My Culture

When I look back over the years At the things that brought tears to my eyes Papa said we have to be wise To live long lives, now I recognize What my father said before he died Vocalize things I've left unsaid Left my spirit unfed for too long I'm coming home to my family Where I can be strong Be who I planned to be Within me my ancestry Givin' me continuity Would it be remiss to continue in this way Would you rather, I quit Come with the other shit Making people's hips sway Lip service I pay but I'm nervous I pray for all the mothers who get no sleep Like a lifeline, I light lines 'Cause my compassion is deep For the people who fashioned me my soul to keep And this is who I happen to be And if I don't see that I'm strong then I won't be This is what my daddy told me I wished he would hold me a little more than he did But he taught me my culture And how to live positive I never wanna shame The blood in my veins and bring pain To my sweet grandfathers face In his resting place I make haste to learn and not waste Everything my forefathers earned in tears For my culture Fall back again Crawl from the warm water For my culture Water to air, you're on your feet again Your feet again Hello dad, remember me? I'm the man you thought I'd never be I'm the boy who you reduced to tears Dad, I'd been lonely for 27 years Yeah, that's right my names Bob I'm the one who landed the popstars job I'm the one who you told, look, don't touch And the kid who wouldn't amount to much I believe in the senses out of so