[Intro: James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni]
A lot of people don't realize that; they think that we are God's responsibility, but there's one of him and what-thirty million of us?
That's right, and God's only hope is us. If we don't make it, he ain't going to make it either
...
Baby, what we did with Jesus was not supposed to happen
I believe that
We made him ours
[Refrain: D.Lylez]
Our savior, we honor
[Verse 1: Rhymefest]
I used to think of holidays like lullabies
Singing kids to sleep, way before Spotify
Spending all my cash on some presents: "Why should I...
Even celebrate?"
"Boy, look, you made your mama cry"
Will you kill the vibe? That's emotional homicide
When you kill the spirit in your people, they be traumatized
When the lights glow, and you see the colors harmonize
Think about the story of the son that is prophesied
The Bible's a good book, I give it a ten
The hero died and came back in the end
Word, Bethlehem was trapping them in
That reminded me of me and my friends
A lot of men be trying to pretend like we don't sin
That's when the Devil getcha again
I don't know if Ye is a clone or if they got him a twin
That ain't the homie I knew from way, way back when
And I ain't the man that I was from way, way back then
So when they all in my DM's talking about "save your friend"
Imagine tryna Mandela not to go to the pen
Imagine tryna to Malcom bow-ties ain't it
Imagine tryna Jesus not to die for your sins
Imagine leaning on the truth when it always bends
When it always bends
Imagine leaning on the truth when it always bends
That's how it is and it's always been
I'm a healer and I've always been
I can't help you live forever though, it always ends
If your son marry my daughter, hey, hey black man
We'll give Mississippi some water, yeah, they my friends
Bring the Haitians cross the border, yeah, they my kin
When I die, I know Imma be in their top ten
But I'm alive
Black man, black man
Black man, black man
Black man, black man
I survive
Black man, black man
Black man, black man
Black man, black manman
We arrived
Black man, black man
Black man, black man
Black man, black man
[Refrain: D.Lylez]
Our savior, we honor
[Interlude: James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni]
I never wanted to be the most moral person in the world
I agree, I know what you-
I would like- I would sell my soul- You know what I mean? What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?
The world! You know what I mean? The world. That's what it profits him
I know
So you take the soul-something that's spiritual. Take the world but give me Jesus
Yes, yes
You can have Jesus but give me the world
[Verse 2: C-Red]
We all need grace like Jehovah's eyes for Noah
Sacrifice is knowing your price ain't got a total
As I get older, I see the value of my composure
Sleeping light, sleepless nights, it's light, pick up your shoulders
[?] on serpents, but my patience can't get cobra?
Tryna see their souls and walk the line and meeting quotas
Compassionately waning, ventilation 'til we choke up
Sleeping light, sleepless nights, just thankful that I woke up
I know hubby tot up for the stress when I ain't home
But lead my call in life, respect my vessel like his own
Grandma gave advice that I recite just like a song
Blood of Christ inspires every knife inside my palm
The most important color is the one beneath your skin
Second, Adam came and gathered [?] your sins
Blacker faces seemed to think you couldn't seize them wins
Black man, black man, I am my brother's keeper then
As long as I'm able-bodied, I'm offering my best
Though I know that God able-bodied
Then we came from [?] the Savior's behavior copy
Sometimes, being blessed, we forget and it makes us cocky
The weakness of our flesh
Ya'll know the pressure to be needed on your best
To watch the family gasp and reflex [?]
Hear the heart stop breathing, stethoscope still on they chest
Document the cause of death and you got nothing left
Tried indifference as a means to calm my stress
And I write down verses when I need to convalesce
I know a god that I can please, but not impress
Black man, black man, you the reason I exist
[Outro:James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni]
What you have to do is make it possible for others to live. That's the only reason to be here. Who needs the rest of it, really?
It's so weird, though. It's so counter-productive
...
Not me, I'm very pessimistic
Oh no, you're not as pessimistic as you think you are. You've got far to much energy to be as pessimistic as you think you are
I'm pretty pessimistic, though
No, I think you're pretty realistic. I think you're pretty cool. I think you're pretty clear