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 recognize what my father 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 shit?
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 then 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 pop star'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 diggin' 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 the wa-water
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again
(For my culture)

Fall back again
Crawl from the wa-water
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again
(For my culture)