Father Figures

[Intro]

It's very important to me that whatever I have to say is worth saying

Truth teller, truth yeller

Proof, Evi-dence, yes, yes

It's very important to me that whatever I have to say is worth saying

Uh-huh

[Verse 1]

Full grown father of four still in search of father figures

Hard to feel at home here in the body that my trauma lives in

Self-hatred still my opposition

I chop a parcel out the wisdom I've been given out atop the rhythm

I'm not a victim or a liar and I'm not afraid

Offer me a kingdom, if it's wrong, I'll walk away

I know my talent versus fame isn't adding up

Folk that know me throwin' shade said I ain't wanted it bad enough

Seen so many change and get strange for the spotlight

If that's what you mean brother, you couldn't be more right

I'd rather feel shame than an atom's weight of arrogance

Mention deaths name, prepared for it, ain't fearing it

Atheists describe the God that they don't believe in

See we ain't even at odds cause I don't feel that neither

I know we come from a source that's much realer

A cause that all the sleepers keep concealing, seekers overcome the amnesia

[Chorus]

Feel the heartbreak bleeding all through my songs

My Atmosphere brothers brought me along

I carry on for the love of love, and for the hope of hope

I feel it from above, and hold the moment close

Soak up the rawness, floating all through my songs

The Al Taw'am twins kept me strong, I soldier on

For the love of love, and for the hope of hope

I catch a sudden buzz, an overdose

[Verse 2]

I got a knock up on my door, it was the FBI

"Can't come inside without a warrant but I'll talk here on the steps awhile"

They want to question my travelin', what's the harassment?

Power obsessed authoritarians detest what I'm channelin

He said his mission keep the innocent from dying

Had to laugh a little bit to keep from crying

I sigh as if we don't know about the COINTELPRO

And devilish drones that rain hell into homes

Never an empire rose without blood on its hands and face

They hate the poets for exposing to channel the rage

Sacred space whether I'm in Iran or Lebanon

Or the southside of Chicago or Sudan

The power in the song is the truth not the performer

My question for you is where's the honor

In bothering a father in his home in pajamas on his birthday

In front of all his daughters, next time call the lawyer

[Chorus 2]

I'm part of this resistance, blistering through my song

The great Chuck D kept me strong

Sound the alarm, for the love of love, and the hope of hope

This is what justice does, put you in their scope

My steadfastness, blastin' this dope ass song

Cornel West never led me wrong

I soldier on, for the love of love, and for the hope of hope

For every one of us, that hold the rope that won't be broke, nope

[Interlude]

Truth teller, truth yeller

Bring it back though let me finish

[Verse 3]

I'm from a long line of writers and teachers

And spend all of my time with guides and seekers

And criminals and preachers

Sifting through the secrets just to kick 'em through your speakers

These tears just flowing my whole life long

Look in the mirror, still see my mom

I'm writing songs for the love of love, and for the hope of hope

This is from dusk to dusk, and pray they hold me close, ghost

[Outro]

Truth teller, truth yeller

Proof, Evi-dence, yes, yes

Manifest in the flesh to be the best of the best

Uh, true living, proof giving

Ya-Jel'ali la tansani