Father

I swear to tell the truth and nothin' but the truth

So help me, God

I just felt like tellin' the story of my life

Felt like, maybe somebody could be inspired, you know?

We all feel pain, we all go through things

But it's time to overcome all that

If your plane crashed in the water and everybody died

Would you drown on purpose or try to survive?

I was born handicapped, my arm wouldn't move

They called me a cripple, pops caught an attitude

Beat my moms, smoked lye, drove trucks

My moms had a miscarriage, he didn't give a f-

He sniffed some coke, come home

Beat up on my moms 'cause she's talkin' on the phone, come on

(All I ever wanted) all I ever wanted

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) was a father

(That's all) that's all

(All I ever wanted) all I ever wanted

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) was a father

Moms got tired of the beatings said, "Yo, we got to go"

Packed up her bags, we bounced out the door

She said, "I ain't takin' these whippin's no more

I wanna live to see my little Todd grow"

I remember tear drops on my pop's face

Lookin' down at me, standin' on the staircase

Handsome brother with a smooth goatee

Makes me wonder why he act so ugly, you feelin' me? (I'm feelin' you)

(All I ever wanted) all I ever wanted

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) was a father

(That's all) that's all

(All I ever wanted) all I ever wanted

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) was a father

My pops got drunk when me and my moms bounced

Swigged some Jack Dan', sniffed up a ounce

Grabbed the shotty, left Long Isle for Queens

Possessed by a demon, a devil it seemed

I was too young to understand the risk

When your moms come home off the midnight shift

She turned around, heard the shotgun click

My pops said, "You think that you could leave me -?"

He blasted my moms in the back

She fell down screamin', I can't forget that

My grandfather tried to close the door

He got shot ten times in the stomach, yo, for real

(All I ever wanted) all I ever wanted

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) was a father

(That's all) that's all

(All I ever wanted) all I ever wanted

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) was a father

My head was spinnin', I had never seen blood

Four years old, this don't feel like love

Anyway, pops dissapeared

Grandpops and moms healed up over the years

This therapist got up in her head

Led her to believe without him, she'd be dead

You know, they fell in love with one another

Everything seemed right, that's word to mother

Until I started gettin' beatings every day

Sometimes for going outside to play

Late at night on my knees I'd pray

A young child, wishin' the pain would go away

Dad, where was you when he made me strip?

Beat with belts like a slave with a whip

Kicked me down steps outside in the snow

Punched me in the chest, stomped me out on the floor

That's just the tip of the iceberg, look

It's too long for a song, but perfect for a book

Word is bond, that's real, baby

(All I ever wanted) but I ain't mad at you, Dad

(All I ever needed) I ain't mad at you

(Was a father) I ain't mad at you, Dad

(That's all) nah

(All I ever wanted) I ain't mad at you, Dad

(All I ever needed) nah, I ain't mad at you

(Was a father) it's all good, live long, be strong

(All I ever wanted)

(All I ever needed) take care of yours

(Was a father) I'ma take care of mines

(That's all) peace

(All I ever wanted) that's all I ever needed

(All I ever needed) all I ever needed

(Was a father) it's all I ever wanted

(A father) never give up

(A father) no matter what

(A father) never give up

(We need) overcome the pain

(A father) keep the faith

(A shoulder) be thankful to God

(A helper) move forward

(We need) keep striving

(All I ever wanted) yeah

(All I ever needed) that's all, that's all

(Was a father) that's all, that's all

(That's all) all I ever wanted

(All I ever wanted) all I ever needed

(All I ever needed) is a father

(Was a father) yeah, never give up