[Intro – Jon Batiste / Gospel Choir Loop] (Batiste riffing on organ, soft choir behind him) 🎶 Claiborne Avenue, où le ciel descend, (Claiborne Avenue, where heaven comes down) 🎶 (Batiste laughs) Y’all ready? Let the brother testify. (Beat drops — crisp 808s and brass punch in.) ⸻ [Verse 1 – Lil Wayne] Yeah, I woke up in heaven, it had second-line drums, Angels playin’ trumpets, tatted with slums. I said, “God, where you at?” He said, “Right where you from.” So I kissed the ground, that’s holy gumbo, son. I got halos on my chains, faith in my veins, Turnin’ raindrops to champagne pains. Every loss taught me gain, every scar my design — Even the devil couldn’t block my shine. Lightin’ candles on the dash, prayin’ in codeine, Talkin’ to ghosts while I’m gettin’ that green. They say heaven’s on high — nah, it’s right here, On Claiborne, with a trumpet and a tear. ⸻ [Hook – Choir + Jon Batiste] 🎶 Heaven on Claiborne, yeah, we home again, Angels wear Jordans, pray with a grin. If the world flood twice, we gon’ float in time, Turn water to rhythm, pain to rhyme. 🎶 (Jon on piano, lightly singing “mmm… it’s heaven, baby.”) ⸻ [Verse 2 – Lil Wayne] I’m from where the saints march slow but the shots go quick, Where the preacher got bars, and the hustlers slick. Mama said “Boy, don’t you lose your soul,” So I sold my pain, bought joy in gold. Smoke risin’ like incense, holy on the low, God in the trumpet, devil in the flow. They said “You changed,” I said “You right — I evolved.” From the flood to the fame, from the loss to resolve. I’m blessed and I know it, the proof’s in the sound, Wherever I go, New Orleans the ground. They can take the stage, they can flood the block — But they can’t wash away that second line walk. ⸻ [Bridge – Jon Batiste & Choir (harmonizing with brass)] 🎶 Bon Dieu, bon cœur, We turn hurt into fleur. 🎶 (Batiste shouts softly over the beat) That’s right — even the broken glow in the Crescent light! ⸻ [Final Verse – Lil Wayne Freestyle Energy] Life’s a solo on a trumpet bent, A parade that ain’t payin’ rent. But I still tip joy, even when I’m spent — ‘Cause faith ain’t free, it’s heaven-sent. My crown ain’t gold, it’s my word and my rhythm, My church got 808s — yeah, I pray with ‘em. If love the law, I’m plead the fifth, And testify on every riff. ⸻ [Outro – Batiste & Wayne Together / Spoken Over Fade-Out] (Batiste playing soulful piano runs) Wayne: They said heaven was up. I said, nah… it’s right here, on the avenue. Batiste (softly): Le soleil se lève encore, even when the world sleepin’. Wayne: Believe that. Young Money. Old Soul. (Trumpet fades. Choir hums. A baby laughs somewhere — then silence.)

Bonus: Heaven on Claiborne