album cover
Matana Roberts
For They Do Not Know
67
Jazz
For They Do Not Know was released on September 29, 2023 by Constellation as a part of the album Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the garden...
album cover
AlbumCoin Coin Chapter Five: In the garden...
Release DateSeptember 29, 2023
LabelConstellation
LanguageEnglish
Melodicness
Acousticness
Valence
Danceability
Energy
BPM

OVERVIEW

LYRICS

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Matana Roberts
Matana Roberts
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Matana Roberts
Matana Roberts
Songwriter

Lyrics

Even if I explained myself, my reasoning, no one would really
Believe me. His youngest sister, who always seemed to lack basic
Kindness, had turned his entire clan against me by the time I was
Able to pull them apart from some of her sorry gossiping ways
And so once again, I just laid there. I laid there on Dr. O'Hara'
S cold, gray table and wondered, "Does he see me?" Again, gaze so
Absent. Another omission that I seemed only included as minor
Character in yet another oh-so-pious backstory. Though I liked Dr
O'Hara very much, he was always very cheery towards me as a child
But that night... that night, all I saw was his judgment. "Gal
How could you get yourself in such a mare's nest?" he said, as if
I had created some replica of the Virgin Mary's locus on my lonesome
The audacity of these rappels with their dangle between they legs!
My walk-on happened so blindingly fast, I thank God I don't really
Remember how I got from there to here, telling you this old
Somewhat stale tale. But I am here, and at least I know through
The eyes of my great-granddaughter, I am seen and I have been heard
I was not even allowed a burial. Mama straight disowned me
Daddy had me secretly buried near the family plot, hoping that
By the time she would notice, she'd have been too gone to care
My little bits were sent back down to live with they daddy, who in
His own grief, or whatever love he had left for me, disappeared
Never to be seen alive again. They were lovingly taken care of by
Extended family, raised as orphans, but never made to feel as such
Told that I had died in a hard childbirth. Which I suppose is
Somewhat true, only in that what was birthed was my voice and what
Died was my judged silence. Because they didn't know I was electric
Alive, spirited, fire, and free. My spirit overshadowing, my
Dreams too bombastic, my eyes too sparkling, and my back too true
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
My name is your name
Our name is their name
We are named
We remember, they forget
Written by: Matana Roberts

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