CAGED BIRDS (NPR MUSIC’S TINY DESK CONCERT)

[Spoken Word Intro: Tobe Nwigwe]
One more time
Let's teach them how the caged bird sings

[Verse 1: Tobe Nwigwe]
I spit a verse so a horde of heathens can find the light
But keep a pistol that tear tissue like it's time to wipe
Don't fret, my first step ain't to resign ya life
Plus that pistol fye, don't bark until it's time to bite
Hell once you find a wife, you do what you must do
To protect her and keep her up off a stretcher 'til she due
To have a baby, glad a lady came up to me and said
"Congratulations don't come to those rather lazy instead
Of hard working"
We all searching for affirmation
Some sheep'll wander the atlas for validation
And valid statements from those who never will validate 'em
I pray I navigate 'em to a fortress where congregating with angels is the norm
You pray and they perform
Immaculate miracles to help you evade the storm
Of vipers, snipers, and every wicked form
Of evil that's been tryna deceive you since you was born
With yo heaven sent melanin
Don't let 'em convince you that ya etiquettes' a speech impediment
I'm in my element and feel benevolent even when I'm viewed as the elephant
In every residence I'm stepping in but hell I ain't trippin'
Aye mayne, say mayne, flow nuts macadamia
I'm from the city of purple spitting vibrainium
Get it in yo cranium, can't nobody Simba him
And if I ever go down it'll be like swingin' like pendulums, ooh
I said if I ever go down, it'll be swingin' like pendulums, sing

[Chorus: David Michael Wyatt, Madeline Edwards, & Luke Whitney]
We come from where most don't break free
We had to learn why caged birds sing
But we fly even though they poisoned the sky
We don't cry, we gon' take our piece of the pie

[Spoken Word: Tobe Nwigwe]
Talk to 'em NELL

[Verse 2: NELL]
So I'ma need my bread hot fresh and ready
For those who tried to keep me on ice like a YETI
The west be where they pressed me to a diamond
That's why I throw it up like the Heimlich
I'm just maneuvering on the serpent's head
Swear I tread on the skulls of my enemies
And I'm quadrupling anything that I touch
If it's milk and honey, dummy, I'm the honey bee buzzin'
You can see the pure pollination
Need G's like Masons and a haven
For these beats I freak on the daily
I lose sleep putting feet to the pavement
And grindin' like a power tool or axe
Refinin' everything I do on wax
My time, is near and I refuse to lack
The Shine which only a diamond can match
Bling, bling

[Spoken Word: Tobe Nwigwe]
Now Tiny Desk, if y'all wouldn't just mind vibin' with us real quick while we sing

[Chorus: David Michael Wyatt, Madeline Edwards, & Luke Whitney]
We come from where most don't break free
We had to learn why caged birds sing
But we fly even though they poisoned the sky
We don't cry, we gon' take our piece of the pie

[Spoken Word: Tobe Nwigwe]
Talk to 'em Luke

[Chorus: Luke Whitney]
We come from where most don't break free
We had to learn why caged birds sing
But we fly even though they poisoned the sky
We don't cry, we gon' take our piece of the pie

[Spoken Word: Tobe Nwigwe]
Talk to 'em Dave

[Chorus: David Michael Wyatt]
We come from where most don't break free
We had to learn why caged birds sing
But we fly even though they poisoned the sky
We don't cry, we gon' take our piece of that pie

[Spoken Word: Tobe Nwigwe]
Everybody say

[Outro: Michael Wyatt & Tobe Nwigwe]
Everybody say
Ooh (Ooh)
Ooh (Ooh)
We gon' take take our piece of that pie
Everybody say
Ooh-ooh-ooh (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh-ooh-ooh (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
We gon' take take our piece of that pie
Everybody say
Ooh-ooh-ooh (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh-ooh-ooh (Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ah-oh-ooh