America Is Dying Slow (AIDS)

Chorus (Sheda B except where noted):
Destroying our bodies and destroying our lives
Is the fight of our lives, still get rid of this plight
(O’hene): America’s dying slow
I can’t believe what it’s become to be
But what’s killing us slowly we’ll need to learn to see
(O’hene): America’s dying slow

Destroying our bodies and destroying our lives
Is the fight of our lives, still get rid of this plight
(O’hene): America’s dying slow
I can’t believe what it’s become to be
But what’s killing us slowly we’ll need to learn to see
(O’hene): America’s dying slow

Verse 1:
I had a friend named Neesy
Ever since I was a kid said she would never leave me
She was my everything so I believed her
She was more than my best friend she was my teacher
Remember times when my plate was empty
She didn’t have much but she scraped and fed me
She was beautiful with the blackest skin
And she made me proud that I was an African
Everybody on the block really liked her
There were some who wanted to be just like her
See there’s a house up the street
Where they always sold weed
But nowadays it’s ran by the pipers
Neesy’s invited despite its lifeless salesmen tried it
She couldn’t fight it, she’d never said no
Now strung out on heroin, she let herself go
My eyes well up, Neesy looks like death
How can I tell her? If I’ma speak, I’ma need the heart
Seeing Neesy’s arms and these needle marks
Everybody’s got problems, none’s exempt
But it hits close to home when it comes to friends
Right before I got to speak and say "Hi, Aneese"
She turned and said, "I got HIV"

Chorus (Sheda B except where noted):
Destroying our bodies and destroying our lives
Is the fight of our lives still get rid of this plight
(O’hene): America’s dying slow
I can’t believe what it’s become to be
But what’s killing us slowly we’ll need to learn to see
(O’hene): America’s dying slow

Destroying our bodies and destroying our lives
Is the fight of our lives still get rid of this plight
(O’hene): America’s dying slow
I can’t believe what it’s become to be
But what’s killing us slowly we’ll need to learn to see
(O’hene): America’s dying slow

Verse 2:
But a shock Neesy gave to me
That’s the last thing I thought she would say to me
It was clearly tough, I’m sincerely crushed
Now she tryna crack a joke to cheer me up
I was too hurt to laugh though I tried to smile
I was hearing her but wasn’t hearing her for a while
Because it’s hard when your friend is dying
And you don’t know nobody else who been to Zion
She said, "Nah, I ain’t leaving here
And I ain’t even scared ‘cause I believe in prayer"
Me too but my faith is shook
As I’m made to look at all the weight it took
Now she’s always sick, immune system is weak
Next acquired immune deficiency
Sister grieves but no one hears
It’s like when you got AIDS, no one cares

Chorus (Sheda B except where noted):
Destroying our bodies and destroying our lives
Is the fight of our lives still get rid of this plight
(O’hene): America’s dying slow
I can’t believe what it’s become to be
But what’s killing us slowly we’ll need to learn to see
(O’hene): America’s dying slow

Destroying our bodies and destroying our lives
Is the fight of our lives still get rid of this plight
(O’hene): America’s dying slow
I can’t believe what it’s become to be
But what’s killing us slowly we’ll need to learn to see
(O’hene): America’s dying slow

Verse 3:
At the hospital bed as she fades away
Counting the countless pills she was made to take
It’s a lot of stress, all the side effects
I wanna kill the doctor who prescribed this mess
All ‘cause Neesy had bad insurance
And with that insurance, you lack assurance
Her last days is in [?] now
Her friends scared she gon’ cough, they don’t come around
Normally I visit, sometimes I miss it
Sometimes I’m tired or out with my missus
She missin’ me in a major way
I forgot she used to say I made her day
Can’t imagine the anguish of being alone
Thinking ‘bout your own fate and to be on your own
Neesy died, my mom and homie
Just her and AIDS, we dyin’ slowly

Sheda B:
Slow (repeated)