Church Steps

[Intro: Rell]

Standin' on the church steps (Heatmakerz)

Wonderin’ what it's gon' be next (Crack Music)

[Verse: Jim Jones]

The Lord said to come as you are (Amen)

He protects babies and fools, you safer the dumber you are

Place of worship, so please leave your guns in your car (Don’t need 'em)

Rejoice and put your hands up just like you was comin' to spar

No matter Christian or Muslim, nigga, hamdullah (As-salamu alaykum)

Make sure you givin' thanks to the one that brung you this far (Amen)

Y'all don't see what this nigga done done with the stars? (I see it)

Shit, he put some in the sky, boy, I put some in my cars, haha (Talk nasty)

How you think I been overcomin' thesе odds? (Stupid)

My enemies ain't been runnin’ from mе, stupid, they been runnin’ from God, so (Back up)

As I spit my psalms over these chronicles (Ooh)

I done dove off the yacht to the bottom, I saw the barnacles, yeah

That's right, I even dealt with the bottom feeders (Backstabbers)

I been broke at night, and, mama, she didn’t know how to feed us (But we eatin' now)

I ain't gon' get that new presi’ 'cause they don't know how to lead us (I'ma get the Aude')

Right now, I'm circlin' this island that was owned by Carlos Lehders (Cigarette boat)

It's not about the destination, it's about the journey (Watch over me)

Shit, we at war, I seen niggas that was goin' out on a gurney (Pray for us)

I'll be late to court, but I ain't goin' in without my attorney (Bowman)

I done partied 'til we was dead like Weekend at the Bernie's (We just livin')

Uh, not to mention my affiliations

You be in or you be out, the homies bangin' that Billy Nation (Back to back)

Jokin', sak pase, I'm still a Haitian (N'ap boule)

All down Miami, don't worry, I got them killers waitin' (Huh, B Money, what's up?)

Not to dwell on my past (Uh-uh)

How many times I got up just because I fell on my ass (Got back up on 'em)

My soul ain't for sale, I refuse to sell it for cash (Nah, it's priceless)

I'm at the back room at the bank, I don't even see the teller for cash, shit (Where the manager at?)

But the hustle done changed

Streaming farms, it's no more Phat Farms, nigga, the Russell done changed (See, he left)

It's a long way from the work wet to the church steps

I remember in '93, the first set was the worst set, uh (Eastside)

Can't forget all the soldiers that we lost (Light, I miss you)

Tell Nip the marathon continues, I'm still holdin' a torch (I see you, cuz)

Say a prayer for Gardner West, he's goin' to court, uh (I'm with you, blood)

Won't be happy 'til Melly is way back home in a Porsche, uh (Gon' do it big)

Gatekeepers tried to ruin me (Fuck 'em)

Politicians won't be happy, they don't wanna see growth in the community (I'm a rebel, though)

Huh, they'd rather see separation before the unity (Oh, we got that)

They'd rather give the power to police for impunity (Tryna kill us out here)

Here we go again (Damn), uh

I swear it make you shed a tear, ayy (I'm cryin' now)

Danced around a few charges like Fred Astaire, I

I did it my way on the highway, nigga, I was never scared (For really, though)

Never got a Grammy and I'm good with that (I'm good with that)

But still park that Lambo where the hood is at, yeah (No fear)

You let money rule you, you let money fool you (Huh)

This ain't church, lil' nigga, but let me Sunday school you (Pray for me)

[Chorus: Rell]

Standin' on the church steps

Wonderin' what it's gon' be next (Gonna be next)

'Cause I done seen it all in the streets

But, Lord, I hear you callin' me (Oh well, oh well)

Standin' on the church steps (Church steps)

Wonderin' what it's gon' be next (Gonna be next)

'Cause I done did all I can do (Yeah)

Lord, now I'm waitin' on you (Oh well, oh well)

[Bridge: Denise Weeks]

Standin' on the church steps

Wonderin' what it's gon' be next

'Cause I done did it all in the streets

Lord, I hear you callin' me, oh well, oh well, oh

I hear you callin' me, yeah, oh, Lord, oh, Lord, yeah

Standin' on the church steps

Wonderin' what it's gon' be next

'Cause I done did all I can do

Lord, now I'm waitin' on you, oh well, oh well, oh

[Outro: Dr. Benjamin Chavis]

I'm Dr. Ben, I been ridin' with Jim Jones a long time

And I told him some time ago, "Hey, man, I'm ridin' with you 'til the wheels fall off"

We're workin' together, we're strugglin' together

We're makin' a difference together

Our people need hope, our people need inspiration

Our people need to let go of all the negativities and embrace the positivities of life

I said twenty years ago, we have to choose life, not choose death

We have to choose hope, not disappointment or disillusionment

Or alienation, it's time to come together