Father Figures

[Intro]
It's very important to me that whatever I have to say is worth saying
Truth teller, truth yeller
Proof, Evi-dence, yes, yes
It's very important to me that whatever I have to say is worth saying
Uh-huh

[Verse 1]
Full grown father of four still in search of father figures
Hard to feel at home here in the body that my trauma lives in
Self-hatred still my opposition
I chop a parcel out the wisdom I've been given out atop the rhythm
I'm not a victim or a liar and I'm not afraid
Offer me a kingdom, if it's wrong, I'll walk away
I know my talent versus fame isn't adding up
Folk that know me throwin' shade said I ain't wanted it bad enough
Seen so many change and get strange for the spotlight
If that's what you mean brother, you couldn't be more right
I'd rather feel shame than an atom's weight of arrogance
Mention deaths name, prepared for it, ain't fearing it
Atheists describe the God that they don't believe in
See we ain't even at odds cause I don't feel that neither
I know we come from a source that's much realer
A cause that all the sleepers keep concealing, seekers overcome the amnesia

[Chorus]
Feel the heartbreak bleeding all through my songs
My Atmosphere brothers brought me along
I carry on for the love of love, and for the hope of hope
I feel it from above, and hold the moment close
Soak up the rawness, floating all through my songs
The Al Taw'am twins kept me strong, I soldier on
For the love of love, and for the hope of hope
I catch a sudden buzz, an overdose

[Verse 2]
I got a knock up on my door, it was the FBI
"Can't come inside without a warrant but I'll talk here on the steps awhile"
They want to question my travelin', what's the harassment?
Power obsessed authoritarians detest what I'm channelin
He said his mission keep the innocent from dying
Had to laugh a little bit to keep from crying
I sigh as if we don't know about the COINTELPRO
And devilish drones that rain hell into homes
Never an empire rose without blood on its hands and face
They hate the poets for exposing to channel the rage
Sacred space whether I'm in Iran or Lebanon
Or the southside of Chicago or Sudan
The power in the song is the truth not the performer
My question for you is where's the honor
In bothering a father in his home in pajamas on his birthday
In front of all his daughters, next time call the lawyer

[Chorus 2]
I'm part of this resistance, blistering through my song
The great Chuck D kept me strong
Sound the alarm, for the love of love, and the hope of hope
This is what justice does, put you in their scope
My steadfastness, blastin' this dope ass song
Cornel West never led me wrong
I soldier on, for the love of love, and for the hope of hope
For every one of us, that hold the rope that won't be broke, nope

[Interlude]
Truth teller, truth yeller
Bring it back though let me finish

[Verse 3]
I'm from a long line of writers and teachers
And spend all of my time with guides and seekers
And criminals and preachers
Sifting through the secrets just to kick 'em through your speakers
These tears just flowing my whole life long
Look in the mirror, still see my mom
I'm writing songs for the love of love, and for the hope of hope
This is from dusk to dusk, and pray they hold me close, ghost

[Outro]
Truth teller, truth yeller
Proof, Evi-dence, yes, yes
Manifest in the flesh to be the best of the best
Uh, true living, proof giving
Ya-Jel'ali la tansani