[Intro: Common]
After being 25, you know...
Just trying to survive in the world
About to have a little boy or baby girl
Who knows?
Anyway, just when you start gettin' that little age and experience to you
You start thinking about stuff, trying to make the right moves
So, bust it out, this is what I was thinking
Check it
[Verse 1: Common]
Yo, the education of the Lon-chikkit – Lonnie Lynn
Began, began with time
Being my bloodline is one with the divine
In time, brother, you will discover the light
Some say that God is Black and the Devil's White
Well, the Devil is wrong, and God is what's right
I fight–with myself, in the ring of doubt and fear
The rain ain't gone, but I can still see clear
As a child, given religion with no answer to why
Just told, "Believe in Jesus," 'cause for me He did die
Curiosity killed the catechism
Understanding and wisdom became the rhythm
That I played to, and
Became a slave to master self
A rich man is one with knowledge, happiness, and his health
My mind had dealt with the books of Zen, Tao, the lessons
Qur'an and the Bible – to me, they all vital
And got truth within 'em
Gotta read them boys, you just can't skim 'em
Different branches of belief, but one root that stem 'em
But people of the venom try to trim 'em
And use religion as an emblem
When it should be a natural way of life
Who am I, or they, to say to whom you pray ain't right?
That's who got you doing right and got you this far
Whether you say "in Jesus name" or "hum do Allah"
Long as you know–it's a being that's supreme to you
You let that show towards others in the things you do
'Cause when the trumpets blow and 24 elders surround the throne
Only 144,000 gon' get home
Only 144,000 gon' get home
Only 144,000 gon' get it, baby
[Chorus: Cee-Lo]
I've lived and I've learned
I have taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I've cried
I have failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pouring rain
I've found joy through all my pain
I just wanna be
Happy with being me
[Verse 2: Cee-Lo]
Let me voice my concern
So many of my fellow brothers have given themselves a title that their actions didn't earn
Our ignorance is in the same breath as our innocence
Subconciously, seeking to find an impressionable mind to convince
I've finally come to the realization why Black people in the worse place
'Cause it's hard to correct yourself when you don't know who you are in the first place
So I try to find a clue in you
But evidently, White folk know more Black history than we do
Why're we being lied to?
I ain't know our history was purposely hidden... damn
Something in me wanna know who I am
So I began my search
My journey started in church
It gave my heartache relief when I started to understand belief
Hustlin' was like a gift, spent my share of time in the streets
Taught me survival from this evil I'm just gonna have to deal with
And I felt like a fool
When I tried to learn it in school
It almost seemed like a rehearsal
When the only science and math universal
Taking elder advice
Read the Bible, the Qur'an, searched scrolls from the Hebrew Israelites
"Hold on, this ain't right, Jesus wasn't White..."
Some leads are granted with insight
And it's all in plan
But it... it took me some time to overstand
You still created with imperfection in man
So, with following, I disagree
By no means have I forgotten or forgiven what's been done to me
But, I do know the Devil ain't no White man
The Devil's a spiritual vine that's color blind
There's evil white folk and evil niggas, you gon' surely find
There's no positivity without negativity
But one side you gonna have to choose
Any chance to speak, I refuse to misuse
So how can you call yourself God when you let a worldly possession
Become an obsession
In the way you write your rhymes, and can't follow your lessons?
In the seeds sown, you make sure it's known
You make sure it's grown
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
If you God, then save your own, don't mentally enslave your own
[Chorus: Cee-Lo]
I've lived and I've learned
I've taken and I've earned
I have laughed, I have cried
I've failed and I have tried
Sunshine, pouring rain
I've found joy through my pain
Just wanna be
Happy
Being me
Being me
