[Mos Def]

This is for all of you



This is for all of you



This is for all of you



For all of you



ALL of you



ALL



[VERSE 1: Mos Def]

Ever since I was small I played the wall

The loner type, even as a little tike

While the other little kids were out at play

I was home wishing for a rainy day

I didn't have friends cause I barely even spoke

My head was mad out on a [?] float

Surrounded all sides by thieves and crooks

I found a little peace in stars and books

My outside contact was limited

Cause I was different and heads couldn't get with it

I used to get mistaken for the stove

But all I really ever wanted was some love

Remember many [?] many tears

That I kept inside for so many years

All the galactic intuition

I learned the skill of bein self-sufficient

Heads got live while I took the jay

I watched the sky and let the daytime fade

Go through a whole 24 hours of sorrow

Lay down and do the shit all again tomorrow

Keepin composure is a way [?]

I'm smilin in your face, all my chest is hurtin

I wanna be nice but that shit ain't workin

Turn off the light and draw the curtain

Will I find peace, son, I'm not certain

In dark, quiet places feelings go

Beatin you down all hard and slow

Oh-oh-oh-oh... oh



[Ces]

I'm tired of these devils

[DCQ]

Victory is not granted to the swift and mighty, you know what I'm sayin

[Ces]

That's what the devil wants

It wants you to be afraid

[DCQ]

You can get hot, but can you sustain the heat?

[Ces]

That's how you lose your power

[Mos Def]

Where is the power available to you?

[DCQ]

Things that rise too quickly, fall even faster

[Ces]

Maintain, maintain, maintain

[DCQ]

Things that rise too quickly fall even faster

[Ces]

Maintain, maintain, maintain

Maintain, maintain, maintain



[VERSE 2: Ces]

The night brings courage and solutions

Images and dramatic conclusions

I play back a hundred thousand scenes

Cut the proper sneer and practice bein mean

I've taken too many a loss

Man, fuck patience, it's time to excercise force

It's the last thing heads would expect

If they won't give it to me, I'm takin my respect

And I'm usin all means at hand

Cause apparently muthafuckas don't understand

They don't know the fury behind the meekness

Mistakin my kindness for weakness

Well peep this: It's a bright new day

And we gon' do it this way

Call me MD with revenge prognosis

I'm handin out justice in powerful doses

Comin out the deck with aces and jokers

Flushing whoever comes closest

Strictly hands over ears when you try to make amends

I got my pad and pen, so who the hell needs friends?

You think I'm on some shit? You're goddamn right

My area of peace is like mad airtight

Attempt to trespass my radius, and we gon' have to fight

My heart is too heavy for you to take me light

I exit sufferer status (aight?)

So if you thought otherwise, I'ma let you know

That when the tables turn, they movin hard and slow



[Ces]

I'm tired of these devils

[ DCQ ]

Victory is not granted to the swift and mighty, you know what I'm sayin

[Ces]

That's what the devil wants

It wants you to be afraid

[DCQ]

You can get hot, but can you sustain the heat?

[Ces]

That's how you lose your power

[Mos Def]

Where is a power available to you?

[DCQ]

Things that rise too quickly, fall even faster

[Mos Def]

Maintain, maintain, maintain

[Ces]

Maintain

Maintain, maintain, maintain

[DCQ]

Victory is not granted to the swift and mighty, you know what I'm sayin?

[Ces]

Maintain, maintain, maintain

When they resist, I persist

[DCQ]

You can get hot, but can you sustain the heat?

[Ces]

When they resist, I persist

[DCQ]

Things that rise too quickly, fall even faster

[Ces]

Maintain, maintain, maintain

Maintain, maintain, maintain

This power is available to you