My Culture

I'm the sum 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

And 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 recognise

What father my said before he dies

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 ancestry

Givin' me continuity

.

Would it be remiss to continue in this way

Would you rather I quit

Come with the other sh.it

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 than 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 grandfather's 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 wa � 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 to much.

.

I believe in the senses, sight and sound

I have always been too loud

Won't you help me drown it out?

I'm what I feel

What I'm feeling is surreal

I'm a mass of spinnin' wheels

Always digging in my heels

Now I got the faith to

.

Fall back again

Crawl from the wa- 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 grandfather's 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 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

You're on your feet again

Your feet again

For my culture