Take a Minute

And any man who knows a thing Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all And every time I felt the hurtin' I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way? How did Gandhi ever withstand the hunger-strikes and all? Didn't do it to gain power or money if I recall It's the gift, I guess I'll pass it on, mother thinks it'll lift the stress of Babylon Mother knows, my mother she suffered blows I don't know how we survived such violent episodes I was so worried, it hurt to see you bleed But as soon as you came out the hospital you gave me sweets, yeah They tried to take you from me But you still only gave 'em some prayers and sympathy Dear Mama, you helped me write this By showing me to give is priceless And any man who knows a thing Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all And every time I felt the hurtin' I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe All I can say is, the worst is over now We can serve the hard times, divorce it's over now They try to keep us out, but they doors is open now My nigga Akon is gettin' awards and covers now This is K'naan, and still reppin' the S Comin' out of Mogadishu and still draped in the mess And no matter how we strong homie It ain't easy comin' out of where we from homie And it's the reason why I can never play phoney "Tell 'em the truth" is what my dead homies told me, ooh yeah I take inspiration from the most heinous of situations Creatin' medication out my own tribulations Dear Africa, you helped me write this By showin' me to give is priceless And any man who knows a thing Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all And every time I felt the hurtin' I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe Nothin' is perfect man, that's what the world is All I know is I'm enjoyin' today You know 'Cause it ain't every day that you get to give And any man who knows a thing Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all And every time I felt the hurtin' I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe (Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah) I ain't got nothing to complain about (Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah) You know where I'm from, and you know where I'm at, so I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride (I'm flying high) I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe (yeah yeah yeah) I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride (peace) I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe (yeah yeah yeah)