The Roots

Intro
I’m not gonna sit here and act like, I smoked crack outta crack pipe.
Or hustled...to make both ends meet, don’t be puzzled.
I never got blowed nor blowed weed smoke in the air.
Doesn't mean that the struggle wasn't there..

Phase I
Since I've had the holy ghost,
friend wise
life's been a lonely road.
Narrow likes it’s told
this walk, two pairs of footsteps
mine and one not my own.
It’s He who, when I’m prone
had me spiritually prone
to be prepared to be physically alone.
Before when witnessing, I tiptoed.
In a chicken coop where every chick hatched
Leaving shells cracked
and broke with sandals on.
In other words...
I've walked on egg shells with open toes.
Lazy eye, ice cold,
only did enough to skate by.
Not even saying hi.
No chance for a greeting....not even
a chance on waving bye.
Only I had a few homies
truthfully, they didn't even know me.
Cuz' we only
share the best things
the blessings of our testimonies.
In vision a Christian too scared to mention.
what we have done
where God has brought us from.
Too timid bout being judged
on how I treated women.
Crack you cooked up in your mama’s kitchen
selling it to someone else mama who injected into their system.
Brain wrapped in chains--mental prison
trying be accepted by men.
You too different...

Phase II
Slowly, I was dying,
pride was at it’s highest
for me to be trying to be crying out for help.
But peep the message,
satan get to the best of us.
We think the mess the situation
the mess is us.
Read Exodus
What Moses did
tried to make it right on his own strength
instead
killed a man then Moses fled.
And since then
every door slammed on their hinges.
Especially when shelter was mentioned.
Very concrete playing soccer;
the streets where I kicked it.
Where George and Ali
fought inside me back against the ropes.
Trying rope-a-dope
how could anyone cope?
Getting pounded, fighting for your soul?
Mental-skiing down slopes
in the south pole
I ain't talking about clothes.
Me specifically
always blamed you for no presents under the Christmas tree.
He picking up a drink
She end up getting beat.
Watching helplessly
stuck in a daze
raised by Hennessy and roaches in the ashtray.
Instantly, going astray
putting mama’s little boy to rest along the way.
Couldn't bring him back if I could
that's what happens when a sheep’s raised by wolves.

Phase III

Dreams that are so vivid, things that I have witnessed
24 years now I have lived with.
Eagerly waiting for a period, to end this life sentence.
So…I’m on a mission, rev’ved my engine
Mental trained to stay on track
I call that tunnel vision
Because I see a silver lining
Followed by a bright light shining
As it gets closer, I no longer fill like a holster
For this boulder place on my shoulders
I see clearly now, I see Him smile
Seeing my face covered in confusion
He tells me wait, I have a solution
As tectonic plates are shifted
A bow made out of ribbon
placed on the ground
A clump of clay has been gifted
His name?
Eyes made with a vision
Shoulder blades raised like the cross he’ll be lifting
A Heart light in the dark as God lit it.
His name?
A stomach to stomach how he’ll be living
Legs that stay driven
With feet on a mission
Would be given a name never given before
Made Himself like us from the Earth but more
Like the Earth, He was bona fide from the crust to the core
Since He was born all the way til the veil was torn
So therefore, His name?
Jesus