Water

[Hook]
It must be something in the water they drink
It’s been the same with every girl I’ve had
It must be something in the water they drink
Why else would a woman wanna treat a man so bad?

[Verse 1: Chino XL]
She was everything I needed—at least
That’s what God’s contract between us stated
After twenty-five years of my experience of her lack of maternal
Instincts, I found I’ve defeated all odds to make it
Without a mama’s love, now I feel out of place
Extra wounds for a man who never seen his father’s face
As mama freebased away the money for my high school tuition
From my stepfather’s home, I would always catch an eviction or a
Swift punch to the face, bleeding rivers of red
Fled to any quiet place. I couldn’t believe that she said
He meant more to her than I did—just “goodbye, kid”
“I hope you die, kid” is what I viewed through my busted eyelids
I slit my wrist and sit and watch the droplets
Run on the floor. My cousin kicked in the door, nigga
I was at war with who was supposed to be my life-bringer
The all-knower, my nourisher, my aspiration-encourager
I figured the fault’s due to how my uncles assaulted you
And grandma died, still believing it wasn’t true
But I’m your only child. How could you turn your back on me?
I cannot accept your apology. I’m sorry. You dead to me, mommy

[Hook]
It must be something in the water they drink
It’s been the same with every girl I’ve had
It must be something in the water they drink
Why else would a woman wanna treat a man so bad?
(Treat a man so bad)
(So bad so bad)
(You need someone to love you)
It must be in the water

[Verse 2: Chino XL]
Why you making me leaving you much more feasible
Than staying? I gave you everything—please be reasonable
You’re my queen by which all other women will be judged
I wanted to die so much with nobody to trust
Deep down, I felt that she was just another liar
Now I wouldn’t spit on her if she was on fire
Precise way to describe it: damn, I should have been out
Our relationship a hand grenade, you just pulled the pin out
No doubt, my world was on the rocks, my life a car crash
On the side of the road, y’all slowing down to watch
I’ma leave silently tonight, you’ll never find me
I guess I’m tired of seeing my best friend’s car parked in my driveway
Bitch!

[Hook]
It must be something in the water they drink
It’s been the same with every girl I’ve had
It must be something in the water they drink
Why else would a woman wanna treat a man so bad?
It must be something in the water they drink
It must be something in the water they drink
Yeah, it’s in the water

[Verse 3: Chino XL]
I met you eight years ago
Your smile captivated my soul which was miserable
I fell in love with you instantly, I knew I wanted to
Protect you from this world, you were related to my girl
And even after only one year of your life
Your intelligence and love for me shined so bright
I was only seventeen, but it didn’t take me long
To realize that I wanted to raise you as my own
And although, biologically, there is no tie that binds
There is no blood test that could tell me you ain’t mines
And it’s never been kept a secret for who your real father is
But that motherfucker don’t know what your favorite color is
And he don’t know, in school, what your favorite subject is
And when you have bad dreams at night, you call my name, not holler his
And, sometimes, I wonder if you found me or I found you
And I would never say a bad word about that man around you
The older you get, the closer we get, it’s harder for me
I hate the way your mom’s family gives his family priority
Or authority when he told child support, “Look, she ain’t mines”
Where was they when he was giving your moms black eyes?
But the fact lies and now, whatever. Our last name’s the same
And you and your sister’s future’s filled with anything you dream
But I gotta realistically look upon tomorrow
To the first time you get upset at me and say, “You ain’t my father”

[Hook]
It must be something in the water they drink
It’s been the same with every girl I’ve had
It must be something in the water they drink
Why else would a woman wanna treat a man so bad?
(Treat a man so bad)
(So bad so bad)
(You need someone to love you)
It must be in the water