Play for Keeps

No currency for love
Yet it’s seldom free
When push comes to shove
You know I play for keeps
You know I play for keeps
There’s little time for games
So I just play for keeps

New audiences building boxes for me
But I know better my father warned me about these coffins
You don't want to fit in like xenophobic migrants
So don't you ever let the hype turbocharge your patience
My new endeavours are yearning for new friends
But when I read between the lines all I can see is prudence
While I’m tryna build a bond over this line between us
I see resemblances of James in faces of Judas
Scared to jump out the frying pan put a chip on my shoulders
Now I’m writing my own lessons, freeing my tutors
Like sharing love doesn’t decrease it, credit that to Buddha
Same applies to those who like treating second chances like tuba
I used to live for the day I’ll fully release this anger
In hindsight, it's embarrassing like rolling with Pandas
That's how they got us killing ourselves, hotel Rwanda
That's how they got us working for free for their propaganda

No currency for love
Yet it’s seldom free
When push comes to shove
You know I play for keeps
You know I play for keeps
There’s little time for games
So I just play for keeps

Man on man violence
Posted my ass to Ireland
Aunty E wasn’t around then
Next thing I heard she caught a virus
Oh I wish it was my 2nd world problem
I would wipe em off the drive and protect us with that Norton
Oh I guess it’s less important
Now that I got my own apartment
Far cry from those years when we fought over a spot on bed
And ate lunch with our bare hands, no fear
Of harmful bacteria
Constant threats from malaria
Power cuts, while running from faux gods and brujeria
Sun splitting the rocks, gunshots unleashing hysteria
Deep into your bowels
Leaving your mouth open like you reciting your vowels
They never cared about us
I learned enough about power
That forced me to have patience of Mumbai at Rush hour
So I’m ready, sweet or sour come-on