If You Don’t Know

When I think about the branches of my family tree
I see the roots underground in the land of the free
But they were choked by the weeds and the vandalous thieves
Branded and keyed
Beaten like a gamblers knees
I can’t weep for the willow
I’m angry as bees demanding a queen
Trapped by humanity’s greed
I give thanks that my ancestors planted a seed
So I know I can’t sleep til I abandon the dream
I don’t count sheep
I’m living with my eyes open
Trying to laugh and act happy like God’s joking
The poems I rhyme remind me to find hope
And I’m keeping my mind focused following divine motion
But I get paid to glance down over the waves that buried the slaves
And gave evolution a stage
In a plane I can’t fathom or imagine the pain
The same teardrops rage every time that it rains

(chorus)
If you don’t know where you come from
How you’re gonna know how to go through what you go through
(How you gonna know, how you gonna know
If you don’t know where you come from?)

Travelling around the world carrying a heavy weight
Here in this suitcase, the struggles that my family faces
Anywhere that I go I’m still riding the same train
On the same stage in the same play
Even if the faces change
Can I cry when I know the things they’ve been through?
Can I smile when I know how much they cried?
Should I lie to myself when I know the past?
I guess I’ll try my best to carry on
Because I know where I come from

(chorus)

The pain of the past can easily eclipse the present
But raindrops relieve tears like kisses from heaven
And they’re flooding the streets deeper than a busted levy
They try to smile on the news, I don’t trust the TV
Cause there’s another branch breaking and you can’t feel it
And there’s another tree falling and you can’t hear it
We’re the lost generation of youth looking for truth
It’s a strange fruit trying to change suit with the same roots, but yo
Can I cry when I know the things they’ve been through?
Can I smile when I know how much they cried?
Should I lie to myself when I know the past?
I guess I’ll try my best to carry on
Because I know where I come from