To all my and my hundred dollar billers To emo that got too many feelings He held the register open he counted her change I was next in line meant I was invisible From I stood I could see that the till was full He didn't look the type to superhero So I stepped forth and for my cigarettes out the stores front door to chase a little breath Bangles in my head, the song off manic Monday night, its gonna be a long walk A car pulled up, a fixed up A woman and a child out and left it running They inside of the deli, placed an order With the dollar fifty bottled water 'cuz the daughter's When came out mommy gave me a glance That said, man can love an angel but got to take the chance Already the deal, I lit one up and walk, So they got in the Oldsmobile, belted up, and took off. love on the corner by the Walgreen's Looking at me like I'm just square saltine As I get closer I that they showing each other sketches Out of notebooks, reminded me of my old roots I walk pass with a nod and a Swear to God hip-hop and books was my genesis! Respect the and the fashions of the children the only culture I've got, exactly what we've been building All of a sudden I'm in of some man No he's a young'in but he's got a gun in his He looks fifteen, he frantic, no he looks afraid Immediately apprehensive 'til I him say "Do you want It's not mine, I promise! I found it on my in between a couple garages! Didn't wanna it for a child to stumble over! I even know how to hold it!" It was a thirty-eight, the man's machete Held it in my hand, thinking damn man it's then expected, wedged it behind my belt knowing that it's evil, even thought I could smell trouble the extra strength weak, but over on the corner saw what I needed and proceeded to the put the heat in the box to loose it figured the post office knows what's best to do with it Mosey down the road thinkin' the old, I used to roam zone with two feet of snow Right here, this to be a record shop I've gotten love, I've gotten drunk, gotten beat up in that lot. I've had my Lake pride for three decades These alleyways, and these streetlights have seen my days I was a germ learning how to misbehave, All the way to the grave, Side is my resting place a right on Lyndale, I'm getting near But then the road empty and the people disappeared. The ran away, opened up the sky And one by one I every constellation die And there I was frozen, in my backyard Face to face, eye to eye, staring at the last I should've known, walked all the way To find that she wasn't here, I'm still all No matter where I am, no matter I do, I'm always coming home to you. They can leave me for dead, they can take my true, I'm coming back home to you. Through the and the sins that ride the wind that blew, I'm always coming home to you. As sure as the in the garden that you grew, I'm coming back home to you. No matter where I am, no matter I do, I'm always coming home to you. If only I had known you already knew, I'm always coming home to you. From the I've had to the hell I been through, I'm always back home to you I wanted to make a about where I'm from You Big ups my My territory, My state, but, I couldn't out much to brag about, Well, lives here! We got ten lakes! But wait, The are beautiful! To me are... And not infested pretentious movie stars... And it hit me, man, Minnesota is If simply for not what we have But we don't Its all It out there! in there! in the mirror, the breast, the hair! "Follow the dream," Doesn't mean the love Roam if you must, but home when you've seen enough I love New and "Cali" But I movin', Too Saturated with And I'm not big on rappers, actors, or models, If I had to dip, I'd probably to Chicago. None of is a diss, No one, No where, Like damn I'm from Land of the air Too many mosquitoes and a share of egos But like my man Sabe "That's my mommy stays!" So if the people laugh and when you tell 'em where you live Say "shh...", say "shh.." And if you know is where you wanna raise your kids Say "shh...", say "shh.." If you're from the and it doesn't matter where Say "shh...", say "shh.." If you can tap water and breathe the air Say "shh...", say "shh.." Got trees and vegetation in the City I The in the mail And I can always find a space The women out the men two to one Got parks and and things to do with my son The night life all that, But okay, I don't to be distracted by the devil everyday! And the ain't really hard to find, In fact, you could mine if you knew how to rhyme! This is for everyone the planet That wishes they from somewhere other than where standing, Don't it for granted. Instead, take a around, Quit complaining and something on that ground! something on that ground! Dance and sleep on ground! Get on hands and knees and watch the ants walk the ground! a family! magic! a mess! the stress, Fill motivation, And your nest! It sucks that you think I'm from is whack, But as long as enough to keep your ass from coming back. And a smile and a hint of sarcasm he says "I beg your pardon, but is my secret garden!" So if the people laugh and giggle you tell 'em where you live Say "shh...", say "shh.." And if you know is where you wanna raise your kids Say "shh...", say "shh.." If you're the Midwest and it doesn't matter where Say "shh...", say "shh.." If you can drink tap water and the air Say "shh...", say "shh.." If the playground is of stems and syringes Say "shh...", say "shh.." And if there's only one store in your town that sells Say "shh...", say "shh.." If no one in crew walks around with a gun Say "shh...", say "shh.." And if you ain't gonna leave this is where you're from Say "shh...", say "shh.."