JOY

I been looking for some joy when the times get dark I find myself making peace with my past through the art They going crazy at the shows, help us run up the coin But, deep down, I'm sorta scared that they missing the point Tryna make a way for the kids who look like us Kids who think like me, show 'em that they can be Anything that they want, don't care what others think But that's easier to say when it's harder to breathe It's hard to find joy in the country that I'm in Especially when they'll kill you for the color of your skin The white boys that used to be my bros when we was kids Seemed to be on the whole other side when we got big Try to keep my cool, but my patience running thin I feel the hate in all the little messages they sent through the media Sometimes, it feels like my hometown is heating up I ain't felt much joy since a lil' pup Wish we could go backwards in time 'Cause things were better before and you've been on my mind Lately, joy's been harder to find With the hate of my skin, I've been needing a sign You grow up and then you pass away Then wake up and act like there wasn't yesterday I still got problems remember when you didn't wanna say You didn't like your face 'cause they said it's the wrong color pallet? Try to fit in like I had the wrong size Said I had no future, don't believe in them lies See the sun shining when you look in my eyes Ain't no need for disguise, nah, so So what's the point of living if we tryna kill each other? If you see past the color, you can be my brother See us dying on the news, then you see another Then you see another, uh, so Wanna move on, but I still need a reason (reasons) Don't get too lost in the company that you're keeping Things will get better, you just need to keep dreaming Just keep dreaming, so Wish we could go backwards in time 'Cause things were better before and you've been on my mind Lately, joy's been harder to find With the hate of my skin, I've been needing a sign Wish we could go backwards in time 'Cause things were better before and you've been on my mind Lately, joy's been harder to find With the hate of my skin, I've been needing a sign Um, there weren't many people of color around me that I could confide any feelings of Anger, sadness, confusion, really anything I could confide into But, uhm, not until I was older did I realize, you know The best way to combat that bullshit is to just surround yourself by people like you, people of color, people Anyone, really, who just sees you as you Just sees you as your friend, it doesn't matter your gender It doesn't matter your race, it doesn't matter, they're just there for you (there for you)