Surprise - Intellectual

[Intro: James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni]

Well, why should a writer be free to write what he wants when a teacher is not free to teach what he wants or a postman-

A teacher who is not free to teach is not a teacher

...

If you're a writer you're forced to look behind the word into the meaning of the word

Into the actions produced by the words

Yes, you're responsible for what that word means, so you have to find the way to use that word to liberate the energy in that word, so it has a positive effect on the lives of people. There is such a thing as the living word

...

No tyrant in history was able to read but every single one of them burned the books

[Bridge]

They nailed his feet

Then they nailed his hands

Just to prove he was a man

Then they placed some thorns upon his head

Then they laughed in his face

As the poor man said, "I don't wanna die

No, I don't wanna die"

[Verse 1: Rhymefest]

You never know the day

Or time

Nor I

Death is always a surprise

(Surprise!)

Give me my flowers while I'm alive

Don't wait until I'm clutching my side at 45

Talking 'bout "he left too soon", with tears in your eyes

(Surprise!)

Nigga, ya died

Who get the house, who get the money

Wait, can I have his ride?

Is you surprised that your cousins wasn't shit to begin with

They wanna cremate you because to bury your ass is too expensive

(Surprise!)

Nigga, ya died

Ain't see it coming, doing a hunnid out on the I-95

Then realize that that woman you thought would take care of you and marry you

Didn't even show up to the burial

You playing with the time that you thought you had

Before you step in that divorce, wait, let me walk you back

We throw away the love of our lives

Whose fault is that?

Man, all I need is me in this world

Who taught you that?

[Refrain]

I don't wanna die

Can you revive me?

No, I don't wanna die

And let me see the sun?

[Verse 2: Rhymefest]

(Suprise!)

Nigga, ya died

Making a post, doing the most

Ain't even say your goodbyes

Can I have his ride?

(Let it go)

Yesterday, I didn't know it would be my last day

Writing rhymes with my cigar lit up in the ash tray

Feeling good, finna watch the Bulls and the Cav's play

Til I feel the ugh in my chest, and passed away

I saw my last sunset, I wasn't done yet, Lord

I ain't made up with my son yet

I ain't even took my daughter to prom yet

My wife is still living, I know she upset

Rip off the wings, I don't wanna go up yet

I saw that everything I ever ate was gluttonous

I saw that everything I ever smoked was suspect

I saw that every lie I ever told was fucked, shit

For all the hearts that I broke, a heart attack was justice

Then I woke up from that sleep

With a new peace and new perspective on life

With a renewed lease, know what I learned about being deceased?

Life is brief, life is brief

(Suprise!)

Nigga, ya died

Living in jail, what in the hell man, nobody cried

Yeah, why?

They'd rather fed us fed time and fentanyls

Instead of fruits and vegetables

And teach us death is inevitable

Nah, life is truly incredible

Don't let the Devil unsettle you

How you chasing after revenue

Push you off the stage at the festival

Nat King sings unforgettable

The Grim Reaper keeps a schedule

While King sings unforgettable

Surprise

[Refrain]

I don't wanna die

No, I don't wanna die