The a capella “raindrops (an angel cried)” is the introduction to 

Ariana Grande’s fourth studio

album, Sweetener. This song is a cover of The Four Seasons' “An Angel Cried.”

The song was first teased in her “No Tears Left To Cry” music video and was hinted again in
the “No Tears Left To Cry (BTS – Part 2)” video.

The song was later confirmed by Ariana during her appearance on The Tonight Show with
Jimmy Fallon on May 2, 2018.

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Track 3 On
Sweetener (Japanese Import)
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the light is coming

Ariana Grande
“the light is coming,” a promotional single from Ariana Grande’s fourth studio album
Sweetener, is about relying on positivity to get you through hard times. Before
its… Read More 
Featuring
Nicki Minaj
Produced by
Pharrell Williams
Release Date
June 20, 2018
View All Credits 
1834.6K157146
[Intro]
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—

[Verse 1: Nicki Minaj]

Ayo, trophy wife, out, you won me
Until you had to find out it's one me
No-now you benched, aww, your bum knee
Now I'm the bad guy, call me Chun-Li (Ooh)
'Cause you was slippin', yep, you clumsy
And everything I peeped, can't just unsee
Sips tea, and it's unsweet
Re-respect bad gyal when mi done speak (Now, now)
Now he shooting his shot like drive-by
Why-why-why you had to make me go call up my side guy?
Ca-ca-can't let a f-boy eff up my nice vibes
Yo, Ariana, come let me give you a high five

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]

The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
[Verse 2: Ariana Grande]
"What did she say?", "What did he say?"
You don't listen 'cause you know everything
You don't even need dreams
Tellin' everybody, "Stay woke, don't sleep"

[Refrain: Ariana Grande]

Ah, gonna break that shit down
You don't wait, tell 'em wait another round
Ah, guess you're way above it now
And that's your way to love it now

[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]

How can they tell you shit that you've been through?
They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?
If it ain't your view
That's the bottom line
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)
Give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all (Blow it all)
As if it were shade, you would just throw it all (Throw it all)
It's like you're trying not to glow at all (Glow at all)
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]

The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
[Verse 3: Ariana Grande]
Why do we have chemistry? (Ay, yeah)
With a need for speed (Ay, yeah)
Doin' things that trouble clings (Ay, yeah) to
And burns off our wings

[Refrain: Ariana Grande]

Ah, gonna break that shit down (Ay, yeah)
You don't wait, tell 'em wait another round (Ay, yeah)
Ah, guess you're way above it now (Ay, yeah)
And that's your way to love it now

[Pre-Chorus: Ariana Grande]

How can they tell you shit that you've been through?
They are so confused, who cares about their rationale?
If it ain't your view
That's the bottom line
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)
Give you a box of chances, every time you blow it all (Blow it all)
As if it were shade, you would just throw it all (Throw it all)
It's like you're trying not to glow at all (Glow at all)
Know-it-all (Know-it-all)

[Chorus: Ariana Grande]

The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole, stole, st-st-stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and instead—
The light is coming to give back everything the darkness stole
You wouldn't let anybody speak and inst—
146
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About
Genius Annotation
13 contributors

“the light is coming,” a promotional single from Ariana Grande’s fourth studio
album Sweetener, is about relying on positivity to get you through hard times. Before
its official release on June 20th, 2018, Ariana previewed it during her performance
at Wango Tango on June 2nd.

This track was first teased in the music video for “No Tears Left To Cry,” and was
hinted at again in the second part of the behind-the-scenes series. Ariana once
again teased the track at the end of her Billboard Music Award Performance, and on
May 27, 2018, she posted a snippet of the song on social media. Later that day,
Minaj teased the track by tweeting lyrics from her verse. It was teased again when
Ariana posted an Instagram story in which she seemed to be rehearsing for Wango
Tango 2018.

Ariana’s collaboration with Reebok was promoted in the music video, and the video
was even a Reebok.com exclusive for its first 24 hours. This is similar to how Ari’s
campaign with Guess was promoted in the video for “Side to Side.”

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Translations
Genius Answer
5 contributors
 Danish Translation
 Dutch Translation
 French Translation
 Italian Translation
 Norwegian Translation
 Portuguese Translation
+10
What have the artists said about the song?

Verified Commentary
Ariana Grande
via The Fader

That’s what Nicki Minaj does, she elevates a record. If you’re going to have a rapper
on a song, they need to really really really be there for a reason, and she does that
every single time

+94
Had Ariana ever collaborated with Nicki before?
Genius Answer
1 contributor

Yes, this track marks Ariana and Nicki’s fifth song together — the two had previously
collaborated on “Bang Bang," “Get On Your Knees," “Side to Side,” and “Bed,” which
was released six days before “The Light Is Coming.”

+8
Sweetener (Japanese Import) (2018)
Ariana Grande

1. 1.

raindrops (an angel cried)

2. 2.
 blazed

3. 3.

the light is coming

4. 4.

R.E.M.

5. 5.

God is a woman

6. 6.

sweetener

7. 7.

successful

8. 8.

everytime

9. 9.

breathin

10. 10.

no tears left to cry

11. 11.

borderline

12. 12.

better off

13. 13.

goodnight n go

14. 14.

pete davidson
 15. 15.

get well soon

16. 16.

no tears left to cry (Instrumental)

17. 17.

God is a woman (Instrumental)

Credits
Written By
Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj & Ariana Grande
Recordet At
Conway Recording Studios, Chalice Recording Studios, Jungle City
Studios & Glenwood Place Studios
Assistant Recording Engineer
Ben “Bengineer” Sedano, Manny Park, Brendan Morawksi, Kris Crawford, Thomas
Cullison, Jacob Dennis & Ramon Rivas
Studio Personnel
Ben “Bengineer” Sedano, Manny Park, Aubry “Big Juice” Delaine, Jacob
Dennis, Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin, Mike Larson, Brendan Morawksi, Ramon
Rivas, Robin Florent, Scott Desmarais, Kris Crawford & Thomas Cullison
Performance Rights
ASCAP
Publisher
More Water From Nazareth, EMI Music Publishing Group, Universal Music
Group & GrandAriMusic
Main Vocals
Nicki Minaj & Ariana Grande
Video Producer
Nathan Scherrer
Video Editor
Nick Gilberg
Label
Universal Music Group & Republic Records
Phonographic Copyright ℗
Universal Music Group & Republic Records
Copyright ©
Universal Music Group & Republic Records
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Chris Galland, Robin Florent & Scott Desmarais
Programmer
Mike Larson
Editor
Mike Larson
Mixing Engineer
Manny Marroquin
 Video Director
Dave Meyers
Recording Engineer
Mike Larson
Release Date
June 20, 2018
Interpolates
the light is coming (Demo) by Ariana Grande (Ft. Nicki Minaj) & Chun-Li
by Nicki Minaj
Interpolated By
BONEKINHA by Nayan Records
Cover By
The Light is Coming (Instrumental) by Molotov Cocktail Piano & The Light Is Coming
by Sapphire (UK Singer)
Remixed By
The Light (Alternative Version) by Moonlight Records, The light is coming
by GH⏀S✝W⏀⏀D & The Light by Moonlight Records
Performed Live As
the light is coming (live) by Ariana Grande (Ft. Nicki Minaj)
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