Someone I Knew

A young man died today What have we to show? A country split in two A left wing and a joke What remains when we tear away the mask? Who will be around to face the coming task? Never someone I knew How much longer 'til we're through? (Yeah) How much longer 'til we're through? How much longer 'til we're through? (Yeah) How much longer 'til we're through? Hardly show up on time to the party, yes, we the tardiest Never good at chronology, I measure time in memories (memories) Where were you when the towers fell? I was seven Sitting at home, Auntie bust through the door in a frenzy Face in horror shocked, yelling at moms in the kitchen I pretend I wasn't listening but still paying attention Life is a gift and if God wills it, live it Inshallah, we don't face the world with a stigma Where were you when you first held a gun? I was five Playing hide and seek in my parent's room Went under the bed, the perfect spot for me to hide Dark brown mahogany handle on my hand like camouflage Where were you when Michael died? I was 15 The singer I idolized, immortalized in my mind Living with my cousins in a foreign land Sitting in living rooms, wishing my spin move could hang My nose used to look like his Maybe God's a magician and we'd look like twins Maybe one day, I'm taking off the runway And floating with the Sun rays around Though my tongue weighs me down My mind roaming 'cause I'm fly, homie In and out of states, I done spent way too much time zoning I try look up to skies with my eyes open But I'm blindfolded by the lies that they all told me, goddamn! It was someone I knew But he died for me and you How much longer 'til we're through? How much longer 'til we're- How much longer 'til we're- How much longer 'til we're through? Far from religious, close to his intuition Praying for forgiveness from the patron saint of sinners Left hand on the scripture, right hand to the (Heavens) This vision was God-given, it's worked on in the shadows We the '04 Pistons, no stars, just winners No TayShaun's, just princes, kings 'Cause legacy build bridges Tryna be the best man I can, can you Taye Digg it? Not a pawn in no military state prison Paid off piglets Treat men like villains that's based off pigment, gotta be kidding Aww, man, we on wartimes Sometimes I ask myself "Am I an artist or an archive of hard times?" Seen lifelong ties split apart like apartheid, fuck outta here Got me wondering where the light? Ain't no light at the-, ain't no light at the-, nah Fuck a light at the end of the tunnel, homie, I am the light Exposing tarnishing promise, you really ain't half as bright Me and homie ain't that alike, no more vigils by candlelight Seen 'em slipping banana like mission splitting banana like They been tricking us all our life, and I'm moving to get it right, we're through It was someone I knew But he died for me and you How much longer 'til we're through? How much longer 'til we're- How much longer 'til we're- How much longer 'til we're through? Hey, listen everybody This is Phil Ramone, and you're listening to TOBi Welcome to PANIC