American Me

[Intro]

Come on

Yeah

And you say, "Black America"

And you say, "Young America"

Another day in America

[Verse 1]

Yeah, it's hard to be the American Me

If this ain't home, then where can I be?

Answer's "no" when they ask, "Oh say can you see?"

Specially when the lawyer asks, "Oh hey, can you plead?"

I was born in a world without innocence

'Cause we all look guilty in them tenaments

Livin' life on the edge and it's been intense

The hands of hate planned our fate, and they been winnin' since

Graduated and my moms couldn't be prouder

In my soul lived the spirit of Kalief Browder (Wow)

And that was thirty-five years back

When the song cried, couldn't hold them tears back

The promiseland, tell me where it's at

I been alive fifty-one, been the same amount of years black

But still I'ma write these bars

In the land of these stripes and stars, let's talk about it

[Chorus]

By the dawn's early light

Tryin' to survive this perilous fight

Anything that's done in the dark

Time reveals when the moment is right

The red glare from a cop's gun

Shots rang consecutively

I'm right here and I'm not done

Lookin' for the American me

[Verse 2]

Yeah, Masta Ace, I solemny swear

To take it where it need to go, just follow me there

This broke system's in need of a lot of repair

Stand up for what's right like you're out of your chair

Yeah, a better life is possible still

And that can't be ignored like a hospital bill

Yo, you wanna be at the top of your field?

So Christmastime you can put up a stockin' to fill?

Have a bright smile like you rockin' the grill

Wake up every day with the option to chill

But when faced with the option to kill

And my life's on the line, I'm fightin' for mine

Every song, every script, I'm writin' for mine

Every day goes by, I'm fightin' for time

To get a slice of American Pie

But I'm still tryin' to find the American I

[Chorus]

By the dawn's early light

Tryin' to survive this perilous fight

Anything that's done in the dark

Time reveals when the moment is right

The red glare from a cop's gun

Shots rang consecutively

I'm right here and I'm not done

Lookin' for the American me

[Outro]

And you say, "Black America"

And you say, "Young America"

Another day in America

Should we stay in America?

Find our way in America?