I'm the sub-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
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 died
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 ancestory
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 grandfathers 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 warm 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 popstar's job
I'm the one who you told look, don't touch
I'm the kid who wouldn't amount too much

I believe in the senses that I sound and I have always been too loud
Won't you help me drown it out?
And when I feel what I'm feeling is so real, I'm a mas
Of spinnin' wheels always digging in my heels, now I got the faith to

Fall back again
Crawl from the warm 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 grandfathers 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 warm water
Water to air
You're on your feet again
Your feet again
For my culture

Fall back again
Crawl from the warm water
Water to air
Your on your feet again
Your feet again
For my culture