Could’ve Been Different

[Chorus: McKinley Dixon & Shamir]
Grew up making humble pacts like, "The world will know our name"
Now we're staring out the window, pray these wings can hold our frame
Oh my God, oh my God, I just might jump off of the roof
Now we're standing in the meadows where the flowers know our name
We ain't ran from where we grew up, shit, we'd probably go insane
Oh my God, oh my God, I just wanna jump off the roof

[Verse 1: McKinley Dixon]
We tricksters by nature who once favored summer stars
Biggest steps on concrete, but still look both ways for them cars
Babies beating on they chest, claim one day the world is ours
'Til mama throw open window and yell my name from afar
With a face made of sunshine, first child of the bloodline
The punch before you run kind, don't just say shit, nigga
Spreading word as we run from where ocean hits the sun
What's it that you wish the world knew about your loved ones?
We—

[Chorus: McKinley Dixon & Shamir]
Grew up making humble pacts like, "The world will know our name"
Now we're staring out the window, pray these wings can hold our frame
Oh my God, oh my God, I just might jump off of the roof
Now we're standing in the meadows where the flowers know our name
We ain't ran from where we grew up, shit, we'd probably go insane
Oh my God, oh my God, I just wanna jump off the roof

[Verse 2: McKinley Dixon]
Fear of God, fear of law, fear her straightforward gaze
You not quick enough, the raised hand, shit, it's always gon' graze
Altar boys just came home, on the stoop, playing dice
Through screen doors, her shape forms, she died for this life
Once or twice, take a step back when you finna aim
Young boy got a talent for gifting ghosts such beautiful names
Still the age where this hurts, to us, a wonderful game
Head out the window, pray these wings can hold up both of our frames
Pacing back and forth, I can't find the words worth this ink
I look up to the poster on my wall and I ask, "What you think?"

[Verse 3: Blu]
Huh, me? You see, I think bright though the mind is dark
Open my optics to optimism, that's what I was taught
To live like I'm blind, yet always guided by God
And I do this for anyone who looks anything like my mom
You askin' me what I think, I'm just a poster on your wall
And I think you know the answer is right in your catalogue
McKinley, you showed me the importance of self-belief
Be loved, be jazzed, you don't gotta be me

[Chorus: McKinley Dixon & Shamir]
Grew up making humble pacts like, "The world will know our name"
Now we're staring out the window, pray these wings can hold our frame
Oh my God, oh my God, I just might jump off of the roof
Now we're standing in the meadows where the flowers know our name
We ain't ran from where we grew up, shit, we'd probably go insane
Oh my God, oh my God, I just wanna jump off the roof