3-5 Years

[Intro]
I’m with my pops, trading banter in the kitchen
And he’s telling me like Trevor you’re the man that I envision
Playing spades with my mom, the cancer’s in remission
That’s the only time we talk about the hand that we were given

[Verse 1]
I gotta phone call
I said “what’s up, pop?”
He said “you have a second?”
I said “yeah, what’s up? Talk”
His voice tremble, I knew that he was grief-stricken
Having to call and tell his son about something he’d rather keep hidden
I wanna talk about your mom a minute
He took a deep breath, exhale, and got specific
“I took your mother for a doctor’s visit
X-ray say she has bone cancer, but they're optimistic”
In a daze, can’t see through my tears
What you mean they gave my little mom 3 to 5 years?
What are you saying to me, dad?
He said “we gotta change our way of life and cherish everyday she has”
My mind didn’t wanna process it
Tryna tell myself things will get better
Trevor, do not stress it
We’re some of the nation’s top medics
If they say that she can beat it, believe it
And give the docs credit

[Chorus]
3 to 5 years, 3 to 5 years
How could you give somebody 3 to 5 years?
You went and set a date, and we wait ‘til it comes?
You gave us 3 to 5 and you take her in one?
3 to 5 years, 3 to 5 years
How could you give somebody 3 to 5 years?
You gave us 3 to 5 now look what you done
You gave us 3 to 5 and you took her in one

[Verse 2]
From the beginning it was fucked up
My mom went from hair down to her back to just a buzz cut
All she wants to do is look at the facts
We’re too busy complimenting how she looked in a hat
While radiation sapped the energy
She still has the same smile, exchange laughs and pleasantries
All of our advancements medically
Were like battling a nuke with old fashion weaponry
Between that and dialysis
My dad had his calendar set, tryna balance it
A whole cabinet of pills at home
Nausea, lethargy, diarrhea, and riddle bones
Everyday dad would raise questions
Mine was: how was chemo and therapy in the same sentence?
Little pouch she kept the pain meds in
To take her mind off of the cancer until the day’s blessing

[Chorus]
3 to 5 years, 3 to 5 years
How could you give somebody 3 to 5 years?
You went and set a date, and we wait ‘til it comes?
You gave us 3 to 5 and you take her in one?
3 to 5 years, 3 to 5 years
How could you give somebody 3 to 5 years?
You gave us 3 to 5 now look what you done
You gave us 3 to 5 and you took her in one

[Verse 3]
She had fall. She bumped her head
They told my dad that they would keep her so that they could run some tests
By her side, holding hands in the bed
The doc broke the news that the cancer has spread
He told her wait until we get you home
She looked him in his eyes saying
“No more, you have to let me go”
Now this wasn’t a sketch or show
It was real life, this was his real wife in ready mode
The drive there, it began to click
When he told me Uncle Jamie flew in from Los Angeles
I was trying to get my head right
But when I saw her, she looked like she’s been assaulted with lead pipes
He warned about the state she’s in
She spoke in aliens, looked in his eyes and said she hated him
Cancer finally found a way to win
June 23rd, the date my mother came to a faithful end

[Chorus]
3 to 5 years, 3 to 5 years
How could you give somebody 3 to 5 years?
You went and set a date, and we wait ‘til it comes?
You gave us 3 to 5 and you take her in one?
3 to 5 years, 3 to 5 years
How could you give somebody 3 to 5 years?
You gave us 3 to 5 now look what you done
You gave us 3 to 5 and you took her in one