I Love You Boy

Yeah

You grew up in an environment that was hostile, it got wild

Arguments you heard as a small child

Had an effect that left you with a lot to undo

Your first words were screaming at your mom sayin', "Fuck you"

Imagine the visual

Diaper on, already dealing with the residual

Effects of an explosive father figure was difficult

Mama was miserable, his love felt conditional

You better be perfect, otherwise he'll be hyper-critical

Belittle you till you nothin', yeah, it hurts to listen

Neither parent knew how to regulate their nervous system

Dad was reactive, Mom was fatalistic

No one to protect you, Grandfather paid a visit

To take you and your siblings and your mama far away

Twenty-nine years later, she regrets that she stayed

You were doomed from the start, you were hurt and ostracized

There's a wound in your heart, survival mode, you're traumatized

For real

I love you, boy

I love you

Run before

They kill you, run

I love you, boy

Run before

They kill you, run

Yeah, the monster you created to protect the kid in you is hard to manage

Supreme confidence, deep crippling-insecurity, the damage that's been done is explicit

An abusive inner critic, nothing that you ever do is really good enough, is it?

You didn't get validation from your dad, so you replaced him with the industry and started to rap

You wanted praise and acknowledgment

Picked a profession that people who look like you don't get

Now the rage of accomplishments being ignored

Authoritative outside force that you, yet again, apparently aren't good enough for

All fueled you, your need to be liked and feel wanted consumed you

That's why you called a chick every night to come to do you

Only to be left feelin' less than before

Didn't have the tools to manage stress, you're at war with yourself, you need love

Drinkin' to forget that bein' you is not enough

Overcompensating in interviews, tryna prove that you're right

Maybe then you'll be liked

Tryna prove you're worthy of approval you weren't shown in your home, I'm sorry that I ever left you all alone

I love you, boy

Sorry

Run before

They kill you, run

I love you, boy

Run before

They kill you, run

Yeah, you deserve a pat on the back and a round of applause

The sound of this song makes you think I'm not proud, but you're wrong

Look how far you took it, international bookings

You gave your family a cushion and through the hate you kept pushin'

Knew you had people lookin' up to you, you held your composure as Hell moved closer

You a soldier, it's a shock that you were ever sober

I never told you how I feel, I apologize

Lotta guys woulda folded, guess I'm not surprised

You prophesized this from the get go

Anything you wanted, went and got it 'cause you said so

Plaques, women fighting over you like Shevchenko

Seven-figure checks, private jets, your best friends know your character, you proved that by sharing ya

Successes and blessings, but when you hurt, we hurt

Breakdowns mean that it's time for a rebirth, so

You carried me as far as you could go

Now it's time to say to goodbye, before I leave, you should know, though, yeah

I love you, boy

Run before

They kill you, run

I love you, boy

Run before

They kill you, run