When "Be Alive" first dropped, it didn't just play over the end credits of King Richard. It demanded attention. You’ve probably heard it—that driving beat, the swell of the orchestral strings, and Beyoncé’s voice hitting that gritty, soulful register. It’s a lot. Honestly, the Be Alive lyrics are doing more heavy lifting than your average soundtrack filler. They aren't just about tennis or the Williams sisters' rise to fame; they are a direct, unapologetic celebration of Black excellence and the sheer physical cost of survival.
It feels personal.
The song was nominated for an Academy Award for a reason. Written alongside DIXSON, the track taps into a specific kind of pride. Beyoncé doesn't do "quiet" very well when it involves her heritage. She goes big. If you look closely at the words, you see a narrative about lineage, grit, and the refusal to be erased.
The Raw Power Behind the Be Alive Lyrics
Let’s talk about that opening. "It feels so good to be alive." It sounds simple, right? Maybe even a bit cliché on paper. But in the context of the song, it’s a radical statement. It’s not just about breathing. It’s about thriving in a world that often makes it difficult to do so. Beyoncé leans into the "we" throughout the track. It’s never just about her. It’s about the collective.
The lyrics mention having "pride in my people" and "glory in my soul." This isn't just fluff. When she sings about the struggle, she’s referencing the specific journey of Venus and Serena Williams, but also the broader Black experience. The grit is baked into the phonics of the song. You can hear the gravel in her voice.
It’s messy. It’s loud.
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The Significance of the "Blackest" Line
One of the most discussed parts of the Be Alive lyrics is the repetition of the word "black." She sings, "It feels so good to be alive, got all my family by my side, couldn't wipe this Black off if I tried." That isn't just a clever rhyme. It’s a shield. In a film like King Richard, which depicts the intense scrutiny and racism the Williams family faced while breaking into the lily-white world of professional tennis, these lyrics act as a historical stamp.
She isn't interested in "colorblind" success. She wants the world to see the color and the culture that fueled the win.
Why DIXSON and Beyoncé Make Sense Together
DIXSON, the Roc Nation artist who co-wrote and co-produced the track, told Variety that the song happened because Beyoncé saw the movie and felt moved. It wasn't a corporate mandate. He mentioned that they wanted the song to feel like a "heartbeat." If you listen to the percussion, it has that steady, thumping rhythm. It feels like someone running. Or someone fighting.
The collaboration worked because both artists value vocal layers. If you strip away the instruments, the vocal arrangement is a choir of Beyoncés. It creates this wall of sound that feels like a community standing behind her.
A Departure from "Spirit"
Unlike "Spirit" from The Lion King, which felt very ethereal and cinematic, the Be Alive lyrics are grounded. They feel like they belong on the pavement of Compton. There’s a line about "hustle" and "muscle" that feels very blue-collar. It’s a sports anthem, but it’s also a kitchen-table anthem. It’s the music you play when you’ve been working a twelve-hour shift and you finally get home to see your kids.
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The Cultural Impact of the Performance
Remember the 94th Academy Awards? Beyoncé performed this song from the tennis courts in Compton where the Williams sisters actually practiced. Everyone was wearing "S tennis ball" yellow. The visual of that performance gave the lyrics a physical location.
When she sang "it feels so good to be alive" while standing on the cracked pavement of a public park, the meaning shifted. It became about place. It became about where you start versus where you finish.
People often forget how much the environment impacts the art. Beyoncé’s choice to use the L.A. Philharmonic’s youth program for that performance wasn't accidental. It was a literal manifestation of the "family" and "people" she mentions in the song.
Breaking Down the Bridge
The bridge of "Be Alive" is where things get intense. The vocals climb higher and higher.
- The focus shifts to "blood, sweat, and tears."
- There's a mention of the "marathon" (shout out to Nipsey Hussle).
- The emphasis on "winning" is framed as a necessity, not a luxury.
It’s exhausting just listening to it. But that’s the point. You aren't supposed to feel relaxed. You’re supposed to feel energized. The lyrics don't shy away from the fact that being "alive" in this way requires a massive amount of internal strength.
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What Most People Miss About the "Be Alive" Message
There’s a subtle defiance in the phrasing. While many pop songs about "making it" focus on the individual's ego, Beyoncé focuses on the "tribe."
"I got my sisters by my side."
In the film, Richard Williams is the central figure, but the song refocuses the narrative back onto the girls and their mother, Oracene Price. It acknowledges the support system. Without the family, the "life" she’s celebrating doesn't exist. It’s a counter-narrative to the "self-made man" myth. Nobody makes it alone.
Practical Ways to Connect with the Song
If you’re looking to really "use" this song in your life, don't just put it on a workout playlist. It’s a mindset shift.
- Read the full transcript of the lyrics without the music once. Notice the repetition. It’s almost like a mantra.
- Watch the King Richard ending to see how the song interacts with the real-life footage of Venus and Serena. The juxtaposition is where the magic happens.
- Analyze the vocal production. If you’re a musician, look at how DIXSON uses the lower frequencies to ground Beyoncé’s higher riffs. It’s a masterclass in balance.
The Be Alive lyrics stand as a modern hymn. They capture a moment in time where Black joy is viewed as an act of resistance. It’s not just a song for a movie; it’s a song for anyone who has had to fight twice as hard to get half as far.
To truly appreciate the track, you have to acknowledge the weight of the history it carries. From the tennis courts of Compton to the stage of the Oscars, the journey of this song mirrors the journey of the women it was written for. It’s loud, it’s proud, and it’s unapologetically Black. That is why it remains a staple in Beyoncé’s catalog of empowerment anthems.
Actionable Steps for Music Fans:
- Deep Listen: Use high-quality headphones to catch the subtle "un-produced" vocal breaths in the bridge; they were kept in to make the track feel more human and "alive."
- Contextualize: Re-watch the final 10 minutes of King Richard. The song begins exactly as the real-life footage of Venus Williams at the 1994 Bank of the West Classic starts, bridging the gap between cinema and history.
- Lyric Analysis: Contrast these lyrics with "Black Parade." You’ll see a direct evolution in how Beyoncé utilizes her heritage as a central theme in her songwriting, moving from global African roots to the specific American "hustle."