Listen Gentle

He said, "Baby boy, just come here, never fear

Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear

If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right

You can use these tricks to help ya ass take flight"

Wow, I guess I never knew how

But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud

Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'

But I can't control the fire, everybody get down

I believe I'm as brilliant as I am stupid

I'll show you a boy wit' wings who love shooting like he is Cupid

We shouldn't have, running in the dark, I loved the movement

But I came back home too late, saw his plate and watched her move it

A grown man and his former self dance in kitchen

One suited, the other wondering when the former went missing

Now both sitting on the floor on his back gripping

Saying sorry, losing twinkle in eye, wasn't my decision

I learned how to call the dead from the reverend

And the South made me realize that it's really hot in Heaven

I'm sure every **** in this room can attest

I'm fickle wit' the way that I expel pain from my chest

Look at hands, wonder why it ain't working, trying my best

Kneel to concrete, guess the magic moved when you left

Tears smeared, returning moisture to my face

Not gon' lie, I'on think I can say, "It shoulda been me up in his place"

He said, "Baby boy, just come here, never fear

Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear

If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right

You can use these tricks to help ya ass take flight"

Wow, I guess I never knew how

But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud

Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'

But I can't control the fire, everybody get down

I tuck my chain into my shirt, you **** never finna catch me

'Cause he juking and jiving, don't mean that lil' boy is happy

He fell in love with exactly what's gon' keep him caged

Dead presidents with a promise that he's gon' be saved

To resurrect a few homies who wouldn't know who he was

Though he made a career of them once showing him love

It's tragic, trying to keep my kindness in my steps

With lighting in my eyes, Gramps ain't got much thunder in him left

Reminiscing on the days you put ya knuckles to boys cleft

Then we laughed so hard, hands on our knees, that we wept

Those the memories I try to preserve

And because that's what I think that child deserved

Ring filled hand trace along the ridges of earth

I watch closely, lucky seeing her magic work

I've found the answer to be so damn contrived

I'd kill myself to bring you back, how's that magic alive?

He said, "Baby boy, just come here, never fear

Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear

If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right

You can use these tricks to help ya ass take flight"

Wow, I guess I never knew how

But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud

Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'

But I can't control the fire, everybody get, yeah

He said, "Baby boy, just come here, never fear

Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear

If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right

You can use these tricks to help ya ass take—," Yeah

Wow, I guess I never knew how

But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud

Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'

But I can't control the fire, everybody get—

Everybody get down

Everybody get