my culture

I'm the sum total of my ancestors
I carry their DNA
We are representatives of a long line of people
And we carried them around either with
This long line of people
That goes back to the beginning of time
And when we meet - they meet other lines of people
And we say bring together the lines of me
.
When I look back over the years
At the things that brought tears to my eyes
Papa said we have to be wise
To live long lives
Now I recognise
What father my said before he dies
Vocalize things I've left unsaid
Left my spirit unfed for too long
I'm coming home to my family
Where I can be strong
Be who I planned to be
Within me my ancestry
Givin' me continuity
.
Would it be remiss to continue in this way
Would you rather I quit
Come with the other sh.it
Making people's hips sway
Lip service I pay but I'm nervous
I pray for all the mothers who get no sleep
Like a lifeline I light lines 'cause my compassion is deep
For the people who fashioned me my soul to keep
And this is who I happen to be
And if I don't see that I'm strong than I won't be
.
This is what my Daddy told me
I wished he would hold me
A little more
Than he did
But he taught me my culture
And how to live positive
I never wanna shame
The blood in my veins and bring pain
to my sweet grandfather's face
In his resting place
I made haste to learn and not waste
everything my forefathers earned in tears
For my culture
.
Fall back again
Crawl from the wa � water
For my culture
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again.
.
Hello Dad,
Remember me?
I'm the man you thought I'd never be.
I'm the boy who you
Reduced to tears
Dad I'd been lonely for 27 years
Yeah, that's right
My name's Bob
I'm the one
Who landed the popstar's job
I'm the one who
You told look, don't touch
I'm the kid
Who wouldn't amount to much.
.
I believe in the senses, sight and sound
I have always been too loud
Won't you help me drown it out?
I'm what I feel
What I 'm feeling is surreal
I'm a mass of spinnin' wheels
Always digging in my heels
Now I got the faith to
.
Fall back again
Crawl from the wa- water
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again.
.
Lace up your boots we're going back to the roots
Speaking to my ghetto youths freak freaking for loot
And nice things, better check what your future brings
It's now and your forefathers for the know-how
Go now into the world without hatred
Use your head
If the needle is wise be the thread
And weave ancestral wisdom, yours by birth
Spreading the Lord's word over this broad earth
.
This is what my Daddy told me
I wished he would hold me
A little more
Than he did
But he told me my culture
And how to live positive
I never wanna shame
The blood in my veins and bring pain
To my sweet grandfather's face
In his resting place
I make haste to learn and not waste
Everything my forefathers earned in tears
For my culture
.
Fall back again
Crawl from thewater
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again
For my culture
.
Fall back again
Crawl from the warm water
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again
For my culture