Cover art for The Root by D’Angelo

The Root

D’Angelo
Track 8 on Voodoo 

Produced by

Jan. 25, 20001 viewer24.2K views

The Root Lyrics

[Intro]
(Talk to y'all, tell you a story, namsayin?)
(One, two, three, four)

[Verse 1]
She done worked a root, ooh-ooh
Done worked a root that will not be reversed

Yeah, no
Then I'll go on, go on
Go on my role in her play with no rehearsal, yeah

[Verse 2]
Said I left my mojo (Mojo)
Left my mojo in my favorite suit, huh
Yes I did, yeah
She left a stain
Left a dirty stain in my heart I can't refute
No, I can't, no, I can't

[Chorus]
She done worked a root, mm-mm
In the name of love and war (In the name of love) took my shield and sword (And sword)
From the pit of the bottom (Bottom), that knows no floor (Oh-oh-oh)
Like the rain to the dirt (Ah), from the vine to the wine (From the vine to the wine)
From the Alpha creation (Oh), 'til the end all time
Yeah, 'til the end of all time

[Verse 3]
Said I went, I said I went to the doctor (Said I went to the doctor, no, no, no)
The man told me there ain't nothin' wrong (Yeah, nothing wrong, yeah)
I said but I beg to differ (Huh)
I've been feelin' this pain for much too long (I've been feelin' pain much too long)
Oh, yeah (Oh)

[Verse 4]
(Thinkin' that my soul is empty)
I feel like my soul is empty
My blood is cold and I can't feel my legs (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
I need someone to hold me, hold on
Bring me back to life before I'm dead (Bring me back 'fore I'm dead)
Oh, yeah

[Chorus]
She done worked a root, doo-doo
In the name of love and war, took my shield and sword
From the pit of the bottom (Huh), that knows no floor
Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine
From the Alpha creation 'til the end all time

[Interlude]
Yeah
Oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh (Oh)
Oh-oh
Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh
[Verse 5]
I feel my soul is empty (My soul is empty)
My blood is cold and I can't feel my legs (And my blood is cold, yeah)
And I need, yeah
Need someone to hold me
Bring me back to life (Life) before I'm dead (Dead), dead (Yeah)

[Chorus]
She done worked a root, doo-doo (Yeah)
In the name of love and war (Yeah), took my shield and sword (Mm, yeah)
From the pit of the bottom (Yeah, yeah, oh), that knows no floor (Knows no floor)
Like the rain to the dirt (Yeah), from the vine to the wine (Vine)
From the Alpha creation (Yeah) 'til the—
In the name of love and war (War, war), took my shield and sword (Oh)
From the pit of the bottom (Pit of the bottom, yeah), that knows no floor (Oh, no)
Like the rain to the dirt (Oh, yeah), from the vine to the wine (Wine)
From the Alpha creation (Oh) 'til the— (Yeah, yeah)
In the name of love and war, took my shield and sword (Took the shield and sword)
From the pit of the bottom (Bottom, yeah), that knows no floor (That knows no floor)
Like the rain to the dirt (Rain, yeah), from the vine to the wine (Ah, ah)
From the Alpha creation 'til the— (Wine, wine, wine, wine)
In the name of love and war (Yeah, yeah), took my shield and sword (Oh, yeah, yeah)
From the pit of the bottom (Baby), that knows no floor (Oh, ah)
Like the rain to the dirt (Ah), from the vine to the wine (Wine)
From the Alpha creation (Oh-oh-oh) 'til the— (Yeah, yeah, oh)
In the name of love and war (In the name of love), took my shield and sword (Took shield and sword)
From the pit of the bottom (From the bottom, yeah), that knows no floor (Oh, oh, oh)
Like the rain to the dirt (Yeah), from the vine to the wine (Wine)
From the Alpha creation (Ah) 'til the end all time
Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine
From the Alpha creation 'til the ​end all time

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Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did D'Angelo say about "The Root"?
Genius Answer

It was kinda therapeutic for me to do this song. It kinda help me get over, because I’m so pathetic in the song. You know what I mean? That’s what ‘The Root’ is. She got it on me. And I’m just fucked up. It was good for me to get over that. It was hard for me sometimes to do that song. To record it, because when doing it I would have to put myself in that mode you know.

What did Russell Elevado say about the track?
Verified Commentary
Russell Elevado
via NPR
Genius Answer

“The Root” has sort of a Jimi Hendrix guitar lick, but it also reminds you of Curtis Mayfield — so, blending this psychedelic rock thing on top of funk-soul.

Is there a live performance of the track?
Genius Answer

Yes!

What other songs sample "The Root"?
What did Questlove say about this song?
Credits
Produced By
Instrumentation
Performance Rights
Copyright ©
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Arranger
Vocal Arranger
Mixing Engineer
Recording Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Recorded At
Electric Lady Studios (New York City)
Release Date
January 25, 2000
Songs That Sample The Root
The Root Live Performances
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