain parts of their past or present are too dark for God's love, this song serves as a powerful invitation. It encourages stepping out of the shadows of secrecy and into the light of God's presence, not because we have become perfect, but because He is perfectly gracious. It reminds us that God’s acceptance is not based on our ability to clean ourselves up, but on His complete knowledge of us and His unwavering love demonstrated on the cross. The song doesn't offer platitudes; it offers the challenging but liberating truth that bringing your whole self – the good, the bad, and the ugly – before God is the path to genuine peace and the only way to fully experience the purifying power of His grace.
