I met a man playing in the woods
His piano was off key
He sang to me softly
I bet he wouldn't change it if he could
Gunshots ringing in my hood
They sound so off beat
I'm praying they don't off me
I promise I'd change it if I could
Oh why? Oh why? Oh why?
Oh why? Oh why? Oh why?
I'd retreat to the trees surrounded by green but I need
Need more for my kin and more for my team
I always danced to a different type beat
Off kilter rhythm, check the traces of my feet
But I need more, before I dip out of the scene
For my niggas, for my queens, for the babies
For my rounds, for my sisters missing crowns
Homies victims to apathy like
Honey drippin' off the table in front of me
Feet say go but my heart still fights for the seed
They buy souls but my soul sent back the deed
Oh why? Oh why, why, why, why?
So you get rich, I'ma try to get free, uh
Not exclusive mutually but
Oh I-
Oh I gotta find the balance between
Some say life is just a hell
And it's here we dwell
Until we're truly
Truly, truly free (free)
Some say projects and ghettos
And seeds that will never grow
Are all there is to see
I'll stay with you through the night and in the darkest times
We'll fight through it all until we reach that dawn
I dream of a world where love is the rule
Where hearts walk two by two, and I with you
I dream of a place where a child's wish can always come true
And the old and withered become renewed
I met a man playing in the woods
His piano was off key
He sang to me softly
I bet he wouldn't change it if he could
Gunshots ringing in my hood
They sound so off beat
I'm praying they don't off me
I promise I'd change it if I could
Oh why? Oh why? Oh why?
Oh why? Oh why? Oh why?
I can see the ripple, I can see the changes
Oh my, I can feel reaper
I can hear the angles
Oh, I cross my heart for safety
Hope I stay alive
Oh Lord, they always called it crazy
It's really peace of mind, good God
All my life I had to fight
All my life passing by
All my life I had to write
All my life I had to die
All I had to sacrifice
Blood sweat and tears I paid the price
Starve today for better days tomorrow
Keep my spirits high up
When it rains it pours, my ceiling go up
Then they turn to my floor when the game show love
Been counting my blessings, my praise go up
Big God my nigga since day one
When the sun go down, when the lights go up
Still ten toes down, I'ma keep mine tucked
I'ma bang my buck, I'ma play my hand
And I ain't gon' change 'til I breathe my last
I'ma use my hands, I'ma play my songs
I'ma play my rights, I'ma do my dance
In the key of my life, I'ma sing my wrongs
I'ma be that light, I'ma clap my hands
I'ma smoke my weed
Seed my plants and I lead by faith when I play my jams
And you might think I'm out of tune
But it ain't got shit to do with you
Oh my God
Your freedom is beyond anyone outside of yourselves controlling
It can't be bought and sold, given away or even stolen
This divine entitlement vital to the nourishment of the soul
Encourages spiritual growth
To channel the ethereal flow of creations river across the cosmos
It's blessed osmosis triggering consciousness to focus
In a paradigm ascension transcendent beyond all space time dimensions
Not to mention my penchant for benediction
Benedicting minds been consistent in my grind
Of using ever pen and pencil I can find
To elevate the state of decline that's dragging my people down
So deep that the climb could never be done in a single lifetime
So I write life's lines, correction my lines write life
Correction my lifelines write up
When serving my purpose to write and recite what touches
Excites, ignites and unites us
So we can finally stop running from freedom, yeah