[Intro]

(Birds don't, birds don't, birds don't, birds don't)

[Verse 1: Pusha T]

Lost in emotion, mama's youngest

Tryna navigate life without my compass

Some experience death and feel numbness

But not me, I felt it all and couldn't function

Seein' you that day

Tellin' you my plans but I was leavin' you that day

It was in God's hands, Ye was at Elon's waiting to get with me

On my way to Texas, that's when Virginia hit me

And I realized in that instant

Our last conversation, you was against it

Told you I was going to Turks for Thanksgiving

I heard what I wanted to hear but didn't listen

You said you told Gene that Bup needed forgiveness

I see you went to DD's and stuffed both her fridges

You even told Dad you wished y'all never splitted

See, you were checkin' boxes, I was checkin' my mentions

Sayin' you was tired but not ready to go

Basically was dying without letting me know

I loved you met Nige, hate that he won't remember you

Two things that break my heart is what Novembers do

And T follows you, now mind you

DD calls you, Gene finds you, was that your vision?

Precision, while I'm reminiscin'

It all hits different, Ma, listen

[Chorus: John Legend]

The birds don't sing (Yeah)

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain, pain

The birds don't sing (Oh)

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (Oh, they screech in pain)

The birds don't sing

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain

[Verse 2: Malice & John Legend]

Your car was in the driveway, I knew you were home

By the third knock, a chill ran through my bones

The way you missed Mama, I guess I should've known

Chivalry ain't dead, you ain't let her go alone

Found you in the kitchen, scriptures in the den

Half-written texts that you never got to send

Combin' through your dresser drawer, where do I begin?

Postin' noted Bible quotes, were you preparin' then?

I can hear your voice now, I can feel your presence

Askin' "Should I rap again?", you gave me your blessing

The way you spelled it out, there's an L in every lesson

"Boy, you owe it to the world, let your mess become your message"

Shared you with my friends, the Pops they never had

You lived for our fishin' trips, damn, I had a dad

Mine taught discipline, mine taught structure

Mine didn't mind when he had to pull a double

Mine worked overtime, smiled through the struggle

'Cause mine wouldn't let us feel what he had to suffer

See, mine made sure he had every base covered

So imagine his pain findin' base in the cupboard

Birds don't sing if the words don't sting

Your last few words in my ear still ring (Oh)

You told me that you loved me, it was all in your tone (Oh-oh)

"I love my two sons" was the code to your phone, now you're home

[Chorus: John Legend & Pharrell Williams]

Oh, and the birds don't sing (No, they don't)

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (Don't the truth ruin it?), pain (Now it feels different, when they doin' it)

The birds don't sing (No, they don't, and they won't)

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (They don't sing, they just screech in pain), pain (It's a cycle, they do that shit over and over again)

(Oh) The birds don't sing

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (Oh the birds, they screech in pain, oh-oh)

The birds don't sing

The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (Oh no, they're comin' back again, oh no)

[Outro: Stevie Wonder]

Remember those who lost their mothers and fathers

And make sure that every single moment that you have with them

You show them love

You show them love

You'll see