(feat. Goapele)



[Verse 1]

This is for my family, from the bay to miami

to the carolina's, you know pep love's finest

friends and foes. my cousins would drink and smoke

in the back, I was too young to even know

the drama that my grandmama was going through

dealing with my arty sons, god please come

I used to hear her say, after giving it last

and calm dissapear in a flash, then reappear in a day

my granddaddy would stay in his room and read

puffing that apple flavoured tobacco ,true indeed

I used to try to sleep in his bed, and read what he read

seeking and hoping to open the secrets he 'd keep in his head

my brother would kick it with Marco and watch dirt ,

he used to be a footballstar, before he got hurt

and then he 's in his wheelchair ,drinking and laughing

going out of his mind, I used to wonder what happened

it was an accident, my mommy told me, then she said

don't go back in there, she boldly would scold me in front of him

and whatever you got don't get fond of him, he was getting drunk

and only cuz his soul was sucking in, but I ain't grudging him

this whole family is disfunction and this is the reconstruction

of my connection with my relatives that live, and those that passed away

this is a dedication to you



[Chorus: Goapele]

All of the things that we've been true

I wouldn't change the

half, I choose; never forsaken

even though you make me blue

always know that I got love for you



[Verse 2]

Now that we've overcome Jim Crow laws,

we need to make it better with our kinfolks y'all

cuz it's been so long, since I've seen little Teddy and Tiff

I remember Tiffany was real allergic to fish, Uncle Ted

I wish I knew you just a bit more, but life tore us apart

cuz this shit's war, it's all fair if the love's there

does it matter where he lain, sunset, or even

where he came from yet, my father was the ?wasere?

of the family in need, he flee, god's ear with he

cuz we never went without, even in the drought he

had it all figured out, that's my that's my no doubt

my uncle Johnny was a G with a good heart

and not a ounce of puck inside of him, country boy

with hood smarts, when Billy tried to hit my pops

with the tyre urn, he's lucky that he missed, missed cuz

I'm glad that it didn't go down like that, but still I'm mad

we get together and clown like that, this is the life that I live

not the life that I lied, Teddy you remember the night that I cried

that was for you



[Chorus: Goapele]

All of the things that we've been true

I wouldn't change the

half, I choose; never forsaken

even though you make me blue

always know that I got love for you



[Verse 3]

Now Hieroglyphics crew ,that's my family too

We done come up from having a vision ,

to seeing it through, I love y'all dudes with the

deepest emotions, even when oceans storm

and the sea is tumultuous, our boats will float

we keeps it coastin', and that's to never spilling a bill

the secret potion, we prevail through our prevails

and any avail there was plenty enemy that trail

but our enemies failed, we battled on the radio

and that was nothing, we battled in between ourselves

for that we suffered, and had to cut off some loose weight

we could've made a crucial mistake, but dues paid

we the new greats, and jay-biz you're my brother to the end of this

just stay strong cuz this shit gets strenuous, my niggaz Jalil,Mack

Anfernee, Marty ; life is real ,much more than a party

our friendship is godly, but it seems as up late I don't hear from you hardly

I 've been following my calling, planning an end to all things keeping

me from my family and friends, for real



[Chorus: Goapele]

All of the things that we've been true

I wouldn't change the

half, I choose; never forsaken

even though you make me blue

always know that I got love for you