U.S. Muslims as well as people of foreign cultures, have been unfairly subjected to harassment over recent years, expressing their uneasiness in dealing with the persistent xenophobia. Oddisee reveals that he, like most others who live in America, actually love the country and contribute to making i...
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Just one dollar below 10K: that’s the amount I’m flying with
One more buck and the law comes out and they all want to know about why I’m rich
I’m not rich, I’m just on the way back to the land where they need this grip
You give yours to a charity fund, I give mine to a cuz that’s sick
You see your name and it [?] on the list, scared I’m involved in the causing of pain
Lost somebody you loved in the towers and looking at me like I boarded the plane
I’m just an artist, you’re not a target: no use in arguing, we all look the same
With that knowledge I stay calm when they search for bombs all they find is green
All in the name - I got a name that’ll scare all the brave in the land of the free
All in the name of protecting a country that’s shooting its citizens dead in the streets
I used to live in Northeast D.C., not too far from Capitol Hill
White House here, trap house there, they were so near you could go by feet
Never mind that cause that’s not news - let’s stay glued to the war on peace
Who gets blamed? Whoever can sway that election towards what the order seeks
"We just want to keep oil cheap! We just want to keep motors full"
What that mean? Distractions came, I think my TV’s clothed in wool
[Hook]
Man, I swear I think my phone tapped
Man, I swear they watching all my moves
Since 9/11, ain’t too clear just who the target is
I love my country, hate its politics
Can’t just let me be
Can’t just let me live
Regardless my belief
I thought the fathers wrote it clear
But darkness all I see
And darkness all I hear
I’m trying to lift the shadow but the cloud ain’t got no give
Can’t just let me be
Can’t just let me live
Regardless my belief
I thought the fathers wrote it clear
But darkness all I see
And darkness all I hear
I’m trying to lift the shadow but the cloud ain’t got no give
[Verse 2]
I was on tour when the migrants came, saw their camps on side of the road
I met a boy who arrived in the rain, he lost his folks when they torched his home
That made me want to bring my fam before they see that side of a drone
"But who wants us? We build your world!" It’s “labor’s cool, neighbors no”
I got a cuz that’ll drive your taxi, I got a cuz that’ll make your food
I got a cuz that’ll watch your kids and pick them up when they’re done with school
I got a cuz that’ll pump your gas, I got a cuz that’s good with tools
I got a cuz that’ll be your doctor after a test that I hope he’ll pass
Isn’t that what you fear most? But fear don’t trump your needs
Our pros do trump our cons though. And cons don’t trump your greed
And monsters’ what you make of us and we make you succeed
And that’s what makes this country great, it’s built by those who bleed
It’s built by those who came on boats, it’s built by those who flee
And you forgot your family tree and we’re just all your leaves
So if you just try to chop us down you only hurt your knees
And we could go in pieces but we’d rather come in peace
[Hook]
Man, I swear I think my phone tapped
Man, I swear they watching all my moves
Since 9/11, ain’t too clear just who the target is
I love my country, hate its politics
Can’t just let me be
Can’t just let me live
Regardless my belief
I thought the fathers wrote it clear
But darkness all I see
And darkness all I hear
I’m trying to lift the shadow but the cloud ain’t got no give
Can’t just let me be
Can’t just let me live
Regardless my belief
I thought the fathers wrote it clear
But darkness all I see
And darkness all I hear
I’m trying to lift the shadow but the cloud ain’t got no give
Lifting Shadows was written by Oddisee.
Lifting Shadows was produced by Oddisee.
Oddisee released Lifting Shadows on Wed Mar 23 2016.