songs/zenske/Lauryn Hill.txt

**************************************************
Doo Wop (That Thing)[Intro]
Yo, remember back on the Bully
When cats used to harmonize like
Yo, yo, my men and my women
Don't forget about the deen
Sirat al-Mustaqeem
Yo, it's about a thing, uh, yo, yo
If ya feel real good wave your hands in the air
And lick two shots in the atmosphere!
(Put them up, put them up)
(Put them up, put them up)
(Put them up, put them up)

[Verse 1]
It's been three weeks since you were looking for your friend
The one you let hit it and never called you again
'Member when he told you he was 'bout the Benjamins?
You act like you ain't hear him then give him a little trim
To begin, how you think you're really gon' pretend
Like you wasn't down and you called him again?
Plus, when you give it up so easy you ain't even foolin' him
If you did it then, then you'd probably fuck again
Talking out your neck, sayin' you're a Christian
A Muslim, sleeping with the jinn
Now that was the sin that did Jezebel in
Who you gon' tell when the repercussions spin?
Showing off your ass 'cause you're thinking it's a trend
Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again
You know I only say it 'cause I'm truly genuine
Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem
Baby girl, respect is just a minimum
Niggas fucked up and you still defending 'em
Now, Lauryn is only human
Don't think I haven't been through the same predicament
Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn
It's silly when girls sell their souls because it's in
Look at where you be in, hair weaves like Europeans
Fake nails done by Koreans
Come again

(A win win, come again
A win win, come again)

[Hook]
Guys you know you'd better watch out
Some girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

[Verse 2]
The second verse is dedicated to the men
More concerned with his rims and his Timbs than his women
Him and his men come in the club like hooligans
Don't care who they offend, poppin' yang (like you got yen!)
Let's stop pretend, the ones that pack pistols by they waist men
Cristal by the case men, still in they mother's basement
The pretty face men claiming that they did a bid men
Need to take care of they three or four kids
And they face a court case when the child support late
Money taking and heart breaking, now you wonder why women hate men
The sneaky, silent men
The punk, domestic violence men
Quick to shoot the semen, stop acting like boys and be men
How you gonna win when you ain't right within?
How you gonna win when you ain't right within?
How you gonna win when you ain't right within?
Come again, come again
Come again, come again

[Bridge]
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out

[Hook]
Girls, you know you'd better watch out
Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing
Guys, you know you'd better watch out
'Cause girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

[Skit/Outro]
Class!
Hey, we’ve got some very intelligent women here, man
Do you think you’re too young to really love somebody?
(No! No, no, I don’t think so)
I say it for me, uh, I’m an adult I say, wait
“You’re too young to be in love, this is silly
You’re infatuated or whatever, you got nice jeans
You wear fancy Adidas”
I mean, it might be something I don’t know
(It's the difference from loving somebody and being in love with somebody)
Well, you tell me. What’s the difference?
(Okay, You can love anybody but when you’re in love with somebody you’re looking at it like this: You’re taking that person for what he or she is no matter what he or she look like or no matter what he or she do)
(You’re crazy! You fall in love, you can fall out of love)
(You might stop being in love but you are not gonna stop loving that person)
(Maybe they ain’t never been loved before or been in love before, they don’t know what the feeling is to be loved)
(She poetic)
She killed it, we could end that conversation with that, right?
**************************************************
Ex-Factor[Intro]
Yo, y-yo, yo, y-yo
Yo, uh, yo, y-yo, yo, y-yo

[Verse 1]
It could all be so simple (Ba-ba-ba-baby, baby, baby)
But you'd rather make it hard (Huh, uh)
Loving you is like a battle (It's like a battle)
And we both end up with scars

[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me who I have to be (Who I have to be)
To get some reciprocity
See, no one loves you more than me (More than me)
And no one ever will (No one ever will, yeah)

[Verse 2]
Is this just a silly game (Silly game)
That forces you to act this way? (To act this way)
Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can't stay (Yeah)

[Pre-Chorus]
Tell me, who I have to be (I know what we gotta do)
To get some reciprocity
See, no one loves you more than me
And no one ever will

[Chorus]
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't working (It ain't working, no), it ain't working
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, this is crazy (Oh, this is crazy, uh-huh)

[Verse 3]
I keep letting you back in (You back in)
How can I explain myself? (I don't understand why)
As painful as this thing has been
I just can't be with no one else

[Pre-Chorus]
See I know what we've got to do (Yeah)
You let go (You let go), and I'll let go too (And I'll let go)
Cause no one's hurt me more than you (No one's hurt me more than you)
And no one ever will

[Chorus]
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't working (It ain't working), it ain't working (It ain't working)
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, (This is crazy) Oh, this is crazy (This is crazy)

[Breakdown]
(Care) Care for me, care for me
I know you care for me
(There) There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
(Cry) Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
(Give) Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
(Care) Care for me, care for me
You said you'd care for me
(There) There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
(Cry) Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
(Give) Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
(Care) Care for me, care for me
You said you'd care for me
(There) There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
(Cry) Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
(Give) Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
(Care) Care for me, care for me
You said you'd care for me
(There) There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
(Cry) Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
(Give) Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
(Care) Where?
(There) Where?
(Cry) Where were you
(Give) When I needed you?
(Care, there, cry, give)

[Guitar Solo]

[Outro]
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da) Where were you
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da) When I needed you?
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da) Where were you?
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da) You, you, you, you, you
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da) You, do, do, do, do, do, do, do
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da) Do, do, do, do, do, do
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da)
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da)
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da)
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da)
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da)
(Da, da, da, d-da, d-da)
**************************************************
To Zion[Intro]
One day, you're gonna understand
Zion

[Verse 1]
Unsure of what the balance held
I touched my belly overwhelmed
By what I had been chosen to perform
But then an angel came one day
Told me to kneel down and pray
For unto me a man-child would be born
Woe this crazy circumstance
I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
"Look at your career," they said
"Lauryn, baby use your head"
But instead I chose to use my heart

[Chorus]
Now the joy of my world
Is in Zion! (Zion, Zion!)
Now the joy of my world
Is in Zion! (Zion, uhh, Zion!)

[Verse 2]
How beautiful if nothing more
Than to wait at Zion's door
I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See life for you, my prince has just begun
And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of His grace
See I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face

[Chorus]
That the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion)
Now the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)
Now the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)
Now the joy (Joy)
Of my world (World)
Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)

[Outro]
Marching, marching, marching, marching (Marching)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (We gon' march)
Marching, marching, marching, marching
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching
To Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching, marching
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion
Marching, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion (My joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (My joy, my joy)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (You're the joy)
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion (Of my life)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (It is in Zion)
To Zion, marching, marching, marching (Zion)
Marching, marching, marching, marching (You're the joy)
To Zion, marching, beautiful, beautiful, Zion (You're the joy of my life)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (Is in Zion, Zion)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion (It is in Zion)
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching, beautiful, beautiful Zion
Marching

[Skit]

[Teacher]
Okay, how many people here have ever been in love? I know none of the guys are gonna raise their hand. How many of y'all ever been in love?

[Class]
(Mumbling)

[Teacher]
I know none of the guys been in... we don't get in love, right? Oh! Let this black man right here tell what his idea of love is, 'cause not all the time we hear a young black man talk about love. About your personal definition, don't tell me what Webster thinks. Huh?

[Boy]
Willingness to do everything for that person

[Teacher]
Okay, everything like what? Explain. Let him talk, c'mon. If I asked him to talk about a fancy car, he'd be right on point. But we wanna talk about love. You can do it. (To another pupil) What do you think? You said you love somebody, you should know why you love them right?

[Boy 2]
The way they act

[Teacher]
Uh-huh

[Boy 2]
The way they carry themselves, stuff like that

[Teacher]
Okay

[Girl]
The way that they hang with they boys, and they just stand out. It's like sometimes it don't even matter like what they wear or what they look like. It's like, that way, you know?

[Girl 2]
Yeah

[Girl]
It's like you know you want to talk to him, because he stands out, it's like he got a glow or something

[Teacher]
That's deep

[Boy 2]
That's what I'm talking about

[Teacher]
I thought that was a beautiful point. Anyone else want to deal with that?

[Girl 2]
It's sometimes, like when they try to act funny in front of they boys, like when they get around say they love you. They can't love you. 'Cause love-love-love wouldn't do that

[Girl 3]
Love is not phony!

[Class]
(Laughter)
**************************************************
Lost Ones[Verse 1]
It's funny how money change a situation
Miscommunication lead to complication
My emancipation don't fit your equation
I was on the humble, you on every station
Some wan' play young Lauryn like she dumb
But remember not a game new under the sun
Everything you did has already been done
I know all the tricks from Bricks to Kingston
My ting done made your kingdom wan' run
Now understand, L-Boogie, non-violent
But if a thing test me, run for mi gun
Can't take a threat to mi new born son
L been this way since creation
A groupie call, you fall from temptation
Now you wanna bawl over separation
Tarnish my image in the conversation
Who you gon' scrimmage, like you the champion?
You might win some but you just lost one

[Chorus]
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one

[Verse 2]
Now, now, how come your talk turn cold?
Gained the whole world for the price of your soul
Tryin' to grab hold of what you can't control
Now you're all floss, what a sight to behold
Wisdom is better than silver and gold
I was hopeless, now I'm on Hope Road
Every man wanna act like he's exempt
Need to get down on his knees and repent
Can't slick talk on the day of judgment
Your movement's similar to a serpent
Tried to play straight, how your whole style bent?
Consequence is no coincidence
Hypocrites always wanna play innocent
Always want to take it to the full out extent
Always want to make it seem like good intent
Never want to face it when it time for punishment
I know you don't wanna hear my opinion
There come many paths and you must choose one
And if you don't change then the rain soon come
See you might win some, but you just lost one

[Chorus]
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one

[Refrain]
You might win some, but you really lost one
You just lost one, it's so silly, how come?
When it's all done, did you really gain from (Gain from)
What you done done? It's so silly, how come?
(You done, how come?)
You just lost one

[Verse 3]
Now don't you understand, man, universal law?
What you throw out comes back to you, star
Never underestimate those who you scar
'Cause karma, karma, karma comes back to you hard
You can't hold God's people back that long
The chain of Shatan wasn't made that strong
Trying to pretend like your word is your bond
But until you do right, all you do will go wrong
Now some might mistake this for just a simple song
And some don't know what they have ‘til it's gone
Now even when you're gone you can still be reborn
And, from the night can arrive the sweet dawn
Now, some might listen and some might shun
And some may think that they've reached perfection
If you look closely you'll see what you've become
'Cause you might win some but you just lost one

[Chorus]
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one
You might win some but you just lost one

[Refrain]
You might win some, but you really lost one
You just lost one, it's so silly, how come?
When it's all done, did you really gain from
What you done done? It's so silly, how come?
You might win some, but you really lost one
You just lost one, it's so silly, how come?
When it's all done, did you really gain from
What you done done? It's so silly, how come?
You just lost one
You just lost one, you just lost one
You just lost one, you just lost one
(How come, you lost one? It's so dumb)
You just lost one, you just lost one
You just lost one
What a bam-bam!... hehehe

[Skit]
Teacher: Alright people, I'm gonna write something on the board. Let's spell it. First letter
Class: L, O, V, E
Teacher: What's that?
Class: Love
Teacher: What?
Class: Love!
Teacher: How many people know any songs about love?
Class: Right here! I know a lot about love
Teacher: Tell me some titles, titles of some songs
Boy: Love
(Laughter)
Teacher: There's a song called love?
Boy: Yeah!
Teacher: There's no song called love!
Boy: Yeah, it's by Kirk Franklin
Teacher: Ok ok, how it go?
Boy: It go "Love" (Laughter)
Teacher: Bet, bet, okay. Anybody else know any songs about love?
(Mumbling)
Teacher: I can't hear you
Girl: I Will Always Love You
Teacher: What about any movies about love? You know any movies about love?
Girl: Titanic
Teacher: Alright
Boy: Romeo and Juliet
Teacher: You didn't know that was about love ‘til you saw it on TV and they said it was about love
**************************************************
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You[Chorus]
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You'd be like heaven to touch (heaven to touch)
I wanna hold you so much (hold you so much)
At long last, love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

[Verse]
Pardon the way that I stare (the way that I stare)
There's nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak (words left to speak)
But if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it's real
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

[Pre-Chorus]
I need you, baby, and if it's quite alright
I need you, baby, to warm a lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say, "It's okay"
Oh, pretty baby, don't let me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, oh, baby—let me love you, oh, baby—

[Chorus]
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you (eyes off of you)
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much (hold you so much)
At long last, love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

[Pre-Chorus]
I need you, baby, and if it's quite all right
I need you, baby, to warm a lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say, "It's okay"
Oh, pretty baby, don't let me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, oh, baby—let me love you, oh, baby
I need you, baby, and if it's quite all right
I need you, baby, to warm a lonely night
I love you, baby, trust in me when I say, "It's okay"
Oh, pretty baby, don't let me down, I pray
Oh, pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, oh, baby—let me love you, oh, baby
**************************************************
Tell Him[Intro]
Yo, he-he, tell him um, (Huuu)
It's like, uhh, you know, uhh
Sweet, sweet, sweet
Tell him
Uhh
Mmm-m-m-m

[Verse 1]
Let me be patient, let me be kind
Make me unselfish without being blind
Though I may suffer, I'll envy it not
And endure what comes (Daah)
'Cause he's all that I got (Uuu) tell him (Aha)

[Refrain]
Tell him I need him (Yeah)
Tell him I love him (Tell him who it hit)
And it'll be alright (It'll be alright)
And tell him (Tell him)
Tell him I need him (Be alright)
Tell him I love him (Tell him I love him)
It'll be alright (Be alright)

[Verse 2]
Now I may have faith (I may have faith) to make mountains fall
(To make mountains fall)
But if I lack love, then I am nothin' at all
I can give away (I can give away) everything I possess
But left without love then I have no happiness
I know I'm imperfect (I know I'm imperfect), and not without sin
(Not without sin, nah)
But now that I'm older, all childish things end (Ohh)
And tell him (Tell him)

[Refrain]
Tell him I need him (Tell him I need him)
Tell him I love him (Ha-ah)
And it'll be alright (It'll be alright)
Tell him (Tell him)
Tell him I need him (Tell him)
Tell him I love him (Tell him) (Be alright)
It'll be alright (Be alright)
Oh, yeah

[Bridge]
I'll never be jealous (I'll never be jealous)
And I won't be too proud (Houu)
'Cause love is not boastful (Noo)
Oooh and love is not loud
Tell him I need him (Tell him I need him)
Tell him I love him (Tell him I love him)
Everything is gonna (Everything), is gonna be (Everything) alright
Ya-eee-ya-eee-ya-eee-ya-eee-ya-eee-ya-eee-ya-eee-ya-eee
Uuu-u-uu (Uuu)
Yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Uuu-u-uu (Uuu)
Ah-ah-ah

[Verse 3]
Now I may have wisdom (I may have wisdom)
And knowledge on Earth
But if I speak wrong, ooh, then what is it worth? (What is it worth?)
See what we now know is nothing compared
To the love that was shown when our lives were spared (Uuh)
And tell him (Tell him)

[Refrain]
Tell him I need him (Tell him I need him)
Tell him I love him (Love him)
And it'll be alright (It'll be alright)
Oh-oh-oh
Tell him (Tell him)
Tell him I need him (I need you)
Tell him I love him (Be alright)
Be alright (Be alright)
Oh-oh-oh (It's gonna be alright)
Tell oh-oh him (It's gonna be alright, in the morning) (Tell him)
Tell him I need him, oh (Be alright)
It'll be alright (It's gonna be alright)
Oh-oh-oh, yeah, yeah (I need you)
When the, when the evening comes, oh
In the night time
In the morning
In the evening baby tell him
Tell him
**************************************************
Nothing Even Matters[Intro]
Whoa, ooh, umm, yeah, yeah
Whoa, ooh, whoa, ow yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh, oh, oh

[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]
Now the skies could fall
Not even if my boss should call
The world, it seems so very small
'Cause nothing even matters at all
See, nothing even matters
See, nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all

[Verse 2: D'Angelo]
See, I don't need no alcohol
Your love make me feel ten feet tall (Yeah)
Without it, I'd go through withdrawal
'Cause nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing matters at all

[Verse 3: Lauryn Hill]
These buildings could drift out to sea
Some natural catastrophe
Still, there's no place I'd rather be
'Cause nothing even matters to me
See, nothing even matters (Yeah)
See, nothing even matters to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me

[Verse 4: D'Angelo]
You're part of my identity
I sometimes have a tendency
To look at you in mid sleep (Baby, baby)
'Cause nothing even matters, to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me
Said it don't matter, baby, baby
Don't matter

[Verse 5: Lauryn Hill]
Now you won't find me at no store
I have no time for manicures
With you it's never either-or
'Cause nothing even matters no more
See, nothing, it don't matter
See, nothing even matters no more
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters no more

[Verse 6: D'Angelo]
Now my team could score
And make it to the Final Four
Just repossessed my four by four
'Cause nothing even matters no more
(No more, no more, no more)
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters no more
Nothing even matters
No, no more

[Outro: Lauryn Hill & D'Angelo]
To me, to me, to me, to me
To me, to me, to me, to me, to me, to me
(FREESTYLE SINGING TO END)
**************************************************
Everything is Everything[Chorus 1]
Everything is everything
What is meant to be will be
After winter must come spring (Must come spring)
Change, it comes eventually
Everything is everything
What is meant to be will be
After winter must come spring (Must come)
Change, it comes eventually

[Verse 1]
I wrote these words (I wrote these words) for everyone who struggles in their youth
Who won't accept deception, in instead of what is truth (Gotta know the truth, y'all)
It seems we lose the game
Before we even start to play
Who made these rules? (Who made these rules?)
We're so confused (We're so confused)
Easily led astray
Let me tell ya that...

[Chorus 2]
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
Everything is everything (Everything)
After winter must come spring
Everything is everything

[Verse 2]
Our philosophy possibly speak tongues
Beat drum, Abyssinian, street Baptist (Word)
Rap this in fine linen, from the beginning (Word)
My practice extending across the atlas, I begat this
Flipping in the ghetto on a dirty mattress
You can't match this rapper slash actress
More powerful than two Cleopatras
Bomb graffiti on the tomb of Nefertiti (Ooh, uh)
MCs ain't ready to take it to the Serengeti
My rhymes is heavy like the mind of sister Betty (El Shabazz!)
L-Boogie spars with stars and constellations (What?)
Then came down for a little conversation (Huh)
Adjacent to the king, fear no human being
Roll with cherubims to Nassau Coliseum (What?)
Now hear this mixture, where Hip Hop meets scripture (Uh)
Develop a negative into a positive picture

[Chorus 1]
Now everything is everything (Everything, y'all, everything, y'all)
What is meant to be will be (What is meant to be will be, yeah)
After winter must come spring (After winter, must come spring)
Change, it comes eventually (Change, it comes eventually)

[Verse 3]
Sometimes it seems we'll touch that dream (Sometimes it seems we'll touch that dream)
But things come slow or not at all (They come slow, know what I mean?)
And the ones on top won't make it stop (Ones on top, they won't make it stop)
So convinced that they might fall
Let's love ourselves and we can't fail
To make a better situation (Better situation, uh-uh)
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow (Tomorrow, our seeds will grow)
All we need is dedication
Let me tell ya that

[Chorus 2]
Everything is everything
Everything is everything
Everything is everything (Everything is everything)
After winter must come spring
Everything is everything (Everything is everything)

[Chorus 1]
Everything is everything
What is meant to be will be
After winter (After winter) must come spring (Must come)
Change, it comes eventually
**************************************************
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill[Verse 1]
My world, it moves so fast today
The past, it seems so far away
And life squeezes so tight that I can't breathe
And every time I've tried to be what someone else has thought of me
So caught up, I wasn't able to achieve

[Chorus]
But deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny

[Verse 2]
I look at my environment
And wonder where the fire went
What happened to everything we used to be
I hear so many cry for help
Searching outside of themselves
Now I know that His strength is within me

[Chorus]
And deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny (And deep in my heart)
And deep in my heart, the answer, it was in me
And I made up my mind to define my own destiny
**************************************************
I Gotta Find Peace of Mind[Intro]
I gotta find peace of mind
I know another cord...
I gotta find peace of mind
See, this what that voice in your head says
When you try to get peace of mind
I gotta find peace of mind, I gotta find peace of mind

[Hook]
He says it's impossible, but I know it's possible
He says it's impossible, but I know it's possible

[Verse 1]
He says there's no me without him
Please help me forget about him
He takes all my energy, trapped in my memory
Constantly holding me, constantly holdin' me
I need to tell you all, all the pain he's caused, mm-mm-mm-mm
I need to tell you I'm
I'm undone because, mm-mm-mm-mm

[Chorus]
He says it's impossible, but I know it's possible
He says it's impossible without him, but I know it's possible

[Verse 2]
To finally be in love, and know the real meaning of
A lasting relationship, not based on ownership
I trust every part of You, 'cause all that I...
All that you say you do
You love me despite myself, sometimes I fight myself
I just can't believe that you, would have anything to do
With someone so insecure, someone so immature
Oh, you inspire me, to be the higher me

[Verse 3]
You make my desire pure, you make my desire pure
Just tell me what to say, I can't find the words to say
Please don't be mad with me, I have no identity
All that I've known is gone, all I was building on
I wanna walk with you, how do I talk to you

[Verse 4]
Touch my mouth with your hands
Touch my mouth with your hands
Oh I wanna understand, the meaning of your embrace
I know now I have to face the temptations of my past
Please don't let me disgrace, will my devotion last?
Now that I know the truth, now that it's no excuse

[Pre-Chorus]
Keeping me from your love, what was I thinking of?
Holding me from your love, what was I thinking of?
You are my peace of mind, that old me is left behind
You are my peace of mind, that old me is left behind

[Chorus]
He says it's impossible, but I know it's possible
He says it's improbable, but I know it's tangible
He says it's not grab-able, but I know it's have-able

[Bridge]
'Cause anything's possible, oh anything is possible
Please come free my mind, please come meet my mind
Can you see my mind? Oh
Won't you come free my mind?
Oh, I know it's possible
Anything, anything, anything, anything, anything, yeah
Anything, anything, anything, anything, yeah
Anything, anything, anything, anything, anything, yeah
Oh free! Free, free, free your mind
Free, free your mind... free, free your mind
Free, free, free, free your mind
Oh, it's so possible, oh it's so possible
I'm telling you it's possible, I'm telling you it's possible
Free, free... free, free... free, free... get free now
Free, free... free, free, free, free... free, free

[Chorus]
You're my peace of mind, that old me is left behind
You're my peace of mind, you're my peace of mind
He's my peace of mind, he's my peace of mind
He's my peace of mind, he's my peace of mind

[Outro]
What a joy it is to be alive
To get another chance, yeah
Everyday's another chance
To get it right this time
Everyday's another chance
Oh what a merciful, merciful, merciful God
Oh what a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful God
[Repeat till fade]
**************************************************
The Mystery of Iniquity[Hook]
It's the mystery of iniquity...
Said it's the misery of Inequity...
Said it's the history of Inequity...
When it all...
All falls down...
Telling you all...
It all falls down

[Pre-Verse]
Children...
Eat your bread
Little children...
Eat your bread
Cause it all...
All falls down...
Telling you all...
It all falls down

[Verse]
Yo! Y'all can't handle the truth in a courtroom of lies
Perjures the jurors, witness despised
Crooked lawyers, false indictments publicized
It's entertainment, the arraignments, the subpoenas
High profile gladiators in bloodthirsty arenas
Enter the Dragon, black-robe crooked-balance
Souls bought and sold and paroled for thirty talents
Court reporter catch the circus on the paper
File it in the system not acknowledged by the Maker
Swearing by the bible blatantly blasphemous
Publicly perpetrating that "In God We Trust"
Cross-examined by a master manipulator
The faster intimidator receiving the judge's favor
Deceiving sabers doing injury to their neighbors
For status, gratis, apparatus and legal waivers
See the bailiff representing security
Holding the word of God soliciting perjury
The prosecution, political prostitution
The more money you pay, the further away solution
Legal actors, Babylon's benefactors
Masquerading as the agency for the clients
Hypocritical giants, morally non-compliant
Orally armed to do bodily harm
Polluted, recruited and suited judicial charm
And the defense isn't making any sense
Faking the confidence of escaping the consequence
That a defendant is depending on the system
Totally void of judgment purposely made to twist em'
Emotional victim blackmailed by the henchmen
Framed by intentions
Inventions whereby they lynch men
Enter the false witness slandering the accused
Planting the seed openly showing he's being used
To discredit, edit, headed for the alleged
Smearing the individual fearing the unsuspected
Expert witness (the paid authority)
Made a priority to deceive the majority
Of disinterested peers, dodging duty for years
Hating the process, waiting to be returning to their careers
Do we expect the system made for the elect
To possibly judge correct? Properly serve and protect?
Materially corrupt, spiritually amuck
Oblivious to the cause, prosperously bankrupt
Blind leading the blind, guilty never defined
Filthy as swine, a generation purin it's own mind
Legal extortion, blown out of proportion
In vein deceit, the truth is obsolete
Only two positions: victimizer or victim
Both end up in destruction trusting this crooked system
Mafia with diplomas keeping us in a coma
Trying to own a piece of the "American Corona"
The Revolving Door, insanity every floor
Skyscraping, paper chasing, what are we working for?
Empty traditions, reaching social positions
Teaching ambition to support the family superstition?
When the Son of Perdition is Commander in Chief
The standard is Thief; brethren, can we candidly speak?
Woe to the men, trusted in the chariots dem'
Leaning on horses, they run their intellectual sources
Counterfeit wisdom creating the illusion of freedom
Confusion consumes them
Every word they speak it turns them outwardly white
Internally they absent of light
Trapped in the night and bonded to the Cain of the night
Under the curse, evil men waxing more worse
Faxing the first, angelic being cast to the earth
It's time for rebirth, burnin up the branch and the root
The empty pursuits of every tree bearing the wrong fruit
Turn and be healed, let him who stole, no longer steal
Oh it's real, surrender for Jehovah is real
How long will you sleep, troubled by the thoughts that YOU keep
The idols YOU heap, causing the destruction you reap
Judgment has come, find it and return to the One
Abandon the flesh, self-interest: Broadway to death
Pride and the Greed, hide and subdividing the seed
The knowledge of Good and Evil is what caused us to lie
Caused us to die, let your emotions be crucified
Renounce all your thoughts
Repent and let your mind be re-taught
You'll find what you sought
Was based on the deception you bought
A perception of naught where the majority remains caught
Loving a lie, not realizing in Adam, all die
Loving a lie, not realizing in Adam, all die
Loving a lie, not realizing in Adam, all die
Loving a lie, not realizing in Adam, all die

[Hook]
It's the mystery of iniquity...
Said it's the history of Inequity...
Said it's the misery of Inequity...
When it all...
All falls down...
Telling you all...
It all falls down
**************************************************
I Used to Love Him[Intro]
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't

[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]
As I look at what I've done
The type of life that I've lived
How many things I pray the father will forgive
One situation involved a young man
He was the ocean and I was the sand
He stole my heart like a thief in the night
Dulled my senses and blurried my sight
And I used to love him

[Chorus]
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't

[Verse 2: Mary J. Blige & Lauryn Hill]
I chose the road of passion and pain (passion and pain)
Sacrificed too much and waited in vain
Gave up my power ceased being queen
Addicted to love like the drug of a fiend
See, torn and confused, wasted and used
Reached the crossroad which path would I choose
Stuck and frustrated, I waited, debated
For something to happen that just wasn't fated
Thought what I wanted was something I needed
When momma said no then I just should have heeded
Misled I bled 'till the poison was gone
And out of the darkness arrived the sweet dawn

[Chorus]
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't

[Verse 3: Lauryn Hill & Mary J. Blige]
Father you saved me and you showed me that life
Was much more than being some foolish man's wife
Showed me that love was respect and devotion
Greater than planets and deeper than any oceans
See, my soul was weary but now it's replenished
Content because that part of my life is finished
I see him sometimes and the look in his eye
Is one of a man who's lost treasures untold
But my heart is gold, see, I took back my soul
And totally let my creator control
The life which was his, the life which was his to begin with

[Chorus]
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
Now I don't

[Outro]
I used to love him but now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
I used to love him but now I don't
See, I used to love him
**************************************************
Forgive Them Father[Intro: Shelly Thunder]
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us
Although them again we will never, never, never trust
Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
Them nuh know what them do
Dig out your eye, while I'm sticking like glue
Fling, skin, grin, while them plotting for you, true!

[Chorus: Lauryn Hill & Shelly Thunder]
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do (Me a tell you, dem nuh know)
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do (Fi be real, them nuh have a clue!)

[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]
Beware the false motives of others
Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers
And you never suppose it's those who are closest to you
To you
They say all the right things to gain their position
Then use your kindness as their ammunition
To shoot you down in the name of ambition, they do
Oh

[Chorus: Lauryn Hill]
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do

[Verse 2: Lauryn Hill]
Why every Indian wanna be the chief?
Feed a man till he full and he still want beef
Give me grief, try to tief off my piece
Why for you to increase, I must decrease?
If I treat you kindly, does it mean that I'm weak?
You hear me speak and think I won't take it to the streets
I know enough cats that don't turn the other cheek
But I try to keep it civilized, like Menelik
And other African czars, observing stars with war scars
Get yours in this capitalistic system
So many caught or got bought you can't list them
How you gon' idolize the missing? To survive is to stay alive in the face of opposition
Even when they coming, gunning I stand position
L's known the mission since conception
Let's free the people from deception
If you looking for the answers, then you gotta ask the questions
And when I let go, my voice echoes through the ghetto
Sick of men trying to pull strings like Geppetto
Why black people always be the ones to settle?
March through these streets like Soweto, uhh

[Bridge: Lauryn Hill]
Like Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus
Jesus and Judas, backstabbers do this

[Chorus: Lauryn Hill]
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do

[Verse 3: Lauryn Hill]
It took me a little while to discover
Wolves in sheep coats who pretend to be lovers
Men who lack conscience will even lie to themselves, to themselves
A friend once said, and I found to be true
That everyday people, they lie to God too
So what makes you think, that they won't lie to you?

[Chorus: Lauryn Hill & Shelly Thunder]
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do (Forgive them, forgive them)
Forgive them, Father, for
They know not what they do (Forgive them, forgive them)

[Verse 4: Shelly Thunder & Lauryn Hill]
Gwan like dem love you, while dem rip you to shreds
Trample pon yuh heart, and leff you fi dead
Dem a yuh friend, who you depend pon, from way back when
( [?] to grace)
But if you, gi' dem yuh back, then you must meet yuh end
Dem nuh know what dem do do
(Who's gonna be the one?)
Dem nuh know what dem do do
(Gotta be the one to say)
Dem nuh know, dem nuh know, dem nuh know, dem nuh know
Dem nuh know what dem do do
(Oh, yeah, oh)

[Outro: Lauryn Hill]
(Forgive them, Father, forgive them, Father...)
**************************************************
Final Hour[Intro]
Uh-uh
Uh
And yo
Uhh, uhh (Like fungus among us)
Yo, yo (Haha), uh

[Verse 1]
Yo, I treat this like my thesis
Well-written topic, broken down into pieces
I introduce then produce, words so profuse
It's abuse how I juice up this beat, like I'm deuce
Two people both equal like I'm Gemini, rather Simeon
If I Jimmy on this lock I could pop it, you can't stop it
Drop it, your whole crew microscopic
Like particles while I make international articles, and on the cover
Don't discuss the baby mother (Nah)
Business, I been in this third LP you can't tell me
I witness first-handed, I'm candid, you can't stand it
Respect demanded, and get flown around the planet
Rock Hard like granite or steel
People feel Lauryn Hill from New-Ark to Israel
And this is real, so I keep makin' the street's ballads
While you lookin' for dressin' to go with your tossed salad

[Chorus]
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour

[Verse 2]
I'm about to change the focus from the richest to the brokest
I wrote this opus, to reverse the hypnosis
Whoever's closest to the line's gonna win it
You gonna fall trying to ball while my team win the pennant
I'm about to begin it, for a minute, then run for senate
Make a slum lord be repentant, give his money to kids to spend it
And then amend it, every law that ever prevented
Our survival since our arrival documented in The Bible
Like Moses and Aaron, things gon' change, it's apparent
And all the transparent gonna be seen through
Let God redeem you, keep your deen true, you can get the green too
Watch out what you cling to, observe how a queen do
And I remain calm reading the 73rd Psalm
'Cause with all that’s going on I got the world in my palm

[Chorus]
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour

[Verse 3]
Now I be breaking bread sipping Manischewitz wine
Pay no mind party like it's 1999
But when it comes down to ground beef like Palestine
Say your rhymes, let's see if that get you out your bind
Now I'ma get the mozzarella like a Rockafeller
Still be in the church of Lalibela, singing hymns a cappella
Whether posed in Mirabella in Couture
Or collecting residuals from off The Score
I'm making sure I'm with the 144
I've been here before this ain't a battle, this is war
Word to Boonie, I make salat like a Sunni
Get diplomatic immunity in every ghetto community
Had opportunity went from Hoodshock to Hood-chic
But it ain't what you cop, it's about what you keep
And even if there are leaks, you can't capsize this ship
'Cause I baptize my lips every time I take a sip

[Chorus]
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
You can get the money, you can get the power
But keep your eyes on the Final Hour
**************************************************
When It Hurts so Bad[Chorus]
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
Why's it feel so good? (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)

[Verse 1]
I loved real, real hard once
But the love wasn't returned
Found out the man I'd die for
He wasn't even concerned
I tried, and I tried, and I tried
To keep him in my life (to keep him in my life)
I cried, and I cried, and I cried
But I couldn't make it right

[Chorus 2]
But I, I loved the young man
And if you ever been in love
Then you'd understand
That what you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it (if you don't catch it, if you don't catch it)
And what you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (if you just let it)
If you just let it (if you just let it)

[Verse 2]
See, I thought this feeling
It was all that I had
But how could this be love
And make me feel so bad? (gave up my power)
Gave up my power
I existed for you
But whoever knew
The voo-doo you'd do

[Chorus 2]
But I, I loved the young man
And if you ever been in love
Then you'd understand
That what you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it (if you don't catch it)
(if you don't catch it)
And what you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (if you just let it)
If you just let it (if you just let it)
See what you want might make you cry
What you need might pass you by
If you don't catch it (if you don't catch it)
(if you don't catch it)
And what you need ironically
Will turn out what you want to be
If you just let it (if you just let it)
If you just let it (if you just let it)

[Chorus]
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
Why's it feel so good? (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
Why's it feel so good? (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
When it hurts so bad (when it hurts so bad)
So bad (when it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)
(When it hurts so bad)

[Skit: Teacher]
You ain't said nothin'
Why you ain't say somethin' to me?
(Boy 1)
I feel like love right now is like confusion
It's like people think they love somebody
When they don't really love somebody
Like I thought I was in love with this girl but I really wasn't
It's like now, I don't feel about her
(Laughter)
[Teacher]
Ok. Alright
You think that TV and music have somethin' to do with
Why people are always confused about love?
(Girl 1)
(Yes!)
Why?
(Cause today we listen to a lot of TV a lot of music
And it sounds nice but it may not always be right for you)
We need to put you on a bullhorn
Let you ride around Newark
**************************************************
Superstar[Intro]
Yo hip-hop, started out in the heart
Uh-huh, yo
Now everybody tryin' to chart
Say what? Hip-hop, started out in the heart
Yo, now everybody tryin' to chart
C'mon now baby c'mon now baby c'mon now baby c'mon, uhh
C'mon now baby c'mon now baby c'mon now baby c'mon

[Chorus]
C'mon baby light my fire (Come on)
Everything you drop is so tired (Everything)
Music is supposed to inspire (Music is supposed to inspire)
How come we ain't gettin' no higher? (How come, how come)

[Verse 1]
Now tell me your philosophy
On exactly what an artist should be
Should they be someone with prosperity
And no concept of reality?
Now, who you know without any flaws?
That lives above the spiritual laws?
And does anything they feel just because (Just because, just because)
There's always someone there who'll applaud?

[Chorus]
C'mon baby light my fire (Come on)
Everything you drop is so tired (Everything you drop is so tired)
Music is supposed to inspire (What are we here for, what are we here for)
How come we ain't gettin' no higher? (Gettin' no higher)

[Verse 2]
I know you think that you've got it all
And by making other people feel small
Makes you think you're unable to fall
But when you do, who you gonna call?
See what you give is just what you get (What you give is just what you get)
I know it hasn't hit you yet (I know it hasn't hit you yet)
Now I don't mean to get you upset (Get upset, get upset)
But every cause has an effect, uh-huh!

[Chorus]
C'mon baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired (Yeah)
Music is supposed to inspire (Music is supposed to inspire)
How come we ain't gettin' no higher? (We ain't no higher, we ain't no higher)

[Verse 3]
I cross sands in distant lands, made plans with the sheiks
Why you beef with freaks as my album sales peak? Uhh
All I wanted was to sell like five hundred
And be a ghetto superstar since my first album, Blunted
I used to work at Foot Locker, they fired me: I fronted
Or I quitted, now I spit it, however do you want it?
Now you get it!
Writing rhymes, in the Range, with the frames lightly tinted
Then send it to your block and have my full name cemented (Lauryn Hill!)
And if your lines sound like mine I'm taking a percentage (ka-ching!)
Unprecedented, and still respected when it's vintage
I'm serious, I'm takin' over areas in Aquarius
Runnin' red lights with my ten thousand chariots
Just as Christ was a Superstar, you stupid, star!
They'll hail you then nail you, no matter who you are
They'll make you now then take you down, and make you face it
If you slit the bag open, put your pinky in it and taste it

[Chorus]
C'mon baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired (Everything you drop, everything you drop)
Music is supposed to inspire (Oh yeah)
How come we ain't gettin no higher? (We ain't getting no higher, getting no higher)
C'mon baby light my fire (C'mon baby light my fire)
Everything you drop is so tired (Everything you drop is so tired)
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain't gettin no higher? (How come we ain't gettin no higher?)
C'mon baby light my fire (Come on baby)
Everything you drop is so tired (Everything you drop is so tired)
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain't gettin no higher? (We ain't no higher)
**************************************************
I Get Out[Hook]
I get out, I'll get out of all your boxes
I get out, you can't hold me in these chains
I'll get out, Father free me from this bondage
Knowin' my condition is the reason I must change

[Verse 1]
Your stinking resolution is no type of solution
Preventing me from freedom, maintaining your pollution
I won't support your lie no more
I won't even try no more
If I have to die, oh Lord, that's how I choose to live
I won't be compromised no more
I can't be victimized no more
I just don't sympathize no more, ‘cause now I understand
You just wanna use me
You say "love" then abuse me
You never thought you'd lose me
But how quickly we forget that nothin' is for certain
You thought I'd stay here hurtin'
Your guilt trip's just not workin', repressin' me to death
‘Cause now I'm choosin' life, yo
I'll take the sacrifice, yo
If everything must go, then go: that's how I choose to live

[Interlude]
Heh… hehehehehe…
Ok, we gettin' there
At least I had a chunk
Aight, okay, it's how I choose to live
Hehehe, awww

[Verse 2]
No more compromises
I see past your disguises
Blinding me through mind control
Stealing my eternal soul
Appealing through material
To keep me as your slave

[Hook]
But I get out, oh, I get out of all your boxes
I'll get out, oh, you can't hold me in these chains
I get out, oh, I want out of social bondage
Knowin' my condition, oh, is the reason I must change

[Verse 3]
See, what you see is what you get
Oh, and you ain't seen nothin' yet
Oh, I don't care if you're upset
I could care less if you're upset
See, it don't change the truth
And your hurt feeling's no excuse
To keep me in this box, psychological locks
Repressin' true expression
Cementin' this repression
Promotin' mass deception
So that no one can be healed
I don't respect your system
I won't protect your system
When you talk I don't listen
Oh, let my Father's will be done

[Hook]
And just get out, oh, just get out of all these bondage
Just get out, oh, you can't hold me in these chains
Just get out, all these traditions killin' freedom
Knowin' my condition is the reason I must change

[Verse 4]
I've just accepted what you said
Keeping me among the dead
The only way to know is to walk to learn and grow
But faith is not your speed
Oh, you’d have everyone believe
That you're the sole authority
Just follow the majority
Afraid to face reality—the system is a joke
Oh, you'd be smart to save your soul
Oh, and escape this mind control
You spent your life in sacrifice to a system for the dead
Oh, are you sure, where is the passion in this living?
Are you sure it's God you serving?
Obligated to a system
Getting less then you're deserving
Who made up these schools, I say
Who made up these rules, I say
Animal conditioning, oh, just to keep us as a slave

[Hook]
Oh, just get out of this social purgatory
Just get out, all these traditions are a lie
Just get out, superstition killin' freedom
Knowin' my condition is the reason I must die, ahh

[Outro]
Just get out, just get out, just get out
Let's get out, let's get out
Knowin' my condition
Is the reason I must die, just get out
**************************************************
The Sweetest ThingThe unexpected
Multi-dimensional
Unexpected sound of the Refugee All-Stars

The sweetest thing I've ever known
Was like the kiss on the collarbone
The soft caress of happiness
The way you walk, your style of dress
I wish I didn't get so weak
Oooh, baby, just to hear you speak
Makes me argue just to see
How much you're in love with me

[Hook]
See like the queen upon her throne
It was the sweet, sweet, sweetest thing I've known
It was the sweet, sweet, sweetest thing I've known

I get mad when you walk away (don't walk away)
So I tell you leave, when I mean stay
Warm as the sun dipped in black
Fingertips on the small of my back
More valuable than all I own
Like your precious, precious, precious, precious, precious, baby, dark skin tone

[Hook]

It was the...Ah
I tried to explain
Ah...but baby, it's in vain

Speaking on my mother's phone
The touching makes me think I'm grown, (you ain't grown)
Sweet prince of the ghetto
Your kisses taste like armaretto
Intoxicating, oh, so intoxicating
How sad, how sad that all things come to an end
But then again, I'm, I'm not alone

[Hook]
**************************************************
Every Ghetto, Every City[Verse 1]
I was just a little girl
Skinny legs, a press and curl
My mother always thought I'd be a star
But way before the record deals
Streets that nurtured Lauryn Hill
Made sure that I'd never go too far

[Chorus]
Every ghetto, every city
And suburban place I been
Make me recall my days, in New Jerusalem

[Verse 2]
Story starts in Hootaville
Grew up next to Ivy Hill
When kids were stealing quartervilles for fun
"Kill the Guy" in Carter Park
Rode a Mongoose 'til it's dark
Watching kids show off the stolen ones

[Chorus]
Every ghetto, every city
And suburban place I been
Make me recall my days, in the New Jerusalem

[Refrain]
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back.. looking back, looking back, looking back
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back

[Verse 3]
Bag of Bontons, twenty cents and a nickel (well that's a quarter)
Springfield Ave. had the best popsicles
Saturday morning cartoons and Kung-Fu (wuh-TAH!)
Main street roots tonic with the dreads
A beef patty and some coco bread
Move the patch from my Lee's to the tongue of my shoes
'Member, Freling-Huysen used to have the bomb leather
Back when Doug Fresh and Slick Rick was together
Looking at the crew, we thought we'd all live forever

[Refrain]
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back

[Verse 4]
Drill teams on Munn street
'Member when Hawthorne and Chancellor had beef
Moving Records was on Central Ave
I was there at dancing school
South Orange Ave. at Borlin pool
Unaware of what we didn't have
Writing my friends' names on my jeans with a marker
July 4th races outside Parker
Fireworks at Martin Stadium
The Untouchable P.S.P
Where all them crazy niggas be
And car thieves got away through Irvington
Hillside brings beef with the cops
Self Destruction record drops
And everybody's name was Muslim (children playing, women producing)
Sensations and eighty-eight
Attracted kids from out of state
And everybody used to do the wop (wop it out, wop it out, wop it out)
Jack ya, jack ya, jack ya body
Nah, the BizMark used to amp up the party
I wish those days, they didn't stop

[Chorus]
Every ghetto, every city
And suburban place I been
Make me recall my days, in New Jerusalem

[Refrain]
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
You know it's hot
Don't forget, what you got
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back

[Outro]
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
Looking back, looking back, looking back, looking back
**************************************************
War in the Mind (Freedom Time)[Hook]
Everybody knows that they guilty
Everybody knows that they've lied
Everybody knows that they guilty
Resting on their conscience eating their inside
It's freedom, said it's freedom time now
It's freedom, said it's freedom time now
Time to get free, or give yourselves up now
It's freedom, said it's freedom time

[Verse]
Yo, there's a war in the mind, over territory
For the dominion
Who will dominate the opinion
Skisms and isms, keepin' us in forms of religion
Conformin' our vision
To the world church's decision
Trapped in a section
Submitted to committee election
Moral infection
Epidemic lies and deception
Insurrection
Of the highest possible order
Destortin' our tape recorders
From hearin' like under water
Beyond the borders
Find the sin in disorder
Bound by the strategy
A systematic depravity
Heavy as gravity
Head first in the cavity
Without a bottom
A fate, worse than Sodom
What's got 'em, drunk off the spirits
Truth comes, we can't hear it
When you've been, programmed to fear it
I had a vision I was fallin' in indescision
Apallin', callin' religious
Some program on television
How can, dominant wisdom
Be recognized in the system
Of Anti-Christ, the majority rules
Intelligent fools
PhDs in illusion
Masters of mass confusion
Bachelors in past delusion
Now who you choosin'?
The head, or the tail
The bloodshed of the male
Or confidence in the tale
Conferences is Yale
Discussin' doctrines of Baal
Causin' people to fail
Keepin' the third in jail
His word has nailed
Everything to the tree
Severing all of me
From all that I used to be
Formless and void
Totally paranoid
Enjoy darkness as Lord
Keepin' me from the sword
Block for mercy
Bitter than cerasee
Hungry and thirsty
For good meat we would eat
And still, dined at the table of deceit
How incomplete
From confrontation to retreat
We belong, in true enemies defeat
Destitute in a necessity
Causin' desperation to get the best of me
Punishment 'til there was nothing left of me
Realizin' the inescapable death of me
No options in the valley of decision
The only doctrine, supernatural circumcision
Inwardly, only water can purge the heart
From words to fiery darts
Thrown by the workers of the arts
Iniquity, shapen in
There's no escapin' when
Your whole philosophy is paper thin
In vanity
The wide road is insanity
Could it be all of humanity
Picture that
Scripture that
The origin of a man's heart is black
How can we show up for
An invisible war
Preoccupied with a shadow, makin' love with a whore
Achin' in sores
Babylon, the great mystery
Mother of human history
System of social sorcery
Our present condition
Needs serious recognition
Where there's no repentance there can be no admission
And that sentence, more serious than Vietnam
The atom bomb and Saddam and Minister Farrakhan
What's goin' on, what's a priority to you
By what authority do to you
The majority hasn't a clue
We majored in curses
Search the chapters, check the verses
Recapture the land
Remove the mark from off of our hands
So we can stand
In agreement with his command
Everything else is damned
Let them with ears understand
Everything else is damned, let them with ears understand

[Hook]
It's freedom, said it's freedom time now
It's freedom, said it's freedom time now
It's freedom, I'mma be who I am
It's freedom time, said it's freedom time
Everybody knows that they've lied
Everybody knows that they've perpetrated inside
Everybody knows that they guilty, yes
Resting on their conscience eating their insides
Get free, be who you're supposed to be
Freedom, said it's freedom time now
Freedom, said it's freedom time
Freedom, freedom time now
**************************************************
Consumerism[Verse 1]
Consumerism running through them like a tumor in 'em
Ageism, sexism, racism, chauvinism
Capitalism running through them like the rumour business
Separatism, skepticism, modernism, atheism
Television running through them like an organism
Mechanism, despotism, poisoning the ecosystem
Satanism running through them like a politician
Hedonism, hypocrism, nihilism, narcissism
Egotism running through them, need an exorcism
Situation, heathenism, adversary demonism
To fix forms of religious spontaneity's a bad decision
Catholicism, Darwinism, barbarism, formalism
European fetishisms, terrorism running through them on their television
Introversion, extra prison tolerance for bad decisions
Exploitative be the saviour to correct the system/paranoia
Skepticism, schizophrenic, masochism
Escapism running through them need a sedative
Medication, complication, devastation negative
I say devastation negative
Modernism has created modern prisons
Neo-McCarthyisms, new colonialisms
Pessimism mess they is in
Hoodooism, hypnotism, egoism, realism, humanism, legalism
Mysticism makes decisions from a purer prism
Magnetism, pragmatism, altruism, pacifism/idealism
Actualism, rehabilitation-ism, ostracism, skepticism
Small fish ball for recognition oppressor and oppres condition
Sex, addiction, next suspicion, vexed, conflict and secularism
See, people need to villainize to offset disdain for their lives
Ugly human, ugly shame, corporate greed in Jesus' name
Anarchism, self-delusions
Victims leave with no solutions
Impositions, superstitions, violence and contradictions
False pretense and no convictions
Compromised commercialism
I said compromised commercialism
Worth and vision, work for wisdom
Full electromagnetism
Who comes first is first position
Rap's been missing you've been listening
Watch the empress bless the system
Paganism, false religion, plagiarism, broken system
Euphemism unforgiven
Inhibition, prohibition, disconnection
Broken wisdom, broken cistern can't hold wisdom
This town needs an exorcism
Egotism, egotism, egotism, egotism, egotism, egotism, egotism, egotism
Alcoholism, fascism, rationalism, national tension
Journalism gone gestapoism poporazzo-ism
As the world turns in isms
Trust eroticism, social drugs, narcotics in them
Cult existence, superstition
Ritual materialisms, serial isms
Habitual inferior vision
Consumerism

[Hook]
He is, he is
Set to, set to
Self-destruct, self-destruct
He is, he is
Too cool, too cool
To be true

[Verse 2]
Listen
Consumerism running through them like a tumor in 'em
Separatism, skepticism, desperation, nepotism
Capitalism running through the Montezuma in em
Ageism, sexism, racism, fascism
Television running through 'em like an organism
Hedonism, egoism, systematic narcissism
To empty religious spontaneity is anarchism
Social Darwinism, barbarism, modern paganism
Major schizism, division, ethnoplagiarism
Selfish business decision, greedy reductionism
Obstruction of the justice, occupation victimizationism
Brainwashing, mind control, synthetic stimulation in them
Time control mutilating the soul for a business decision
Help the people cope sell 'em dope from a new trope
Synthetic hope, life spent walking on a tightrope
Infantile masturbation, juvenile, no education
Mental castration, a generation forced to labor for a nation
Lock the means production down, price reduction down
Inflation and corruption need the medication now!
They need the medication now!
Corporate production in a state of mass combustion
Greed and lust and dangerous repercussions
To escape the rupture they speak of rapture
While still going after the things they spiritually capture
Distaster faster and faster and faster
Terrorism running through them on their television
Introversion, indecision, reactionism, hypocrism
Phony nationalism, dishpan Africanism
Material hypnotisms, monopoly, militarist devi-isms, sadomasochisms
Intellectual fetishisms sold on computers and televisions
Exploitative need a saviour to correct the system
Paranoia skepticism, schizophrenic mechanisms
Escapism running through them need a sedative
Medication, complication, situation negative
Modernism has created modern prisons
Neo-McCarthyisms, new colonialisms
Pessimism makes decisions, hoodooism, hypnotism
Egoism, realism, humanism, legalism
Small fish ball for recognition oppressor and oppressed condition
Sex, addiction, vexed conflict and anarchism
Self-delusions, victims leave with no solutions
Impositions, superstitions, brutism, contradictions
False pretense and no convictions
Compromised commercialism, recognition
Any decisions from a pure prism
Magnetism, pragmatism, altruism, actionism
Activism, pacifism, rehabilitation-ism
No false sensationalism, aped assimilation in 'em
Corporate cannibalism, psychological limitations in 'em
No imitations, competition, gross assumption
Parasitism, negative stimulation in 'em
Consumerism

[Hook]
**************************************************
Motives and ThoughtsRotating bodies, confusion of sound
Negative imagery, holding us down
Social delusion, clearly constructed
Human condition, morals corrupted
Trapped in reaction, lawlessness, war
Dissatisfaction from bowels to core
Devil's technology, strategy for
Human mythologies, urban folklore
Sick of psychology, counterfeit cure
Wicked theology, robbing the poor
Scheme demonology mislead the pure
Strictly strategically studying war
Light shown in darkness, image exposed
Few can see through the new emperor's clothes
Lustful this hustle turn humans to hoes
When the blind lead the blind, just more trouble and woes
It's the mind that they chose
Its designed to stay closed
Standard of jokers, court jester logic
Sick looking cosmics, from schoolyards to college
Primitive man with civilized knowledge
System collapse and he still won't acknowledge
God is the saviour, studies behavior
Trying to fix the mix mind that he gave ya
Stiff-necked scholars on prescription meds
Wishing their problems were all in their heads
Moral dilemma, pride is the root
Misguided from youth, heart divided from truth
Egyptians and Grecians, spiritually dead
Imperially led, by the gods in their heads
Motives and thoughts
Industrial wealth
Global economy, in it for self
Heart full of madness, covered with kind
Pleasure designed to take over your mind
Furnished in godliness, painted in good
This tainted priesthood got real saints misunderstood
While classes in government, set up the veil
And cultivate minds for more mythical tales
Typical Hollywood follies good girl
While vice and corruption take over the world
Motives and thoughts
Check your motives and thoughts
Blind with the wickedness, deep in your heart
Modern day wickedness is all you've been taught
Lied to your neighbors, so you get ahead
Modern day trickery is all you've been fed
Motives and thoughts
Check your motives and thoughts
**************************************************
Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)[Verse 1]
We're living in a joke time, metaphorical coke time
Commerce and girl men
Run the whole world men
Bold, drunken debauchery
Old world brutality
Cold world killed softly
Whole world run savagely
Greedy men and pride fiends
Program TV screens
Quick scam and drag queens
Real life's been blasphemed
Think twice its past dream
Crime if you ask clean
Quick fast the poison has entered the blood stream
Psychological massacre
Consequences are tragedy
Mythological characters
Men and women as parody
Superficial the vanity
Borderline the insanity
Out of order humanity
Crime committed so passively/randomly
Desperados and casualties
Corporations want batteries
Explanations and strategies
Domination and mastery
Owned, jonesing and bankrupt
Grown people so corrupt
Vice lords and yellow men junkies of popularity
Culture so in dependence
Vultures scavenge reality
Past feeling, depravity
Decaying social cavity
Preying on human ignorance
Popular immorality
Symptoms of diseased head
Population misled
Self indulgent, past dead
Absence of the God head
Pimps, pushers and harlotry
Nepotism no artistry
Despotism and piracy
Desperation, dishonesty
Business decision policy
More money lesser quality
Inflated global ego, imitating reality
Pseudo psycho new Pharaoh
Poisonous bows and arrows
Hypo critics on salary
Idle hands devil's agency
Predisposed to complacency
Jealousy and audacity
Contagious social gluttony
Stages of mass malignancy
Epidemic deception
Generation in atrophy
Glam life in debt
Scam life and editors
Bi products of neglect
Children hiding from creditors
Absence of self respect
Phony scared of competitors
Lifestyle of luxury
At someone's expense
Sensitive children used up as sacrifice
Blinded to consequence
Smoked up in dope pipes
Ecstasy, fast life, recklessly pass life
Narcotics and cash fight this neurotic society
Benefactors turned actors
Addiction's crippled captives
Experience manufactured
In this neurotic, toxic society

[Verse 2]
It's like post war they're looking for the communists or who the Marxist is
10,000 pictures on Facebook
That's like the pot calling the kettle narcissist
Come on really
Saying the devil but you're the chief arsonist
Hypocrites can't even see their own part in this
No reflection
Vampire paradigm
No introspection
This star that star rants has a breakdown
3 months before, pure obsession, picture can't take down
Children it's a shake down
They're just looking for a sacrifice
They've been doing this since before Bobby Darrin sang Mack the Knife
Before James Dean's car did a jack knife
Perhaps because they lack life or lack guts
Never confuse the head with the butt
Opinions are like assholes and most of them stink
I was told by a woman so rethink
Don't ever let them to lead you to drink
Lead you to doubt
Lead you to fall
Get up stand up
(And) cast Lucifer out
Shake it up baby
Watch them twist and then shout
Insecure assholes just looking for a ticket
To ride on somebody
Like the Pick It
It's fucking wicked
Shame on a 'nuh'
This neurotic, toxic society!
Sick psycho psychology
In desperate need of psychiatry
Exorcisms, sobriety
Forcing
Social lobotomies
People stuck in dichotomies
Pseudo sicko anxieties
Serial criminals dressed in variety
Social transvestism
Subliminal dressed up as piety
Transference, projections
Like Cartesian images
Robbing innocence
Stealing inheritance
Quiet victims with no defense
Betrayed over dollars and cents
Maladjusted and ignorant
Mal addiction and dissonance
Too much addiction no consciousness
Don't trust it
This cosmology's busted, broken
And returns to the dust
It stinks of corruption
Oppression, deceit
Abuse in repeat
They don't feel complete
Unless they're misleading/robbing the sheep
Man is not a product if you call him that then stop it!
In this Neurotic, dominant society
**************************************************
Mr. Intentional[Verse 1]
See, the road to hell is paved with good intentions
Can't you tell, the way they have to mention
How they helped you out?
You're such a hopeless victim!
Please don't do me any favors, Mr. Intentional

[Verse 2]
All their talk is seasoned to perfection
The road they walk, commanding your affection
They need to be needed, deceived by motivation
An opportunity to further situation
Why they're so important is without explanation
Please don't patronize me, Mr. Intentional

[Verse 3]
We give rise to ego by being insecure
The advice that we go desperately searching for
The subconscious effort to support our paramour
To engage in denial, to admit we're immature
Validating lies, Mr. Intentional
Open up yours eyes, Mr. Intentional

[Verse 4]
Stuck in a system that seeks to suck your blood
Held emotionally hostage by what everybody does
Counting all the money that you give them just because
Exploiting ignorance in the name of love
Stop before you drop because that's just the way it was
Please don't justify me, Mr. Intentional
Oh one-dimensional, Mr. Intentional
Oh don't you do me any favors

[Verse 5]
Wake up, you've been sleeping
Take up your bed and walk
Stop blaming other people
Oh it's nobody else's fault
Accept the truth about you
You know that life goes on without you
And your expensive misinventions
Disguising your intentions
Don't worship my hurt feelings, Mr. Intentional

[Verse 6]
See, I know you can't help me, Mr. Intentional
The only help I need to live is unprofessional
The only wealth I have to give is not material
And if you need much more than that, I'm not available
Please don't entertain me, Mr. Intentional
Oh I don't need your sympathy, Mr. Intentional
Stay away from me, Mr. Intentional
So one-dimensional, Mr. Promotional
Mr. Emotional, Mr. Intentional
**************************************************
Adam Lives in Theory[Verse 1]
Adam lives in theory
Trying to turn stone into bread
Masquerading like he got it figured out
Cut off from the sunshine, only smart in his own head
Leaving his descendants to hope and doubt
Left to his devices, those worthless sacrifices
Praying to the altar of himself
Making pilgrimages, thinking he's religious
Like he's got all the light, and no one else
He takes the unsuspected
Cause he knows they're not connected
And he shows them how to be just as he is
Virtually real, and commercially appealed
To the lust of all the people where he lives
Eve was so naive, blinded by the pride and greed
Wanting to be intellectual
Drifting from the way she got turned down one day
And now she thinks that she's bisexual
Caught up in emotion
Burning up in her devotion
To the king of exploitation in the field
She handed him her virtue
Cause he told her "I won't hurt you"
So she lay with him to see how good it feels

[Hook]
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?

[Verse 2]
Now after the sensation, and the empty fornication
She brought affection home
Into her bed, quickly multiplying
Now the 3 of them are dying by the poison she perceived to be good (head!)
Now Eve and her husband are perverted in their judgment
Cause everything appears to be the same
They entertain suggestion
Next time just use protection
Desiring to cover up their shame
But much to their demise, poor decision closed their eyes
To the very antidote to their dilemma
Burning in their lust
Both of them adulterous
Destroying the original agenda
Praying to the sky, in order to maintain a lie
They exhausted every possible conclusion
They can't even entertain the solution
In a brain filled with vain information and pollution
Hiding from the truth
He provided an excuse to explain away his desperate situation
When confronted, blamed his wife
Giving birth to carnal life
Refusing to acknowledge what he done
Now if we can agree with who created us to be
Who says we're guilty everyone before his eyes
Making no exceptions, since the day of our conception
Predisposed to hating truth, and loving lies

[Hook]
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?

[Verse 3]
Stop walking in pride, let the thief be crucified
Un-learn everything you know, and let Him teach you
Line upon line, and precept upon precept, say goodbye
To this decaying social system
He wants to know how far we're willing to go
If we love him like we say we do
He will try us
Just you don't regress
Or slip into hopelessness
Once He's satisfied His love
He won't deny us

[Hook - Shift]
And then He'll tell us, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
And then He'll tell us, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
**************************************************
Guarding the Gates[Chorus]
Everybody, everybody wants to know
Where you're goin' to, what you're runnin' from
What you're goin' through, where you're comin' from
What you're goin' through, where you're comin' from
Everybody, everybody wants to know
What you're gonna do, where you're goin' to
'Cause they wanna come, where I'm showin' you
Yes, they wanna come, where I'm showin' you

[Post-Chorus]
All that you can be is a spectacle
Following after every single miracle
Watch them marvel at all the joy you have
But they're too important to have all the joy you have
What a tragedy, you can laugh at me (You can laugh at me)
You can laugh at me (You can laugh at me)
But I'm in love
Yes, I'm in love

[Chorus]
Don't you wish you had real love?
Yes, I'm in love

[Verse 1]
Tryna fix myself for society
Tryna mix myself for society
But can you tell me, where is love in anxiety?
Can you tell me, where is love in anxiety?
What you say to me, I don't mind at all
What you say to me, I don't really care at all
'Cause I'm in love

[Refrain]
Don't you wish you had real love?
I know you do
Yes, I'm in love

[Verse 2]
Watch them speculate on the life you live
Watch them try to hate all the love you give
All the love you give

[Verse 3]
Everybody, everybody wants to know
Where you're goin' to, 'cause they wanna come
Or so they think until they find the cost of it
'Til they find out, find out what you lost for it
And I'd do it all again
'Cause I found love
'Cause I found love

[Refrain]
Don't you wish you had real love?
I know you do
Yes, I'm in love

[Chorus]
Everybody, everybody wants to know
Where you're goin' to, what you're runnin' from
What you're goin' through, where you're comin' from
What you're goin' through, where you're comin' from
Everybody, everybody wants to know
What you're gonna do, where you're goin' to (Where you're goin' to)
'Cause they wanna come (Wanna come), where I'm showin' you (Showin' you)
Yes, they wanna come, where I'm showin' you (Showin' you)

[Post-Chorus]
All that you can be is a spectacle
Following after every single miracle (Miracle)
Watch them marvel at (Marvel at) all the joy you have (Joy you have)
But they're too important to have all the joy you have (To have all)
What a tragedy (Tragedy), you can laugh at me (You can laugh at me)
You can laugh at me (You can laugh at me)
But I'm in love
Yes, I'm in love

[Refrain]
Don't you wish you had real love?
I know you do
Yes, I'm in love

[Verse 4]
So what you say to me, I don't even mind at all (What you say to me)
What you say to me, I don't even care at all (What you say to me, I don't even care)
'Cause I'm in love

[Refrain]
Don't you wish you had real love?
I know you do
Don't you wish you had real love?
Ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh

[Bridge]
These broken thoughts are in my mind
Can't let 'em get down in there
Can't let 'em get down in there
These broken thoughts are in my mind
Can't let 'em get down in there
Can't let 'em get down in there
'Cause I need real love (Guard)
(Guarding)
I need real love (Guarding)

[Outro]
I'm guarding, guarding the gates, ayy
(The gates)
(Guard, guarding)
Oh, I'm guarding my gates
**************************************************
Black RageBLACK RAGE is founded on two-thirds a person
Rapings and beatings and suffering that worsens,
Black human packages tied up in strings.
BLACK RAGE can come from all these kinds of things
Black Rage is founded on blatant denial
Squeezing economics, subsistence survival,
Deafening silence and social control.
Black Rage is founded on wounds in the soul!

When the dogs bite
When the beatings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember all these kinds of things
and then I don't fear so bad!

Black rage is founded: who fed us self-hatred
Lies and abuse, while we waited and waited
Spiritual treason, This grid and its cages
Black rage was founded on these kinds of things

Black rage is founded on draining and draining
Threatening your freedom, To stop your complaining
Poisoning your water, While they say it's raining
Then call you mad for complaining, complaining
Old time bureaucracy drugging the youth
Black rage is founded on blocking the truth,
Murder and crime, Compromise and distortion
Sacrifice, sacrifice who makes this fortune?
Greed, falsely called progress
Such human contortion,
Black rage is founded on these kinds of things

So when the dog bites
And the beatings
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember all these kinds of things and then I don’t fear so bad

Free enterprise, is it myth or illusion?
Forcing you back into purposed confusion
Black human trafficking or blood transfusion?
Black rage is founded on these kinds of things.
Victims of violence both psyche and body
Life out of context IS living unGodly
Politics, politics
Greed falsely called wealth
Black rage is founded on denial of self!
Black human packages tied and subsistence
Having to justify your very existence
Try if you must, but you can’t have my soul
Black rage is made by unGodly control

So when the dog bites
And when the beatings
And I’m feeling so sad
I simply remember all these kinds of things
And then I don’t fear so bad
**************************************************
I Find it Hard to Say (Rebel)[Verse 1]
I find it hard to say
That everything is alright
Don't look at me that way
Like everything is alright
'Cause my own eyes can see
Through all your false pretenses
But what you fail to see
Is all the consequences
You think our lives are cheap
And easy to be wasted
As history repeats
So foul you can taste it

[Refrain]
And while the people sleep
Too comfortable to face it
His life's so incomplete
And nothing can replace it
And while the people sleep
Too comfortable to face it
Your life's so incomplete
And nothing can replace it

[Verse 2]
Fret not thyself I say
Against these laws of man
'Cause like the Bible says:
His blood is on their hands

[Chorus]
And what I gotta say
And what I gotta say, is rebel
While today is still today, choose well
And what I gotta say, is rebel
It can't go down this way
Choose well, choose well, choose well
Choose well, choose well, choose well

[Refrain]
And while the people sleep
Too comfortable to face it
Your lives are so incomplete
And nothing, and no one, can replace it
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

[Chorus]
And what I gotta say, and what I gotta say
And what I gotta say, and what I gotta say
And what I gotta say, and what I gotta say
And what I gotta say, and what I gotta say
Is rebel – rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel
Rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel, rebel
Repent, the day is far too spent – rebel, rebel!
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up
Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up and rebel
We must destroy in order to rebuild
Wake up, you might as well
Oh are you… oh are you satisfied?
Oh are you satisfied? Rebel, ohhh, rebel!

[Outro]
Why don't you rebel?
Why don't you rebel?
Why don't you rebel?
I'm fading myself down now
**************************************************
Water[Spoken Intro]

[Verse 1]
Moving down the streams of my lifetime
Pulls the fascination in my sleeve
Cooling off the fire of my longing
Boiling off my cold within his heat
Melting down the walls of inhibition
Evaporating all of my fears
Baptizing me into complete submission
Dissolving my condition with his tears

[Hook]
He's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
He's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years

[Verse 2]
Coursing through my senses, he's prevailing
Floating through the space of my design
Drowning me to find my inside sailing
Drinking in the mainstream of mind
Filling up the cup of my emotions
Spilling over into all I do
If I only I could get lost in his ocean
Surviving on the thought of loving you

[Hook]
He's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
He's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years

[Verse 3]
Bathing in the fountain of his essence
He causes my expression to remain
Humbled on a mountain by his presence
Washing my intentions with his name
Sealing off the floodgates of his passions
Saving all his liquid for his own
Moisturizing me to satisfaction
In my imagination? No no!
He's pouring out his soul to me for hours and hours
Drawing out my nature with his hands
Yearning I'm so thirsty for his power
Burning to be worthy of his land

[Hook]
He's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
He's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years

[Bridge]
Cleaning me
He's purging me
And moving me around
He's bathing me
And he's claiming me
And moving me around
Around and around and around
And around
Watching me, claiming me
Moving me around
He's purging me
He's been cleaning me
And moving me around
And around
And around
Around
Around
Moving me around

[Spoken Outro]
**************************************************
So Much Things to Say[Intro]
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah yey
Why, why, why, why, why, why, why
Why, Why, heh

[Hook]
They've got so much things to say right now
They've got so much things to say
They've got so much things to say right now
They've got so much things to say

[Verse 1]
I'll never forget no way, how they crucified Jesus Christ
I'll never forget no way, how they sold Marcus Garvey for rice
I'll never forget no way, how they turned their backs on Paul Bogle
So don't you forget no way...
Who you are, and where you stand in the struggle

[Hook]
They've got so much things to say right now
They've got so much things to say
They've got so very many things, to say right now
They've got so much things to say

[Verse 2]
And I don't come to fight flesh and blood
But spiritual wickedness in high and low places
And don't you fight me down
I'll stand firm, and give Jah all the thanks and praises
I don't expect to be justified, by these laws of men
Though the wicked find me guilty, Jah will proove my innocency
'Cause when the rain falls, it don't, fall on one man's house top
Remember that
See when this rain falls, it don't, fall on one man's house top

[Hook]
They've got so much things to say right now
They've got so much, so much things to say
They've got, heh, so much things to say right now
They've got so, so much things to say

[Verse 3]
But let them keep talking, oh let them keep talking
'Cause non of them walking, oh non of them walking, no
And while they still talking, see I'mma be walking
I'mma be walking, so let them keep talking

[Verse 1 Reprise]
Said I never forget no way, how they crucified Jesus Christ
And I, I'll never forget, how they sold Marcus Garvey for rice
Said I, never forget, how they turned their backs on Paul Bogle
So non of you, non of you forget...
Who you are, and where you stand in the struggle

[Verse 2 Reprise]
'Cause when this rain, 'cause when this rain, rain, rain, rain, rain falls
It don't fall on one man's house, I'm telling you the rain...
I'm telling you the rain, rain, rain, rain, rain don't fall
It don't fall... they...

[Hook + Outro]
They've got, they've got, so very many things to say about me
I'm telling you lie
They, and they, and they will have so many things
They'll have so many things to say about you...
To say about you
'Cause they don't know me, know me
They don't know me, oh they don't know me, oh they don't know me
Oh they don't know me well
They, they, they, they, they, they, they don't know my Father
'Cause if they did, if they did... hey ey... theeey...
Heh..
**************************************************
Intro[School bell rings]

[Teacher: Ras Baraka]
Please respond when I call your name...
Alright, Kevin Charles... (Here)
Jaris Boykins... (Here)
Alicia Simmons... (Here)
Phillip Valdez... (Here)
Gabrielle Salado... (Here)
Latoya Bradberry... (Right here)
Antawn Mitchell... (Here)
Shaquan Sutton... (Here)
Cory Thomas... (Here)
Tyron Lucas... (Here)
Kennia Codwell...(Here)
Tanika Marshall... (Here)
Lauryn Hill...
Lauryn Hill...
Lauryn Hill...
Walton Spates... (Here)

(Music fades)
**************************************************
Oh Jerusalem[Intro]
Oh Jerusalem
Oh Jerusalem
Oh Jerusalem
Oh Jerusalem

[Verse 1]
Realizing that there's no place else to go
And there's nobody I know who can help me
Textbook solutions are so improbable
Cause everybody else is just as empty

Naked as the day that I was born, I tried to hide
Behind education and philosophy
Hopeless explanation to describe a situation
I can't see because the world's on top of me

[Verse 2]
Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me
From the body of this death?
Freeing me from dust, and the superficial trust
Of an enemy that seeks to take my breath

Failing to connect cause I'm morally defect
By reason of the God inside my head
Causing me to see only what pertains to me
Believing I'm alive when I'm still dead

[Verse 3]
Limited to earth, unable to find out my worth
Cause I can't see past my own vanity
If I'm not included, then I just have to remove it
From my mind because it has to be insanity

Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me
From the body of this death?

[Verse 4]
Can I even factor, that I've only been an actor
In this staged interpretation of this day
Focused on the shadow, with my back turned to the light
Too intelligent to see it's me in the way

What a paradox, having God trapped in a box
All this time professing to be spiritual
Naturally pretending, that I'm actually defending
God through my facade, don't need material

[Hook]
Oh Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness
That thou mayest be saved from thy deception
How long shall thy faith lodge lies within thee?
Oh Jerusalem, keeping thee from perfection

[Verse 5]
Submit to truth, leave the deception of thy youth
So we could walk in the council of authority
Forget the proof, our generation so aloof
Only follow in the steps of the majority

Trust in the Lord with all thy heart
And lay not to thine, oh an understanding in all thy ways
Acknowledge Him, and He shall direct our paths
Be not wise in thine own eyes and you can follow him

We judge and condemn, just as ignorant as them
Who religion tells us that we should ignore
Perpetrating we're in covenant with Him
Exposed by the very things that we adore

[Verse 6]
We grin and shake hands, then lay ambush for the man
Who has a different point of view then us
Infuriated cause he doesn't understand
Bringing up those things we don't want to discuss

Why still do evil, we don't know how to do good
Walking on in darkness running from the light
Led to believe, because we live in neighborhoods
Telling us what's going on will be alright

Oh so repressed, so convinced that I was blessed
When I played with my game of Monopoly
Oh to suggest, that my life is still a mess
Who reveal the pride I'm hiding is what's stopping me

[Hook]
Oh Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness
That thou mayest be saved from thy deception
How long shall thy faith lodge lies within thee?
Oh Jerusalem, keeping thee from perfection

[Verse 7]
Abide in me and I in you, as the branch cannot bear
Fruit of itself except in the vine
I am the vine, ye are the branches, he that lives in me
And I in him, the same bring forth much fruit

Without me, you can do nothing
Oh Jerusalem, you're traditions have deceived you
I've chosen you, you haven't chosen me
Do whatsoever, you asking my name he may give to you

But in vain they call my name
Teaching doctrines just the same
Justified among themselves
But God know with the heart, what man esteemed as smart
Is an abomination to Emmanuel

[Verse 8]
Just repent, turn from selfish motivation
So iniquity will not cause your demise
Make you a new heart and a new spirit
For why would he die? Oh Jerusalem, please tell me why

I have no pleasure in the death of him to die
Says the Lord God where forth turn yourselves and live
It's not the talkers, but the walkers and His Word
Are the only ones the Father will forgive

[Hook]
Oh Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness
That thou mayest be saved from thy deception
How long shall thy faith lodge lies within thee?
Oh Jerusalem, keeping thee from perfection

[Outro]
Oh Jerusalem
**************************************************
SelahNothing can be done against the truth
No matter how we remain in denial, yeah
Wasting time, replacing time with each empty excuse
But that'll only work a little while
Coping with despair, knowing you're not there
Ashamed to just admit I've been a fool
So I blame it on the sun, run away from everyone
Hoping to escape this ridicule
Trapped in misery, wrapped so miserably
And this deception, I wear it like a skin
Dying to maintain, oh I keep trying to explain
A heart that never loved me to begin
Oh I'm such a mess, I have no choice but to confess
That I've been desperately trying to belong
Lieing to myself and everybody else
Refusing to admit my right was wrong

[Refrain:]
And then He came
Selah, oh and it means
Praise and meditation, and then He came
Selah, oh and it means
Did you think about that, and then He came
Selah, oh and it means
Praise and meditation, and then He came
Selah, oh and it means
That it is seen

How beautiful is fruit still in denial of its roots
My guilty heart behaves so foolishly
This treason from within that reasons with my sin
Won't be happy till it sees the death of me
Selfishly addicted to a life that I depicted
Conflicted cause it's not reality
Oh what's left of me, I beg you desperately
Cause me to agree with what I know is best for me
Please save me from myself, I need you, save me from myself
Please save me from myself so I can heal
The choices that I've made, oh have been nothing but mistakes
What a wasted use of space, should I die before I wake
In all of my religion, I've fortified this prison
Obligated to obey the demands of bad decisions
Please save me from myself, I need you
Save me from myself, please save me from myself so I can heal

[Refrain]

And then He came
And then He came, then He came, then He came
And then He
And then He came
**************************************************
Love[Verse 1]
Your love is like the ocean, and I am like the sand
Responding to your power, a safe place for you to stand
But when the undercurrents come, and pull you out to sea
I'm left with shells and slippery rocks where you used to be
And when the sun comes beating down and burns my body dry
It's hard to wait until the tide to quench my thirst, so I cry, I cry
Cry, cry, and then at last, the sun goes down
And leads into your sea
And I can feel your desperate hands all over me, all over me
I dream of you, when I know I shouldn't, shouldn't
You are hurting me and you said that you wouldn't
You promised me you wouldn't you wouldn't
I said I'd be with you and I know I couldn't
And I knew I couldn't
Oh, I, oh I. Indeed, indeed, indeed

[Outro]
So moves like that
This is how we bust rhymes on a phat track
Me and Kahlee, female refugees, we get down like that
I don't know what to sing so my artistry brings
Things from off the top of my head
I bust freestyles instead
Of memories of the time when we were free
**************************************************
Nice For What (Remix)[Intro: Big Freedia]
I wanna know who mothafuckin' representin' in here tonight
Brooklyn!
Uptown!
Hold on, hold on

[Pre-Chorus: Lauryn Hill Sample & Lauryn Hill]
Hold on
I keep lettin' you back in (Hey) you back in
How can I, explain myself?
Care for me, (Hey) care for me, you said you'd (Hey) care for me (What yall know about that)
There for me, there for me, said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me, (Yo, yo) you said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me, why won't you live for me?

[Chorus:]
See this is Ex-Factor
He took the sample
My shit is classic
Here’s an example
Of how we niced it up on a rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm
See this is Ex-Factor
We took the sample
My shit is classic
Here’s an example
Of how we niced it up on a rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm (Listen)

[Verse 1:]
You know I'm only here 'til manana
Catch the plane so I can go to Punta Cana
Ripped up jeans and I'm Balenciaga mama
With dread dem who like to sing song, like satta massagana
I'm in the short natural like I'm Lola Folana
Birthed two lions codename Black Madonna
[?] head gear from Botswana
Backyard it's
[?] we no longer nana's
Watch that shit we go bananas
Watch that shit we go bananas

[Refrain]
I'm the original
I turned the paradigm
Who be the written * who be the mastermind
See how I sliced it up on this rhythm
So many wanna spice it up on this rhythm
I'm the original
I burned the paradigm
So many, wanna
See how I sliced it up on this rhythm
So many wanna spice it up on this rhythm

[Verse 2]
So stop actin' like you didn't grow up singing my songs
I stoop down on this bitch like I had wings on my own
I transcended speak truth like I wrote the amendments
Sorry if you offended it's the truth that I mean
Birds, beans, and, *pie, we take it the same
Mention my name its the same [?] they like [?] the brain
My shit still doin' the thing
My shit still raise the pain
Halabit* the world before we came
We conquered before we came
Emoji's and all flames
And the game was never the same
And the game was never the same
And the-

[Refrain]
I'm the original
I burned the paradigm
Who be the written [?] who be the mastermind
See how I sliced it up on this rhythm
So many wanna spice it up on this rhythm

[Chorus]
See this is Ex-Factor
He took the sample
My shit is classic
Here’s an example
Of how we niced it up it up on a rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm
See this is Ex-Factor
He took the sample
My shit is classic
Here’s an example
Of how we niced it up it up on a rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm
See this is Ex-Factor
He took the sample
This shit is classic
Here’s an example
Of how we niced it up it up on a rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm
Doo do do do do
See how we
Niced it up it up on  this rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm
See this is Ex-Factor
He took the sample
This shit is classic
Here’s an example
Of how we niced it up it up on a rhythm so many wanna
Spice it up on a rhythm

[Outro]
God bless you guys
Come on thank you so much
**************************************************
I’ve Got Life[Intro: Nina Simone]
I ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes
Ain't got no money, ain't got no class
Ain't got no friends, ain't got no schooling
Ain't got no hurt, ain't got no job
Ain't got no money, no place to stay
Ain't got no

[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]
Programmed inequity, it's in the nervous system
Listen, watch the words, how they twist 'em
Two thirds of the world turned victim
Subtle energy, they capture and block chi
The unseen violence behind the democracy
Some call it hypocrisy, turn freeman into property
And logically justify not treatin' 'em properly
Invisible ink in the constitution
Meant to preserve the institution, unequal distribution
Of wealth, goods and services
Revolvin' door, no floor, just anxiety and nervousness
Trapped in circuses
Herds of us, not understandin' our purposes
When appetites and psychological types
Get caught in the hype, it's tight from morning 'til night
I'm demanding my rights
Women's suffrage then black suffrage
Or Jim Crow, the KKK
American terrorism
Murders and beatings on television
It's in the cells now, you thought that was yesterday?
But the compression stays, trauma still got most afraid
Stuck in the memory, fear gives birth to lethargy
Generations of children in jeopardy
History written in jealousy, scribes full of heresy
Full of barbarians, ch-ch-check out my melody
Musical therapy, reprogram
Africa full of coltan
Coltrane was a cold man
Black genius in a cold land tryna be the whole man
Heal the homeland
Past time for our own land
Where a grown man can be a grown man
The system has benefit for robbery is robbery
You can't run from it, God is a natural monopoly
Divine creator stuck in monotony
Bureaucracy, psyche on poverty
Self-esteem broken like pottery
No more, not me, codename anomaly
Cause there's just no match for the prodigy
Sovereignty, the god in me
Walking university, living cosmology
Without apology

[Hook: Nina Simone]
I've got life
I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

[Verse 2: Lauryn Hill]
OK
The more you suppress life the stronger it gets
With death life the longer it gets
I know it’s hard to admit
That you follow some bullshit
Swallow the wrong pill looking for mr bill
Repression, oppression: same thing (same thing)
Fear the shadow that’s the main thing (main thing)
They keep running from
Every action yields an equal and opposite one
Yes that means the consequence comes
Fields of cumbersome back breaking labor
Can’t be healed with just a cummerbund
I was homecoming queen call me number one
Yep that’s another one, now give the drummer some
Tell every mother’s son expression can be far more powerful than a hundred guns
See my Kalashnikov lyrics with the safety off
Now dance around these niggas like Baryshnikov
Street sweeper my words are my keeper
It’s in the ether, now what you trynna tell these preachers, It’s done
It’s done let loose your tongue
Gifted, black and young
Watch these devils run
They knew a change was gonna come
Sinner man  looking for a place to run
Tell the truth in tongues’ enemy reduced by one's
Thousands 2 can put 10,000 in flight
Speak truth to power every 24 hours

[Hook: Nina Simone]
I've got life
I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

[Verse 3: Lauryn Hill]
(Ay let me tell you)
Imperialism is a form of Jihad
They killed and enslaved millions for gold bullion, in the name of God
The children of mammon called it spiritual famine
Can we examine, how they stole bauxite, rubber, labor, diamonds and platinum?
The building blocks of society and economy, broke humanity to build the colonies
Using reverse psychology to keep us from knowing our quality
No more human tragedy, no more mis-recognition, no more addiction
Let’s accurately diagnose our condition!
Listen:
400 years of the abuse and misuse of religion
Don’t give me another person’s prescription!
I need what I need, my deeds are my deeds
As a man thinketh so is he, Mezanmi!
Take the land back, every child, woman and man back
Reevaluate history, expeditiously
Can’t live my life in apostasy
Emulate the apostrophe hang with S, you can rock with me
I come in love and truth (truth)
Look at what I went through
Now it’s time to acknowledge just what I give you: Life

[Hook: Nina Simone]
I've got life
I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

[Verse 4: Lauryn Hill]
There’s a whole lotta wrong to be righted, I get excited
I'ma kick this shit off like I’m on Manchester United & my attention is undivided, so you can’t divide and conquer me!
I’m sitting comfortably in a SUV, up in my SUV taking artistic liberties
Making musical history, a lil' acupuncture, structural integration, my meditation, liberating a generation & beyond that, I’m taking the bomb back. I’m splitting atoms for freedom, America needs more FREED men, able to talk right, not prone to GREED men (It’s just not what you need man)
Let your words and deeds line up, master the mind, young king man??, put your signs up, intelligent designs up!, plant your seeds, keep your dimes up, cuz no man knows when the time’s up
It’s elemental like Solomon in the temple, Ark of the Covenant, accountable to a higher government
I’m looking for love (in all the wrong places)
Somebody tell me, where them brothas went, reclaim your wealth, no more giving the enemy help, no more sympathy for the devil, let'em hang himself
Get all the billion Black people out of these bottles, suffer while grown people get coddled, you know the novel

[Hook: Nina Simone]
I've got life
I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you
**************************************************
Interlude 5You all doin’ alright?...You okay?
*claps*
I’m not screamin at ya, I’m just askin you a question. Y’all givin’ me a clap.
A yes is fine (laughing) okay?
(voice from audience “I love that song”)
Thank you. Praise God.

I tell you, I know everybody’s in the same mess. I’m telling you.
We all are.
I, I, I know that, you know...
and I’m just, you know, I’ll be the first to tell you, you know,
I’m a mess and God is dealing with me everyday. And everyday I’m trying, you know, how I can be less of a mess. Cuz you know, he showed me, Look Lauryn, you know, You’re the problem, okay, I’m going to show you how you’re causing the problem, and now I want you to be the solution. And that’s what all of these songs are about, just, problem, cause and solution. Free your mind.

It’s like, we all think that the gospel is join and church building, and that’s deception, you know.
The real gospel is Repent, which means ‘let go of all that crap,’ that’s killin’ you.
Life was supposed to be a pleasurable experience, not this torment, you know.
And when I realized that I was tormenting myself, it was about my lust.
It wasn’t about things that I needed it was just, you know, all these security blankets. I mean, the more I acquired I became more of a prisoner. I mean, you know, forty people on staff, and you can’t do nothing, and now creativity is impossible because all you can think about is all these folks that you know, you’re supporting and carryin’ and you know, it’s not good. You know, everybody…
a friend of mine says that every tub has to stand on it’s own bottom, you know. And in that respect, we all get to do what our passion is.
See , that’s what praisin God is all about, is doing your passion.

You know, it’s not useless, worthless ritual, you know, monotonous ritual, where we just show up and can’t wait to see the game, you know. It’s doing your passion and fulfilling your passion. You know.
That’s how we’re thankful. That’s how we say we appreciate the opportunity to be alive.

And I’m just glad that I, you know, I don’t have to slave anymore. You know, cuz I, music was my love, and because of everything I thought had to accompany my music it became my burden. It just got stolen from me. I said, What is this? How did this thing that I love so much so easily and so quickly turn to something I loath and hate?
And so now, you know, I understand that it was because I was measuring myself or trying to compare myself to a standard that wasn’t reality. It wasn’t the standard at all, you know. T
here’s a scripture in the Bible that we, what does it say, it says ‘We compare ourselves amongst ourselves’ you know. That’s not the standard. You already are the standard. What are you trying to fit into a standard for? We were each created to be individual standards, you know. And we’re trying to fit into a standard? It doesn’t make any sense, you know.

So now I’m just, you know, after all that, I’m just ready to be me. And it’s a lot to work through, you know, because all of us have hidden in these little boxes purposely, because of parts of ourselves that we were unhappy about. And it’s because we didn’t understand, you know, because there’s all this social doctrine that says, you know, that
The infinite God, with all this expression,
who created every single one of us,
absolutely different,
On purpose,
wants everybody to fit into the same suit.
But like, you know, that’s deception.
That’s deception.

(Talking to someone offstage) Okay, let me just, I think this is the wrong one (laughing) I don’t think this is the right one.

We took…we were in, um, Florida this weekend and we took the kids to Disney world, and um, you know we were going, they gave us a tour. They escorted us through the back. And when they escorted us through the back, we got to see how, you know, there all these people workin all hard, and it was like, real dirty back there, and of course, in the front it was all immaculately clean.
And I said, I said, you know, People need to see the reality, they need to see, you know, how these people slave to maintain this illusion.
And it felt like my life. I said, If people only knew what it was.

It’s like, you know, a bunch of musicians, listen, bustin’ their ‘mm’ workin all hard to make it look easy. What’s the point? You know, Oh, uh, I just threw this together, uh…(audience laughs).
You know, it’s like, you know what I’m sayin?
I mean, you know.
Slaving.
Slaving to act like, you know, I wake up like this. And none of us do, you know, none of us do.
None of us do.
And reality is good cuz that means everybody could just exhale, let your belly out, you know, and chill. You know. But people get mad at me when I say, Look, let’s stop frontin’. And I’m saying, you know, that’s the blessing.
Now we can go around and look at each other and say, Oh, you got one too?!

And be free.

And we want to defend the curse. I’ll tell ya, that was not fun. Did it for a long time...

Too long.
(offstage) You didn’t find it? It’s another white one. But you see…in my purse. Or the, the other bag? Or the green one? Ghetto. You know, it’s reality, okay (laughing)?

One time, it came to me, you know, I was just told very concretely.
You know, it was like that voice, the right one, said to me,
he said, Lauryn, You know the real you is more interesting than the fake somebody else.
I just want you to know that.

Because we always thought we could get, you know, we could get reality by just putting on the clothes and wearin’ the face and you know, lookin hard in the video. But, you know. Reality is..it’s like I’ve always told to my husband, it’s like, look, you know, we look at Bob Marley, you know, and we say Okay, let’s just grow locks and wear the clothes and have the band and we have no many idea how many years of struggle and pain and suffering that made that content. You see what I’m saying?

You can’t get it from the outside in. Truth is from the inside out.

You know, and the way we’ve been trying to heal and be healed is with these topical, surface, superficial, temporary solution. And I’m telling you, true healing is from the inside out. You know, we’ve been told to protect our outer man while our inner man is dying. (offstage) Oh, this is the one.

Boy I’ll tell ya, God made him for me. I’m something to put up with. And to endure that is amazing. I’ll be the first to tell you, trust me. Y’all could clap cuz that’s some real work (more clapping). I was in there in the room, you know, before we came out here, and he said to me, I said, Ro should I change? And he said, Yeah. So I looked at him, I said, Why did you tell me to change I was comfortable, man. But I asked him the question. So I went in the room and I tried on all these clothes and I was like, I feel like an idiot. So I pulled out all these clothes and I’m sayin, ok Ro, you know, Pack the bag neatly, you know, Could you put the clothes back in? And he’s like, Alright. So he’s trying to do this but then I’m like, No! Now take this out! Now put that back and take that out! Put that back, hold that, take, that, put, The orange shoe! The orange shoe! So I’m like. And then after awhile I just said, Ro baby, could you leave? Please get out the room. And I just put back on the clothes I came in. Okay, I was like…I’m just not there anymore. Nah, I’m telling you. It’s like, uh (laughing). Hey you know he’s learned. Because before we used to just beef and now he’s like, Okay…I’m out. It’s real. God gave us a brand new relationship, man, I mean, one in truth, you know.

It’s like, we date people, like let’s say, you know, we’re interested in somebody and we put on the perfume and dress up and then we do things that we will never ever ever do again! You understand what I’m sayin? It’s like…And that’s why so many marriages end up in divorce. It’s because people wake up next to a stranger.
They say, Who the hell are you? What are you doing in this bed?
Where’s that man that used to do ‘du, dua, and du.’
And I’m sayin let’s give them reality from the door because: you’re going to attract love,
and the one that really loves you. And then you don’t have to pretend and falsify, and you know, keep that posture.

You know, you know, I can’t, I’m just like...I’ll never forget when I first met him I said to him, it was like, he saw me eating in front of him, and he told me, he was like, You eat like a man, you must not like me. You know, because, women, usually they keep that posture. And I said, Nah. I said it’s not even that, you know. It’s but, this is reality. This is, you know, and that’s it, man, I mean, I’m just telling you, it’s so wonderful to finally find…

And trust me, it’s a work in progress, it’s not something that happens overnight.
We all have to be introduced to each other.

I’m telling you, I know that I’m up here and you see, Lauryn Hill, you came to see Lauryn Hill.
But this is the first time y’all meet me. You see what I’m saying? Don’t think you met me before, okay. And as I grow, you’re going to meet me a little bit more. You’re gonna be exposed to the real me a little bit more. I can tell you I had to reintroduce myself to everybody I know. My mother my father. Listen, y’all never knew me. I want to introduce you to me. I’m just getting to know me. And you know what, anything that’s not growin' is dead, so we better be changing.

You know, people would say to me, they would hold me hostage. And they, seriously, emotionally hostage, and they’d say, Uh, she’s changing. The money’s changing her. And I’d say Listen, the money’s not changing me, God’s changing me. I’m changing, because that’s a natural part of life. We’re all supposed to change. Who wakes up and is the same way tomorrow and the day after that? Nobody is. Let the experience teach you and be real, man.

And, um..there’s gonna be warfare involved. Because there’s some people who prefer deceptions, see. They say, uh, I don’t like this new expression, and I say, what, you want two-thirds of me to stay outside? I’m a whole person. You can’t say, you know, two-thirds of Lauryn, come in here. Only two-thirds is acceptable. I’m a whole person. You know. And that’s everybody.

You always talk about spiritual warfare and we didn’t realize that it was in relationships. It’s emotional warfare. Being able to tell the people we love the most the truth about ourselves. And when they say, Hey that doesn’t fit into our box for you, we say, well, I ain’t in no box. Don’t try to put me in one.

I’m going to play a little bit of guitar with this one, but I might stop it’s cuz I really want you to listen to the words, so if I stop, you understand why. I want you to really hear the words…
**************************************************
Killing Me SoftlyStrummin' my pain with his fingers
Singin' my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song telling my whole life
With his words killing me softly with his song
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him
And listen for a while
And there he was this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
Strummin' my pain with his fingers
Singin' my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song telling my whole life
With his words killing me softly with his song
I felt all flushed with fever
Embarrassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
And read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
Strummin' my pain with his fingers
(One time, one time)
Singin' my life with his words
(Two times, two times)
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song telling my whole life
With his words killing me softly with his song
I said whoa oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, la, la, la, whoa
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, ohla, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, whoa
Oh, oh, oh, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Strummin' my pain with his fingers
(Yes he was)
Singin' my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song telling my whole life
With his words killing me softly with his song
**************************************************
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You (Remix)[Intro:]
Uh, uh, uh, we got the...
(Oh my God! Is it real?)
Oh, we got the...
(Oh my God! Is it real?)
A one-two, a one-two
(Oh my God!)

Yeah, uh...

[Verse 1:]
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you (Baby)
You'd be like heaven to touch (Huh)
I wanna hold you so much (Yeah)
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive (I'm alive, yeah)
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

[Verse 2:]
Pardon the way that I stare (the way that I stare)
There's nothing else to compare (What?)
The sight of you leaves me weak (So weak)
There are no words left to speak (words left to speak)
But if you feel like I feel (Yeah)
Please let me know that it's real (It's all real)
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

[Chorus:]
I love you baby, if it's quite all right
I need you baby, to warm the lonely night
I love you baby, trust in me when I say okay (It's okay)
Oh pretty baby, don't let me down, I pray
Oh pretty baby, now that I've found you, stay
And let me love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby...
(It takes two to make a thing go right)

[Verse 3:]
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive (Thank God, what?)
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

[Chorus:]
I need you baby, and if it's quite all right
I need you baby, to warm a lonely night
I love you baby, trust in me when I say it's okay (Check the jewelers)
Oh pretty baby, don't let me down, I pray
Oh pretty baby, now that I've found you, stay
And let me love you (What?)
Oh baby let me love you, oh baby...

I need you baby (It's a conspiracy)
I love you baby (It's like... uhl...)
I need you baby (I want you)
Trust in me when I say it's okay
Oh, oh pretty baby, don't let me down, I pray
Oh pretty baby, now that I found you, stay
And let me love you, oh baby let me love you, oh baby...

A one-two, a one-two
A one-two, a one-two
A one-two, a one-two
A one-two, a one-two
A one-two, a one-two...

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, ya'll
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, ya'll
It's a... it's a conspiracy
Read the papers!
Yo, 'cause it's all propaganda
**************************************************
The Conquering Lion[Verse]
The conquering lion
Shall break every chain
The conquering lion
Shall break every chain
Give him the victory
Again and again and again and again
Give him the victory
Ohh

The conquering lion
Shall break every chain
The conquering lion
Shall break every chain
Give him victory
Again and again and again and again and again and again
Give us some victory
Ohh, yeah
Ohh, conquering lion

Shall break every chain, every chain, every chain
The conquering lion, yeah ohh
Shall break every chain
Give us some victory
We need some victory
We need some victory
Again and again and again and again
Give, give, give, us some victory
Ohh, ohh, ohh

The conquering lion
He'll break every chain
Every one of your chains, every one of your chains
The conquering lion
Hey, he's gonna break all of those chains if you just let him
Give him, give him the victory, give him the victory
Again and again and again and again
Give him the victory
Ohh, ohh, ohh
**************************************************
Just Want You Around[Intro]
I just want you around
I just want you around
I just want you around
I just want you around

[Verse 1]
Thought that I had lost you
I can hardly make a sound
When I thought I couldn't hold you
Knew the world had let me down
Should have took the time to tell you
You keep my feet on the ground
I hope that you can hear me
Cause I know its not profound

[Hook]
I just want you around
I just need you around
I just want you around
I just need you around

[Verse 2]
When I thought I was without you
I got used to being down
It was my fault I used to doubt you
But that ain't me next time around
Please believe me when I tell you
Cause all my words are bound
This is my cross now let me bare it
I was lost but now I'm found-found-found

[Hook]
I just want you around
I just need you around
I just want you around
I just need you around

[Verse 3]
Took this love for granted
Kept my feelings underground
Should have watered what I planted
Should have known what I have found
I'm not used to being lonely
I don't like the way it sounds
You're the only one I know-yeah
Who don't turn my upside-down

[Hook]
I just want you around
I just need you around
I just want you around
I just need you around
**************************************************
Just Like WaterMoving down the streams of my lifetime
Pools of fascination in my sleep
Cooling off the fire of my longing
Warming up my cold within his heat

Bouncing down the walls of inhibition
Evaporating all of my fears
Baptizing me to complete submission
Dissolving my condition with his tears

It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
It's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years

Coursing through my senses, he's prevailing
Floating through the space of my design
Drowning me, I find my insides sailing
Drinking in the mainstream of his mind

Filling up the cup of my emotions
Spilling over into all I do
If only I could get lost in his ocean
Surviving on the thought of loving you

It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years, in years
It's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years

Bathing in the fountain of his essence
He causes my expression to remain
Humbled on the mountain by his presence
Washing my intentions with his name

Sealing all the floodgates of his passion
Saving all his liquid for his own
Moisturizing me to satisfaction
In my imagination, oh no

He's pouring out his soul to me for hours and hours
Drawing out my nature with his hands
Yearning, I'm so thirsty for his power
Burning to be worthy of his land

It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years, in years
It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years

Cleaning me, he's purging me
And moving me around
He's bathing and he's cleaning me
And moving me around
Around, and around and around and around

Washing me, cleaning me
Moving me around
He's purging me, he's been cleaning me
And moving me around
And around
And around

Around
And around
Moving me around
**************************************************
Doo Wop (That Thing) (Gordon’s dub)Yo, remember back on the bully when cats used to harmonize like
"Wooo... wooo... wooo..."
Yo, yo, my men and my women, don't forget about the Deen
The Sirat al-Mustaqim, yo
It's about a thing
Yo, yo, yo, if you feel real good, lift your hands up in the air
And lick two shots in the atmosphere
Yeah, yeah
Put them up, put them up
Put them up, put them up
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

It's been three weeks since you were looking for your friend
The one you let hit it and never called you again
'Member when he told you he was 'bout the Benjamins?
You act like you and him then give him a little trim

To begin, how you think you really goin' to pretend
Like you wasn't down when you called him again?
Plus when you give it up so easy you ain't even foolin' him
If you did it then, then you'd probably ... again

Talking out your neck, saying you're a Christian
A Muslim sleeping with the Jinn
Now that was the sin that did Jezebel in
Who're you going to tell when the repercussions spin?

Showing off your ass 'cause you're thinking it's a trend
Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again
You know I only say it 'cause I'm truly genuine
Don't be a hard rock, when you really are a gem

Baby girl, respect is just a minimum
Niggas fucked up and you still defending him
Now, Lauryn is only human
Don't think I haven't been through the same predicament

Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn
It's silly when girls sell their souls because of sin
Look at what you be in, hair weaves like Europeans
Fake nails done by Koreans, come again

Yo! A-when when come again (yeah yeah)
When when come again (yeah yeah)
My friend come again (yeah yeah)

Guys you know you'd better, watch out
Some girls, some girls are only, about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

The second verse is dedicated to the men
More concerned with his rims and his Tims than his women
Him and his men, come in the club like hooligans
Don't care who they offend, popping yin (Like you got Yen)

Let's stop pretend, the ones that pack pistols by the waist men
Cristal by the case men, still living in his mother's basement
The pretty face men claiming that they be the big men
Need to take care of their three and four kids

But they face a court case when the child support's late
Money taking and heart breaking, now you wonder why women hate men
The sneaky silent men, the punk domestic violence men
Quick to shoot the semen, stop acting like boys and be men

How you gonna win, when you ain't right within?
How you gonna win, when you ain't right within?
How you gonna win, when you ain't right within?
Unh unh come again
Yo yo come again
Brethren come again
Sistren come again

Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out

Girls you know you'd better, watch out
Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

Guys you know you'd better, watch out
Some girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

Girls you know you'd better, watch out
Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

Hey, we have some very intelligent women in here, man
Do you think you too young to really love somebody
No, no, no, no, no
I say it for me and I am adult and I say wait you too young to be in love
This is silly, you infatuated with them
You got nice jeans
You wear fancy Adidas
I mean it might be something I don't know
It is a difference from loving somebody and being in love with somebody
Well you tell me, what's the difference
What's the difference?
You can love anybody but when you in love with somebody
You looking at it like this
You taking that person for what he or she is
Not matter what he or she look like
And no matter what he or she do
If you can fall in love you can fall out of love
You might stop being in love with that person, but you can't stop loving that person
Sometimes they never been loved before, they never been in love before
They don't know the feeling to be loved
She poetic
She killed you
We get in that conversation with that right?
**************************************************
Social DrugsThese social drugs [x3]

(Verse 1)
Afraid to address the reality before me
To proud to confess that I'm addicted to a lie
So I seek temporary feeling
To replace reality
Though the truth is telling me I have died

But I've been taught to numb it
Sedated, don't confront it
I hate it when I find out
That I can't get what I wanted
This emotional tantrum
Has become sort of an anthem playing every time I need to take a little trip

To hide this condemnation
I'll find a combination
Of man-made stimulation
To deny my situation
Now this unreality
Is distorting what I see
Reporting back to me
A sense of false security

So in my imagination
I must find a recreation
Desperately in search of ways
To alter my sensation
There's no equilibrium
Inebriated till I'm numb
Intoxicated until I'm dumb
To avoid confrontation

These social drugs
Messing with my mind
These social drugs
Telling me I'm fine

(Verse 2)
Now this chemical analogy
Is our emotional reality
These political, traditional
And ethnical stimulants
And social etiquette
Won't let us be too upset
With the way things really are
You're told to camouflage regret
In a religious structure
Tells us God wants us to suffer
To support a situation we all know is obligation

And if you shun the complication
They'll just gun your reputation
Like mob intimidation
To enforce participation

See they need to keep us fiends
To their lies and broken schemes
And if you find another means
You're told you're being too extreme
And if you wanted to get clean
They'll just pull those social strings
Holding up their social nose
Defying noble things

Now we're all stuck in tradition
Unable to state opposition
Too afraid to contradict
The expectations of the system
Oh and the harsh reality
Is they made grace for you and me
Instead of saving you and me
They're just enslaving you and me

These social drugs
These social drugs
These social drugs
These social drugs
Know what I mean

Know what I mean
These social drugs

These social drugs [7x]
Know what I mean

These social drugs
Messing with my mind
These
Telling me I'm fine
These
Messing with my head
These social drugs
Wanting me dead
Know what I mean
**************************************************
I Remember[Verse 1]
I remember
When you look into my eyes
You saw right through me
And I could not hide
I was exposed
Just like a child
All of my heart
You hold it in your hands
I'm yours to command
I'm yours to demand
I, I feel so humble
With you in my life
With you in my life

[Verse 2]
I remember
When I looked into your eyes
I saw a reflection of myself
And I could not lie
Out of control
Too weak to deny
All of myself
Is naked before you
But what can I do
There is nothing I can do
I feel so beautiful
With you in my life
With you in my life

[Outro]
I remember
I remember
I remember
I, ohh, ohh, ohh
With you in my life
With you in my life
**************************************************
Interlude 3I tell you, there are no big shots in reality, y'all

We're all in the same boat, dealing with the same issues, same problems, same stuff. Don't even buy it. All the perpetration... you know, all this... "We don't have problems." That's a lie. That's a lie. I know that the enemy is doing the same thing to me that he's doing to everybody else. I just know now that the only way to get out is through confrontation. See, we always thought it was retreat, you know, run away. And I'm telling you, you got to confront it

This is a strange song because this song -- when this song was written, this is when everything sort of stopped. It was written a long time ago, but it was right before God just snatched me out of everything. And because I didn't understand... Initially it was written -- I'd written it about the whole Amadou Diallo situation, when it first happened. And I went to the studio, and I laid it down. And it was like, strong, for the first day. And then it just regressed everyday after that. And I said, "What's going on? What's happening?"

And at the end of it there was a word that i used, "rebel." And I guess was afraid. It was such a hot time in the city at that point, I was afraid that if I
Put the record out, people would misunderstand what I meant by "rebel" and they'd just take it to the streets. So I was very intimidated and afraid. And before I knew it a whole host of things happened. Everything stopped after that. And the creativity stopped. Everything stopped. That's when I realized I had to understand what I was talking about before I could tell somebody else what I was talking about. And I had to be, you know, a living example

It's real crazy because I don't know what the press is saying because I don't listen to the press too much. But I know the view is that I'm emotionally unstable, which is reality. Like you aren't?

I'm laughing because what I've realized I've become is one of those mad scientists who does the tests on themselves first, you see, to make sure that they work. And that's when you know, OK look, I got something that works. You know what I'm saying? I'm not gonna give you something that I haven't tested for myself. And you go through, and you're learning by way of experience, and you're making mistakes, and you're getting up

A friend of mine once said to me, he said, Look, if we weren't supposed to turn around, why does a car have a steering wheel? Are we just supposed to crash into the wall? No, we're supposed to say, Listen, I was going the wrong way... Reverse!

In this particular song, now I realize that this song is about freedom. You see? We could look at one human being, but it's about the spirit of freedom being taken out, and how it's taken out in all of us

The song is called "I Find It Hard to Say." Bear with me a little bit
**************************************************
Intro (MTV Unplugged No. 2.0)Oh no! Not you! What are you doing here? Oh boy it's gonna be hard now. Can we put him in the back? Robin, Robin, Robin...

I used to get dressed for y'all, now I don't do that no more, I'm sorry. It's a new day, I don't have the energy

Anybody got a joke?

Ok so, these are brand new songs that very few people have heard, very much about, you know, what I've been going trough and what I've been learning -- a lot of wonderful life lessons, you know, that aren't easy to come by but you're very blessed after you realize why you had to go trough what you had to go trough

It's just very important that you really listen to the words, you know, and if you have a hard time to hear what I'm saying please just raise your hand, you know, or something, object! You guys ready in there? (All set) Ok

And you know, it's real interesting because I used to be a performer, and I really don't consider myself a performer so much anymore. I'm really just... I'm sharing, you know, more or less the music that I've been given. But if I stop, if I start, if I... you know... feel like saying, "Baby, baby, baby" for eighteen bars -- whatever, you know? I just... I do that

So You guys are cool? [Yeah!] Ok I'm talking to people in my head too. It's alright though. Let's just warm up a little bit. I'm just gonna finish sucking on my lozenger

Okay, so this particular song is called "Mr. Intentional." We'll see. We all tuned up now? Let's just warm up a little bit
**************************************************
Feeling Good[Verse 1]
Birds flying high, you know how I feel
Sun in the sky, you know how I feel
Breeze drifting on by, you know how I feel
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life for me, yeah
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feeling good

[Verse 2]
Fish in the sea, you know how I feel
River running free, you know how I feel
Blossom on the tree, you know how I feel
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life for me
And I'm feeling good

[Verse 3]
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean
Don't ya know
Butterflies having fun,, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done, that's what I mean
And this hold world is a new world
And a bold world for me

[Verse 4]
Stars when you shine, you know how I feel
Scent of a pine, you know how I feel
Oh, freedom is mine and I know how I feel
It's a new dawn, it's a new day
It's a new life for me
[Scatting]
I'm feeling good
**************************************************
Redemption Song[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly

[Chorus: Lauryn Hill]
Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption song
Redemption song
Redemption song

[Verse 2: Ziggy Marley, Lauryn Hill & Both]
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds!
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it
But, we've got to fulfill the book

[Chorus: Ziggy Marley, Lauryn Hill & Both]
Won't you help to sing
Another song of freedom?
'Cause all I ever had
Redemption song
Redemption song
Redemption songs

[Bridge: Ziggy Marley]
Yeah, L. Boogie

[Verse 3: Lauryn Hill]
Yo, if they can stop this fruit
They would pop this route
Chop this fruit
Treat us like a prostitute
Knock this youth
See me in my cocky suit
God's recruit
From fallin' even God's salute
Tribal truth
Ja people can't be mute
Share my youth to Babylon can't regroup
Sing, to Babylon can't regroup
Sing, to Babylon can't regroup

[Verse 4: Ziggy Marley, Lauryn Hill & Both]
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

[Outro: Ziggy Marley, Lauryn Hill & Both]
Won't you help to sing
Another song of freedom, yeah
'Cause all I ever have
Redemption song
Redemption song (Haha)
Redemption song (Yeah)
Redemption song (Hey)
Redemption song
**************************************************
Open Tumblr Letter on RacismThe concept of reverse racism is flawed, if not absolutely ridiculous. Most, if not all of the negative responses from people of color toward white people, are reactions to the hatred, violence, cruelty and brutality that they were shown by white people for centuries. Much of the foundation of the modern world was built on the forced free labor of black peoples. The African Slave Trade, the institution of slavery, colonialism, its derivative systems, and the multiple holocausts throughout history, where whites used race as the defining reason to justify their oppression, conquest, and brutal treatment of non-white peoples, are how race became such a factor to begin with.

The initial claim by the oppressors, followed a moral imperative (so they said) that people outside of Occidental and European birth were in savage and cursed conditions, and that God justified the captivity of these people, and the rape and pillage of their lands.

Ironically, these oppressors would try to discard this same God, who supposedly justified this brutality, in the name of Darwin, whose famous line ‘survival of the fittest’ was used to justify criminal behavior once the Bible could no longer be used as a hiding place for economic domination and evil intention.

Spirituality and morality were replaced by capitalism, and with it a conscious shift of focus toward the exploitation of the vulnerable.

In order to justify reverse racism one would have to first create an even playing field, undo the generations of torture, terror, and brutality, and then judge whether or not a non-white person is in fact a racist. This approach would require people to examine the need/addiction to feel superior to someone else for no justifiable reason, and the myriad policies: Spiritual, political and social, that it bore. True dominion is self evident and not the result of sabotaging another in order to achieve it. That would be an illegitimate as well as a fleeting position. The Universe, will eventually seek to right/balance itself.

Of course there are white people who live transcendent lives, not exploiting ill-gotten privilege or perpetuating the sins of their ancestors who used violence and deceit as a means to gain advantage over others. Humanity in proper order is obligated to acknowledge the Truth, whoever it comes from, be they Black, White or other. Righteous indignation is simply a response to long-standing evil.

Much of the world is still reeling from the abuses of Imperialist selfishness, misunderstanding, ignorance and greed. Black people remain in many ways a shattered community, disenfranchised, forcefully removed from context and still caged in, denied from making truly independent choices and experiencing existential freedom. Their natural homes, just like their natural selves, raped and pillaged of the resources and gifts God has given to them. Interpreted through someone else’s slanted lens and filter, they remain in many ways, misrepresented. Taxation without proper representation, might I remind you, was the very platform of protest that began the Revolutionary War, which gained this country its independence from England. Anger is not only the natural response to the abuse of power, but is also appropriate when there is no real acknowledgment of these abuses, or deep, meaningful and profound change.

If we took all of what we deem horrible regarding the criminal abuses that black people have committed over this country’s history, and add it all up, it still does not compare to the hundreds of years of terrorism, violent domination, theft, rape, abuse, captivity, and beyond that black people have suffered under the ideologies and systems of white supremacy, racism, and slave based paradigms. I say this only to say that abuse unresolved begets or creates abuse. How then does the chief offender become the judge? Might does not necessarily mean right. Right is right. People forcibly reduced to sub-human existences, so that they behave in sub-human ways, helps a system to justify itself or feel less guilty about its blood saturated foundation and gross crimes against humanity. People, like plants, grow where the light is. When you enclose a plant and limit its light source, it will bend itself toward the light, for the light is necessary for its survival. This same thing happens to people locked in communities where little light and little opportunity is allowed them, survival then forces them to twist and/or bend toward the only way of escape.

There is good. And I both acknowledge and encourage the good. Instead of throwing out the Baby with the bath water, we do well to expose the intentionally poisoned water the Baby has been forced to soak in since its origin in these lands. America’s particular brand of hypocrisy is gross (double entendre).

I shuddered during sentencing when I kept hearing the term ‘make the IRS whole’… make the IRS whole, knowing that I got into these very circumstances having to deal with the very energies of inequity and resistance that created and perpetuated these savage inequalities. The entire time, I thought, who has made black people whole?! Who has made recompense for stealing, imposing, lying, murdering, criminalizing the traumatized, taking them against their wills, destroying their homes, dividing their communities, ‘trying’ to steal their destinies, their time, stagnating their development, I could go on and on. Has America, or any of the nations of the world guilty of these atrocities, ever made black people or Africa whole or do they continue to sit on them, control them, manipulate them, cage them, rob them, brutalize them, subject them to rules that don’t apply to all? Use language, veiled coercion, and psychological torment like invisible fences to keep them locked into a pattern of limitation and therefore control by others. You have to remain focused to cease from rage.

The prosecutor, who was a woman, made a statement during sentencing about me not doing any charity work for a number of years during my ‘exile.’ A) Charity work is not a requirement, but something done because someone wants to. I was clearly doing charitable works way before other people were even thinking about it. And B) Even the judge had to comment that she, meaning I, was both having and raising children during this period. As if that was not challenging enough to do. She sounded like the echo of the grotesque slave master, who expected women to give birth while in the field, scoop the Baby up, and then continue to work. Disgusting.

When you are beaten and penalized for being independent, or truly self reliant, then you develop a dysfunctional relationship with self-reliance, and a fear of true independence. When you are beaten or threatened with death for trying to read a book, then you develop a dysfunctional relationship with education. When families are broken up by force and threat of violence, then the family structure becomes dysfunctional. When men who would naturally defend their women and families are threatened with castration and death, then this natural response also becomes dysfunctional. When looking at the oppressor is punishable by violence, then examination of him and his system becomes a difficult and taboo thing to do, despite every bone in your body demanding it. When questioning or opposing oppression is punishable by death, imprisonment, or economic assassination, then opposing systemic wrong in any or all of its meta manifestations is a terrifying concept. Anyone forced to live so incredibly diametrically opposed to that which is natural to themselves, will end up in crisis if they don’t successfully find a way to improve or transcend these circumstances! All of which require healing. It is only by the Grace of God and the resilience of the people that things haven’t been worse.

Much of my music, if not all of it, is about Love, a therapeutic resolve created in response to the lack of messages encouraging people like me toward free moral agency. Helping to ameliorate this condition has never been addressed through the political arena alone. It is a sacrificial work that doesn’t simply happen between the hours of 9 to 5 or Monday through Friday, but when inspiration leads us to avail ourselves for the Truth that needs to be said. Unlike the system too often contrarily demonstrates, we believe that people can be and should be helped, and that trauma should not be criminalized but acknowledged, healed and dealt with. This takes awareness, sensitivity and a level of freedom in my opinion the system lacks. And if we don’t know or understand how to do it, then we humbly refer to a higher authority.

We have no desire to create humanoids, turn people into machines, or dumb them down so that they remain dependent longer than necessary to an antiquated system in denial of its many inadequacies and need to evolve. Instead we seek to educate and shed light on the snares, traps, and enticements that people set up in the name of business that are intended only to catch the sleeping and/or uninformed.

Why would a system, ‘well intentioned’, wait until breakdown or incarceration to consider rehabilitation, after generations of institutionally inflicted trauma and abuse on a people? To me it is obvious that the accumulation of generational trauma and abuse have created the very behaviors the system tries to punish, by providing no sufficient outlets for the victims of institutional terror. Clearly, the institution seeks to hide its own criminal history at the expense and wholeness of the abused, who ‘acting out’ from years of abuse and mistreatment, reflect the very aggression that they were exposed to.
**************************************************
Lose MyselfI used to do it for the love a long time ago
And all I ever wanted was love
I used to love without fear a long time ago
And all I ever wanted was love
Then somebody came around and tried to hurt me
Tried to make me feel like I was unworthy
Took a pure love and tried to make it dirty
Truth was they never did deserve me
No!

Chorus:
I had to lose myself so I could love you better
I had to lose myself, had to lose myself so I could
Love you better
Had to lose myself, had to lose myself
So I could love you better
Had to lose myself in love
And that's just the way it is…

Couldn't tell me I was loved when I needed it
When, all I ever wanted was love
Shoulda told me just because
I'm worth receiving it
But all I ever wanted was love
There's something awesome about the selflessness it
Takes to
Give love and the good that it makes you
True love can never really forsake you
But it took a little while just for me to see

Chorus:
I had to lose myself so I could love you better
I had to lose myself, had to lose myself so I could
Love you better
Had to lose myself, had to lose myself
So I could love you better
Had to lose myself in love
And that's just the way it is…

I had a paralyzing fear of facing failure
And I couldn't love you perfectly with fear in my head
So I perilously had to face the danger
So I could come back and love you whole instead
All of your soul I said
So I could love you better

Chorus:
I had to lose myself so I could love you better

I had to lose myself, had to lose myself so I could
Love you better
Had to lose myself, had to lose myself
So I could love you better
Had to lose myself in love
And that's just the way it is…

B-Sec:
And so it goes that I never meant to hurt you
Couldn't stay but I never meant to desert you
Whole lot a things I just had to work through
Time to heal and restore my self-worth too
Confrontation of my fears and anxiety
Cried a whole lot years, I suffered quietly
And though it may have taken years I can finally
Tell you that you were always on my mind

Chorus:
I had to lose myself so I could make it better
I had to lose myself, had to lose myself so I could
Make it better
Had to lose myself, had to lose myself
So I could make it better
Had to lose myself in love
And that was just the way!

Bridge:
Takes strength to absorb all the abuse I did
Great love to absorb all the misuse I did
Hey baby it's not an excuse I give
And I'd do it all again because for you I live

Takes strength to absorb all the abuse I did
Great love to absorb all the abuse I did
Hey baby it's not an excuse I give
And I'd do it all again because for you I live

Chorus:
I had to lose myself so I could make it better
I had to lose myself, had to lose myself so I could
Make it better
Had to lose myself, had to lose myself
So I could make it better
Had to lose myself in love
And that was just the way!
And that was just the way it is
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Interlude 1I'll tell you, um... Every single one of these songs, um, is about me first. Me first, um, it was like, you know, there was a period of time where I was just out, you know, just, just gone from the public, and, uh, I came to terms with the fact that... I had created this, uh, public persona, this public illusion.

And it became, it, uh, it held me hostage; like I couldn't be a real person because you're too afraid of, you know, what your, your public will say.

And at that point I had to do some dying and really accept the fact that, look, "this is who I am, and I have to be who I am, and all of us have a right to be who we are, and whenever we submit our will, because our will is a gift, it is given to us, so whenever we submit our will to someone else's opinion, you know, I mean, a part of us dies."

You know, and so it's been, um... it's been... it actually hasn't been a long time. It feels like a long time, but it hasn't been a long time. Some miraculous things have happened in a short amount of time, and uh, I'm just very blessed to be able to be here today and get to share with you some of the things I've learned.

I know some of it sounds almost cryptic and I been really just, just really... waiting for the patience and really just articulate where I'm coming from as simply as possible, so I'm working on that.

But um... you know, I know, that you know that there's, uh... you know that I know that God doesn't lie and I know that he knows how to talk to the hearts of people better than anybody else, so I don't worry about that, cause whatever he relates to whomever is listening, that's what supposed to be understood at that time, so it's all good.

But, um, this is a song called "Oh Jerusalem".
**************************************************
Freedom TimeEverybody knows that they're guilty
Everybody knows that they've lied
Everybody knows that they're guilty
Resting on their conscious eating their insides
Its Freedom
Said, its Freedom Time now
Its Freedom
Said its Freedom Time now
Time to get free
Oh, give yourselves up now
Its Freedom

Said, its freedom time yall
There's a war in the mind
For the territory over dominion
Who will dominate opinions
Schizims and isms
Keeping us in forms of religion
Conforming our vision
To the world church's decision
Trapped in a section
Submitted to committee elections
Moral infection
Epidemic Lies and deception
Insurrection
Of the higest possible order
Distorting our tape recorders
From hearing like under water
Beyond the borders
Finding sin in disorder
Bound by the strategy
And systemic depravity
Heavy as gravity
Head first in the cavity
Without a bottom
A fate worse than Sodom
What's got 'em drunk off the spirit?
Truth comes and we can't hear it
And you've been programmed to fear it
I had a vision
I was falling in indecision
Appalling
Calling religion some program on television
How can dominant wisdom
Be recognized in a system
Of anti-christs and majority rules
Intelligent Fools
PhDs of ilusions
Masters of mass confusion
Bachelors of Past illusions
Now, who you choosing?
The head or the tail?
The Bloodshed or the Male?
Or confidence in the veil?
Conferences at Yale
Discussing Doctrines at Baal (pronounced Bale)
Causing People to Fail
Keeping A third in jail
His word is nailed, everything to the tree
Severing all the me
From all I used to be
Formless and void
Totally paranoid
Enjoyed darkness as lord
Keeping me from the sword
Blocked from mercy
Bitter than Ceres
Hungry and thirsty
For good meat, we would eat
And still dine at the table of deceit
How incomplete
From confrontation to retreat
We belong to true enemy's defeat
Destitute a necessity
Causing desperation to get the best of me
Punishment 'till there was nothing left of me
Realizing the inescapable death of me
No options in the valley of decision
The only option supernatural circumcision
Inwardly
Only water can purge the hearts from words
The firey darts
Thrown by the workers of the arts
Iniquity
Shaping in
There's no escaping when
Your whole philosiphy is paper thin
In vanity
The wide road is insanity
Can it be all of humanity
Picture that
Scripture that
The origin of man's heart is black
How can we show up for
An invisible war
Preoccupied with a shadow
Making love with a whore
Aching in sores
Babylon the great mystery
Mother of human history
System of social socercery
Our present condition needs serious recongnition
Where's there's no repentance there can be no remission
And that sentence more serious than Vietnam
The atom bomb and Sudam and Minister Farakhan
What's going on
What's a priority to you
By what authority do we
Majority hasn't a clue
We majored in curses
Search the chapters check the verses
Recapture the land remove the mark off our hands
So we can stand
In agreement with his commands
Everything else is damned
Let them with ears understand
Everything else is damned
Let them with ears understand

Its Freedom
Said, its Freedom Time now
Its Freedom
Said its Freedom Time now
Its Freedom
I'm a be who I am
Its freedom time
Said, its freedom time
Everybody knows that they lied
Everybody knows they perpertrated inside
Everybody knows that thier guilt is
Resting on their conscious eating thier insides
Get free
Be who you're supposed to be
Freedom
Said its freedom time now
Freedom
Said its freedom time
Freedom
Freedom time now...
**************************************************
Zion[Intro]
One day you'll understand Zion

[Verse 1]
Unsure of what the balance held
I touched my belly overwhelmed
By what I had been chosen to perform
But then an angel came one day
Told me to kneel down and pray
For unto me a man child would be born

Woe this crazy circumstance
I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
Look at your career they said
"Lauryn baby, use your head"
But instead I chose to use my heart

[Chorus]
Now the joy of my world is in Zion
Now the joy of my world is in Zion

[Verse 2]
How beautiful if nothing more
Than to wait at Zion's door
I've never been in love like this before
Now let me pray to keep you from
The perils that will surely come
See, life for you my prince has just begun

And I thank you for choosing me
To come through unto life to be
A beautiful reflection of his grace
See, I know that a gift so great
Is only one God could create
And I'm reminded every time I see your face

[Chorus]
That the joy of my world is in Zion
Now the joy of my world is in Zion
Now the joy of my world is in Zion
Now the joy of my world is in Zion

[Bridge]
Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching
Beautiful, beautiful Zion

Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching
Beautiful, beautiful Zion

Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching
Beautiful, beautiful Zion

Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching
Beautiful, beautiful Zion

Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching, marching, marching
Marching, marching, marching
Marching to Zion, marching
Beautiful, beautiful Zion

Beautiful, beautiful Zion
Beautiful, beautiful Zion
Beautiful, beautiful Zion
**************************************************
Ex-Factor (A Simple Mix)Y-yo.. y-yo.. uhh Y-yo.. y-yo.. uhh Y-y-yo.., yo, y-yo.. Y-y-yo..

It could all be simple but you'd rather make it hard
Loving you is like a battle we both end up scarred
Tell me who I have to be to get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me and no one ever will
Is this just a silly game that forces you to act this way
Forces you to scream my name, then pretend, that you can't stay
Tell me who I have to be to get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me and no one ever will

[HOOK:]
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin, it ain't workin, uhh
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, this is crazy..

I keep letting you back in, how can I explain myself?
As crazy as this thing has been, I just can't be with no one else
I know what we've got to do, you let go I'll let go too
No one's hurt me more than you and no one ever will

Yo, y-yo, yo yo- I'm here now, not just because it's my year now
I'm clear now, only feelin cats that's sincere now
Heart of lioness, scientist, street Zionist
Don't twist it, it's consistantly consistent
If you missed it, this train is bound for glory
End of story, my whole repoitory is Psalm 40
They bomb for me
Thinkin they can mess with your plan, but I'mma play lamb
Knowin that the Kingdom's at hand, and showin those who want it
You gon' bring em the land, descendants of Ham
Not concerned with the platinum status
Cause every joint I threw, I would do for gratis
I'm on the train with my Pips like I'm lil Gladys
Or in the Range throwin chips to the kids in Addis (Ethiopia)
Ababa, two kids and and a baby father
Hot to lava, we Don Dadda, Don Dadda

[HOOK]

Care for me, care for me, I know you care for me
There for me, there for me, said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me, you said you'd die for me!
Give to me, give to me..
Care for me, care for me, you said you'd care for me
There for me, there for me, said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me, you said you'd die for me!
Give to me, give to me, why won't you live for me?
Ohh noo.. why won't you live for me?
Why..hahhhihhhhhh, won't you live, for me, for me, for meeee
Care for me, care for me, I know you care for me
There for me, there for me, said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me, you said you'd die for me!
Give to meeeeeee..
Give to meeeeeee..

It could all be simple, but you'd rather make it hard..
Loving you, loving you, is like a bat-tle..
**************************************************
Tumblr PostIt has been reported that I signed a new record deal, and that I did this to pay taxes. Yes, I have recently entered into an agreement with Sony Worldwide Entertainment, to launch a new label, on which my new music will be released. And yes, I am working on new music.

I’ve remained silent, after an extensive healing process. This has been a 10+ year battle, for a long time played out behind closed doors, but now in front of the public eye. This is an old conflict between art and commerce… free minds, and minds that are perhaps overly tethered to structure. This is about inequity, and the resulting disenfranchisement caused by it. I’ve been fighting for existential and economic freedom, which means the freedom to create and live without someone threatening, controlling, and/or manipulating the art and the artist, by tying the purse strings.

It took years for me to get out of the ‘parasitic’ dynamic of my youth, and into a deal that better reflects my true contribution as an artist, and (purportedly) gives me the control necessary to create a paradigm suitable for my needs. I have been working towards this for a long time, not just because of my current legal situation, but because I am an artist, I love to create, and I need the proper platform to do so.

The nature of my new business venture, as well as the dollar amount reported, was inaccurate, only a portion of the overall deal. Keep in mind, my past recordings have sold over 50,000,000 units worldwide, earning the label a tremendous amount of money (a fraction of which actually came to me).

Only a completely complicated set of traps, manipulations, and inequitable business arrangements could put someone who has accomplished the things that I have, financially in need of anything. I am one artist who finds value in openly discussing the dynamics within this industry that force artists to compromise or distort themselves and what they do, rather than allowing them to make the music that people need. There are volumes that could (and will) be said.

MLH
**************************************************
Nothing Even Matters (Feat D’Angelo)Now the skies could fall
Not even if my boss should call
The world it seems so very small
'Cause nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all
See I don't need no alcohol
Your love makes me feel ten feet tall
Without it I'd go through withdrawal
'Cause nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters at all
These buildings could drift out to sea
Some natural catastrophe
Still there's no place I'd rather be
'Cause nothing even matters to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me
You're part of my identity
I sometimes have the tendency
To look at you religiously
'Cause nothing even matters to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters to me
Now you won't find me at no store
I have no time for manicures
With you it's never either or
'Cause nothing even matters no more
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters no more
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters no more
Now my team could score
And make it to the Final Four
Just repossess my 4x4
'Cause nothing even matters no more
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters no more
Nothing even matters
Nothing even matters no more
**************************************************
Doo Wop (That Thing) (Album Version)[Intro]
Yo, remember back on the boule when cats used to harmonize like
Yo, my men and my women
Don't forget about the deen, the Sirat al-Mustaqeem
Yo, it's about a thing
If ya feel real good wave your hands in the air
And lick two shots in the atmosphere!

[Verse 1]
It's been three weeks since you were looking for your friend
The one you let hit it and never called you again
'Member when he told you he was 'bout the Benjamins?
You act like you ain't hear him, then give him a little trim
To begin, how you think you're really gon' pretend
Like you wasn't down and you called him again?
Plus, when you give it up so easy you ain't even foolin' him
If you did it then, then you'd probably fuck again
Talking out your neck, sayin' you're a Christian
A Muslim, sleeping with the jinn
Now that was the sin that did Jezebel in
Who you gon' tell when the repercussions spin?
Showing off your ass cause you're thinking it's a trend
Girlfriend, let me break it down for you again
You know I only say it cause I'm truly genuine
Don't be a hard rock when you really are a gem
Baby girl, respect is just a minimum
Niggas fucked up and you still defending 'em
Now, Lauryn is only human
Don't think I haven't been through the same predicament
Let it sit inside your head like a million women in Philly, Penn
It's silly when girls sell their souls because it's in
Look at where you be in, hair weaves like Europeans
Fake nails done by Koreans
Come again (x3)

[Hook]
Guys you know you'd better watch out
Some girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

[Verse 2]
The second verse is dedicated to the men
More concerned with his rims and his Timbs than his women
Him and his men, come in the club like hooligans
Don't care who they offend, poppin' yang (Like you got yen)
Let's not pretend, the ones that pack pistols by they waist men
Cristal by the case men, still in they mother's basement
The pretty face men claiming that they did a bid men
Need to take care of they three or four kids
And they face a court case when the child support late
Money taking and heart breaking, now you wonder why women hate men
The sneaky, silent men
The punk, domestic violence men
Quick to shoot the semen, stop acting like boys and be men
How you gonna win when you ain't right within? (x3)
Come again (x3)

[Bridge (x3)]
Watch out, watch out
Look out, look out


[Hooks]
Girls you know you’d better watch out
Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

Guys you know you’d better watch out
Some girls, some girls are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing

Girls you know you’d better watch out
Some guys, some guys are only about
That thing, that thing, that thing
That thing, that thing, that thing
**************************************************
Keep it Tight[Intro:]
"Every man has the technique; and they're all different. But when you know mine, you'll be DEAD"

Yo... (Can I see you?) Lauryn Hill on the track...
(In the morning) New Ark got my back...
DJ Skribble, just relax, haha! I'm a get you the joint! haha!
Uh Huh, Uh Huh, Uh Huh, Uh Huh, Uh Huh, Uh Huh!

[Verse:]
As I span the cosmos
Mahogany travel at the speed of sound
Span the mainstream but still esteemed underground
My parameters, and wrap up contaminants
Travel twice Earth's diameter, intimidating amateurs (what?!)
At the Apollo, I played the shepherd, sheep followed
Chicks try to model after me like I'm Tyra
Banks; wanna thank me 'cause my statements are prodigious
Styles so prestigious, make a sinner act religious
Street academics, seen alot of girls mimic (Huh)
But when it's all over you can tell who's the gimmick
L slang-bangs like a dub plate (Bing!)
Jericho Sound System, mash up your club dates!
Sweeter than a cherry on a fruit cocktail
Whenever, Wherever, Whatever like Maxwell (Unh)
My pentium makes more chips than Intel (Intel)
I didn't mean to turn you on like Cherrelle!
Kids move they body like they're tripping off of acid
Anthony, not even fantasy can surpass it
Once you blast it, one starts to feel kinky
I think he, goes by the name of Young Slinky
And just when you thought it was safe to relax
L-Boogie spits with perfect syntax!
Then, DJ Skribble make you dribble on the wax (What?)...
DJ Skribble make you dribble on the wax!

Can I hear you in the morning
Like I hear you late at night?
Chance to hear you, amp the party
DJ Skribble, keep it tight!
Just a short time in the morning
Like I hear you late at night
Chance to hear you, amp the party
DJ Skribble, keep it tight!

[John Forte: ]
L' Boogie
**************************************************
Interlude 2Can I get some of that tea? Some of that tea...

I know I sound raspy, but that's, hey, I used to go on tour, you know, and I'd be a prisoner. I used to be a prisoner on tour, cause I would go on tour, and tour you're supposed to enjoy and  have a good time, but I'd be this prisoner in a hotel, you know, drinking tea and, you know, telling the children, you know, "Mommy has to sleep" cause I wanted to maintain this, you know, immaculate sounding voice, but that's not realistic.

You know, reality is, sometimes I stay up late, and this is what I sound like when I wake up the next day, and you know, it's a voice.

You know, and to me, the more I, uh, I focus less on myself the more I realize I can be used to spread a message.Cause when I'm, I used to be so, oh my God, if I sound harsh and raspy I can't go out there. And that's a lie, you know, I just sound like a singer with a lot of stuff in her throat.

So...

I told the people at MTV that they got to light me better. If not people are going to keep saying, "who's that boy on stage, who's that little boy?"

Okay, we just finishing tuning.

Okay, let's see what's up
**************************************************
World Is a Hustle[Verse 1:]
Of the world spun by evil men with lies
Only programmed to agree with what we see before our eyes
Running after status quo on a television show
Just a picture-perfect life is the only life we know
And this uncomfortable reality got me chasing, chasing fallacy
And the pace, the pace is killing me, but I so willingly practiced sin
Just like it's my friend when the whole world is a hustle

Exactly where did we arrive in this manufactured life?
To sell my soul just to survive (yes) in the game of numbers I
I must thank the Gods of Industry, oh, for the opportunity
Or I display such loyalty, oh, for the way that they exploit me (yes)

- Oh, to consider life outside of this
Just like a splinter in my mind persists
But the Ministry of Fear exists
Only to keep me from knowing the truth
Stealing my youth when the whole world is a hustle -

Escape familiarity means that I must face the fear in me
Do something with this greed in me in order to address this need in me
Oh but I must confess the pride I keep, protect it as if it's my friend
Oh, when will it end? When the whole world is a hustle

To escape this mere analogy means that I must face the fear in me
Do something with this greed in me in order to address this need in me
Oh but I must confess the pride I keep, protect it as if it's my friend
Until the bitter end when the whole of the world is a hustle

Everybody’s got it going on (yeah right, yeah right)
Everybody’s so damn strong (yeah right, yeah right)
When the whole of the world is a hustle, a hustle (x5)
I must exercise my faith cuz faith is a muscle
When the whole world is a hustle
**************************************************
Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair[Verse 1]
Black is the color of my true love's hair
His face so soft and wondrous fair
The purest eyes and the strongest hands
I love the ground on where he stands
I love the ground on where he stands

[Chorus]
Black is the color of my true love's hair

[Verse 2]
I love my lover and well he knows
Yes I love the ground on where he goes
Yes I love the ground on where he goes
And still I hope that the time will come
When he and I will be as one
When he and I will be as one

[Chorus]
So black is the color of my true love's hair

[Verse 3]
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh I love my lover and well he knows
Yes I love the ground on where he goes
Oh yes I love the ground on where he goes
And still I hope that the time will come
When he and I will be as one
When he and I will be as one

[Chorus]
So black is the color of my true love's hair

[Bridge]
Black is the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love
Black is the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love
Black is the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love
Black is the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love
Black is the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's hair
It's the color of my true love's
It's the color of my true love
**************************************************
The Passion[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]

If they only owned love, shown love, grown love, like this before
If they only knew love, true love, to love, like this before
If they only gave love, saved love, brave love, like this before
If they only called love, love love, called love, like this before
If they'd only showed love, they owed love, owed love, like this before
If they only showed love, they owed love, owed love, like this before
If they only knew love, true love, to love, like this before
If they only gave love, saved love, brave love, like this before
If they only showed love, they owed love, they owed love, like this before

La la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la...

Like this before
If they ever showed love, they owed love, they owed love, they owed love
If they ever showed love, they owed love, they owed love, like this before

Oh, oh, oh, oh... yeah
La la la la la, la la la la, la la la la la, la la la la la...

[Verse 2: Lauryn Hill]
If they only claimed love, claimed love, claimed love
They maintained love
Instead they drained love, stained love
They didn't control love, my soul loves a whole love, like this before
Received the same love
If they didn't regret love, forget love, say they never met love
If they will love, don't kill love, just be still love
If they will love, don't kill love, just be still love
If they will love, don't kill love, just be still love
If they will love, don't kill love, just be still love
**************************************************
Interlude 7I just feel like sharing, you know?

I'm speaking to the guy in my head. Not the other-- not the bad guy!
**************************************************
Interlude 4I'll tell you every single-- We all have gifts, you know, and um, like special gifts. And there's this voice inside of us that says "don't do that," you know. "Why you gonna get up there with that guitar? You're gonna like like a, a hip hop folk singer. What are you, you know, what are you?..."

(Laughter)

And I really went through, I mean, I'm serious, I mean I can laugh about it now, but it took a long time for me to understand that, you know, what I am is what I am.

I can't be afraid to, you know, to expose that to the public. You know, always-get in trouble trying to make it, tryin' to dress it up, you know what I'm sayin'? Just tired of that, you know. Just tired of that. Tired of frontin'. Tired of that.

And until I find a group of people that are as passionate about it as I am, I just roll alone until such time, you know? It's all good. God is faithful.

Y'all still get to hear it, so... you know? 'Cause see that enemy he would tell me, you know "You don't have the 20 piece band, you can't do nothin'." I said, "Yeah, sure... Keep talkin'."

'Cause somebody's gon', they gonna see me and they gonna know "Oh I, there's somethin' that God's been tellin me to do. I can do it, too. I can do what I'm supposed to be doin'. I don't need an entourage. What do I need a crew for?" That doesn't validate you. Okay, let's see. Mmmm...
**************************************************
Reprecussions[Verse 1]
I was born into this world
A little bitty baby girl
Not looking white, looking so black
In a racist world
Now it's a difficult process
The matter is our perception
When I look in the mirror, what do I see
Is it my reflection

[Hook]
See, repercussions
Talkin bout the things we do
You need to know repercussions
Things can come right back to you
You see repercussions
What goes around comes around
Repercussions

[Verse 2]
See I was born into this world, in another space and time
Time has moved on, and death has grown closer
Surely has blown my mind
Ain't that a bitch, the way the world spins around
Everything everything everything that I said and I did
Surely came back around

[Breakdown]
See, repercussions
Talkin bout the things we do
Repercussions, things sure can come right back to you
Repercussions, what goes around comes around
Repercussions, they will get you down

Repercussions,talkin bout the things we do
Repercussions, things sure can come back to y
You need to know that repercussions, what goes around comes around
Repercussions, they will get you down
**************************************************
1996 Freestyle[Intro: Pras]
Yo, this is the Refugees, gonna give you a little vibe of the score
As we bug out in this studio wit' my man, John Peel
You know how we do, bust it

[Hook: Wyclef Jean]
How many mikes do we rip on the daily?
Say, me say, "Many, many", say, me say, "Many, many, many"
How many mikes do we rip on the daily?
Many, many, say, me say, "Many, many, many"

[Verse 1: Lauren Hill]
You crossed the line, now there's no comin' back
Emcees are gettin' sucked into my intergalactical pull
I'm the articles on you, on your ass
If you get the microphone, brother, you can just say:
'Pras asked me no questions and I'm tellin' you no lies'
If you're lookin' at me wrong, this wasn't meant for your eyes
Realize you can't knock this cause this style is 'noxious
It's gaseous, I'm turnin' all your rap pages to ashes
Oh, this thing's creative, debated it from here to Asia
Minor rhymers, find your vocabulary
Kind of ordinary, I get tossed up, it's scary
Maybe we're legendary, we roll blunts like Bob Marley
And you sittin' on for Sugarhill, they was a band
My man, learn your history before you try to sham
Oh, shimmy, don't go bar-frontin', jokers need to start
Led to the T-O-Ps where you find the Refugees
Three like Jamaicans say when they feelin' I-R-E
Ha-ha, so Wyclef, won't you touch it?

[Hook]
**************************************************
Lost Ones (Remix) (Part 1)[Intro: Rohan Marley]
Yeah, yeah, yo, Lauryn, allow me to talk 'bout them, you see it?
J. Period, as usual, run that again, that one's hot, from the top

[Verse 1: Lauryn Hill]
It's funny how money change a situation
Miscommunication lead to complication
My emancipation don't fit your equation
I was on the humble, you on every station
Some want play young Lauryn like she dumb
But remember, not a game new under the sun
Everything you did has already been done
I know all the tricks from Bricks to Kingston
My t'ing done made your kingdom want run
Now understand L. Boogie non-violent
But if a thing test me, I run for my gun
Can't take a threat to my newborn son
L been this way since creation
A groupie call, you fall from temptation
Now you want to bawl over separation
Tarnish my image in the conversation
Who you gon' scrimmage like you the champion?
You might win some, but you just lost one

[Hook: Lauryn Hill] (x4)
You might win some, but you just lost one

[Verse 2 Lauryn Hill]
Now, now, how come your talk turned cold?
Gain the whole world for the price of your soul
Tryin' to grab hold of what you can't control
Now you all floss, what a sight to behold
Wisdom is better than silver and gold
I was hopeless, now I'm on Hope Road
Every man want to act like he's exempt
He need to get down on his knees and repent
Can't slick-talk on the day of judgment
Your movement's similar to a serpent
Tried to play me straight, now your whole style bent
Consequence is no coincidence
Hypocrites always want to play innocent
Always want to take it to the full out extent
Always want to make it seem like good intent
Never want to face it when it time for punishment
I know you don't want to hear my opinion
There come many paths and you must choose one
And if you don't change, then the rain soon come
See, you might win some, but you just lost one

[Hook] (x4)
**************************************************
War In The MindEverybody knows that they're guilty
Everybody knows that they've lied
Everybody knows that they're guilty
Resting on their conscience eating their inside
It's freedom, I said it's freedom time now
It's freedom, said it's freedom time now
Time to get free, or give your selves up now
It's freedom, said it's free time yo
There's a war in the mind over territory, for the dominium
Who will dominate the opinions?
Schisms and isms, keeping us in forms of religion
Conforming our vision to the world church of decision
Trapped in a section, submitted to committing election
Moral affection, epidemic lies and deception
Insurrection, of the highest possible order
Distorting our tape recorders from hearin' it like underwater
Beyond the borders, find the sin in disorder
Bound by the strategy of a systemic depravity
Heavy as gravity, head first in the cavity without a bottom
A fate, worst then Sodom
What's gotem drunk of the spirit?
Truth comes we can't hear it when you've been programmed to fear it
I had a vision I was falling in indecision
Appalling, calling religious a program on television
How can... Dominate wisdom
Be recognized in the system
Of antichrists'? The majority rules
Intelligent fools
P. H. D. 's in illusion, masters of mass confusion
Bachelors of past illusion
Now who you choosing?
The head or the tail?
The bloodshed of the male or confidence in the veil?
Conferences at Yale discussing doctrines of Baal
Causing peoples to fail keeping a third in jail
His words nailed everything to the tree
Severing all of me from all that I use to be
Formless and void, totally paranoid
Enjoyed darkness's, Lord keeping me from the sword
**************************************************
Conform To Love[Verse 1]
What is freedom but a fleeting notion
Is this reality or just emotion
I would rather be a giver then
Be apart of hurting you again

[Chorus 1]
I want to be conformed to love, show me what to do again
Show me to win your love
I want to be conformed to love
So I can perform love

[Verse 2]
My impatience is the part of me
That I realize you hate you say
It complicates the very art of you
Show me what ought to do
I want to be comformed to love
So I can perform love

[Chorus 2]
My Beloved is the greatest Love, yes!
I think of him all the time
My beloved is the greatest love
Please make up my mind
I want to be conformed to love
So I can make more love
I want to be pure pure love
So I can restore love
So I can make more love
So I can be sure love
Help me be secure love
So I can make more love
So I can restore love

[Outro: Talking]
That is the objective, to be conformed to love, to actually be love incarnate
Because that is what I was before, but ya'll got that I think
To be love incarnate, and to not listen to people who might say there's something wrong with being love, you know. I'll give you an example:

You talked about professionalism
But what does professionalism have to do with a real exchange
You are as professional as you have to be right now
You are as professional as you need to be
Your sincerity has offended me in any way
It hasn't confused or complicated things
If anything it's broken down and made the environment more comfortable for everyone else
What did it do, what was the cost of your lack of professionalsim, your so called lack of professionalism, because I don't call it that
I believe a world can exist on honesty, I just do, you know. I'm a believer
**************************************************
I Find it Hard to Say (Rebel) Updated Version[Verse 1]
I find it hard to say, that everything is alright
Don't look at me that way, like everything is alright
Cuz my own eyes can see, through all your false pretenses
But what you fail to see, is all the consequences
You think our lives are cheap, and easy to be wasted
As history repeats, so foul you can taste it
And while the people sleep, too comfortable to face it
His life so incomplete, and nothing can replace it

[Refrain]
And what I got to say, is rebel
It can't go down this way, not today, rebel
And what I got to say, is rebel
It can't go down this way, rebel

[Verse 2]
And while the people sleep, too comfortable to face it
Your lives so incomplete, and nothing can replace it
Fret not thyself I say, against these laws of man
Cause like the Bible says: "His blood is on their hands"

[Refrain]
And what I got to say, is rebel
It can't go down this way, not today, rebel
And what I got to say, is rebel
It can't go down this way, rebel

[Outro]
Oh are you, oh are you satisfied
Oh are you, oh are you satisfied
Then rebel, then rebel, then rebel, and rebel
Rebel... ohhh rebel
Then rebel, then rebel, then rebel, then rebel
Stand up and live, stand up and live
Stand up and live, stand up and live
Stand up and live, stand up and live
Stand up and live...
**************************************************
#LetterOfRecognitionLETTER OF RECOGNITION

MS
LAURYN
HILL

Letter Of Recognition-

Firstly, I want to thank everyone who wrote letters and sent packages and books. Because of you there was not one day that I didn't receive mail while I was away. I appreciated that. Also, know that many of your letters not only touched me but continued to confirm for me what I already knew but needed to hear again: that sincere expression has a serious purpose. If one of you had been touched, picked up, encouraged, prevented from succumbing to some measure of social or Spiritual decline, then it was worth it. Folks, walk strong, seek light and Universal correction in all things. Know that man-made concerns and Universal concerns are not always in agreement. Obviously, strive to please God. Thank you again and again.

In Love and Freedom,
Ms. Lauryn Hill
@mslaurynhill
__________________________________________________________________
Ms. Hill would like to thank the following people for their words of encouragement and support:

Jessica Lucas, Victoria, BC; Debbie J. Duncan, AL; Bessie Williams, Henderson, NC; King Solemon Kamali, Santa Clara, CA; Jahi, Oakland, CA; Candice Hughes, Las Vegas, NV; Cherisse Pittman, Alpine, AL; Joshua Curry, Benton, AR; Ana Rodriguez, Cranston, RI; Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, New Haven, CT; Naty Marrufo, Seaside, CA; Re Grace, Lake Forest, CA; Carter Grant, New York, NY; David Cruz, Hartford, CT; Terryl Lee Elder, Jr., Ansonia, CT; Sundiata Sadiq, Ossining, NY; Daisy, Tannersville, PA; Jerald Miller, New York, NY; Sister Souljah, New York, NY; Heidi Salcedo, Bethel, CT; Devon Young, Newark, NJ; Ralph Mitchell/Carthage Financial Group, Quincy, MA; Patrick Lanary, New York, NY; Tomeka Ramocan, Burlington, NJ; Birk Paluzzi, Elmwood Park, IL; Ms. Kirema Colbert, Hartford, CT; Derek Singletary, Astoria, NY; Steven Marcus, North Hollywood, CA; Rashad Hawkins, Alpharetta, GA; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA; Shareen Arroyo, Charlotte, NC; Mr. Daniel Aguilar, Brownsville, TX; Nadisha Postell, Bronx, NY; Claudia Bruno, Los Gatos, CA; Ms. Mamie Scott, Reading, PA; Maurad Ouazine, France; Robert D. Boyd, Maricopa, AZ; Aframerican Bookstore, Omaha, NE; Dr. Cynthia Chapman; Latisia Phillip, Virginia Beach, VA; Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA; Gerald Ludwig, Regensburg, Germany; Renee Manley, Northampton, MA; Steve Nickerson, Los Angeles, CA; Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA; Sister Nubia, Detroit, MI; Tywanda Auld, Philadelphia, PA; Sister Souljah (again), New York, NY; J.R. Castaner, New York, NY; Brenda Davis, New York, NY; John Forte’, New York, NY; Darrel Muhammad, Orangeburg, SC; Barbara Mirza, Santa Monica, CA; Patrice Tucker, Oxon Hill, MD; Haakeem Quddus, Philadelphia, PA; Casonya O’Neil, Aiken, SC; Sarah Bullard, Orlando, FL; Karen Mason, Atlanta, GA; Caroline Curran, Troy, NY; Carletta Hagins, Tampa, FL; Donelle R. Boose, Washington, DC; Reverend Frank Masso, CT; Mr. Breaux, San Jose, CA; Julia Beverly, Atlanta, GA; Shelondra Yvonne Peavy, Houston, TX; Sharon Garrett, Little Rock, AR; Tony Delgado, West Lafayette, IN; Kim ‘Soulful’ Woods, Dacula, GA; Andre Robertson, Brooklyn, NY; Jade Forest, Atlanta, GA, Ainslee Johnson, Cleveland, OH; Tom Bair, Ozone Park, NY; Ruth Brinkley, Brooklyn, NY; Dominique, Brooklyn, NY; Assary, New York, NY; Ms. Loretta Stinson, Newnan, GA; Melanie Clarke, Mt. Vernon, NY; Rondress T. Sharks, Orlando, FL; Jimmie Pierre, New Orleans, LA; Takeyah Young, Sunrise, FL; Jahi, Oakland, CA; Stacy LaDonna, Bartlett, TN; Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA; Angelina S. (Lux Prosa); Dorrian Bridges, Ft. Pierce, FL; Darlene and Caleb Fant, South Orange, NJ; Chris Danny, Rutherford, NJ; Dominique Jean-Louis, New York, NY; Ebony Epps, Bridgeport, CT; Ms. Kawanna Lyons, New Orleans, LA; Polk, Lakeville, MN; Maurad Ouazine, France (again); N. Cerise Hall, Atlanta, GA; Ayana Soyini, New York, NY; Maisha Yearwoon, Los Angeles, CA (again); Danell Alston, Washington, DC; Empress Jahleah Selassie-Aird, Newnan, GA; E. Hewong, Henderson, NV; Lance Christopher, Keene Savoy, IL; Tiffany Pollard, Atlanta, GA; Mr. Michael Taylor, Petersburg, VA; Tess Foley Kochowicz, Monroe, CT; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA; Ms. Mary Mackey, Limerick, Eire; Hannah Bleier, Roscoe, NY; Ms. Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL; RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI; Joe Benjamin, Bristol, CT; Syneeda Penland, Dacula, GA; Jeremy Shea Wilson, Natchitoches, LA; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Toyia Halman, Chicago, IL; Abby A. Gonzalez, Paterson, NJ; Monesha Gethers, Fresno, CA; Wendy Ann-Clarke, Toronto, ON Canada; King Solomon, PA; Douglas Moore Sr., Belleville, NJ; Marissa Gomez, Corona, CA; Malik Abdul-Aziz, North Hollywood, CA; Davonne Breedlove, Opa-Locka, FL; Paul Major, Orleans, VT; Rosenita Delva, West Palm Beach, FL; Anna Michelle Dorn-Hogan, Madison, WI; Monroe Mallory, Cleveland, OH; Angel Redmond, Leicester, NC; Angela Taylor, Friendswood, TX; Niamh Cahill Co., Laois, Ireland; Greg Pabst, Baltimore, MD; Kris Love, Fresno, TX; Angela Baltimore, Little Rock, AR, Laretta Majors, Hollywood, FL; Jade Tamara Pat Watson, Ilford, Essex; Kyrstal Roberts, St. Petersburg, FL; Briauna Trammell, Salisbury, MD; Tammi Martin-Davis, Philadelphia, PA; Chivonne Lawson, Stone Mountain, GA; Woodley Lamousnery, Stamford, CT; Issa E*; Amanda Armas, Las Vegas, NV; Shelondra Yvonne Peavy, Houston, TX; Camille Watkin, Columbia, MD; Greg Torwalt, Humboldt, SK, Canada; Trey Cousins, Hamden, CT; Angela J. Baldwin, Mt. Pleasant, SC; Alvin Burleson Jr., Renton, WA; Cynthia Ongottaud, Congo/France; Hope Leon, Los Angeles, CA; Khalilah Abdularahim, Hamden, CT; Moira Pattinson, Edinburgh, Scotland; Brittany Blackman, Brooklyn, NY; Ms. Mary Mackey, Limerick, Eire (again); Dianthia Simon, Los Angeles, CA; Mrs. Latasha Drax, Lakeland, FL; Tonia Ogun, London, UK; Trish L’Oreal Winslow, Sandy Springs, GA; Jasmine White-Killins, Plano, TX; Joi (with an Eye) Walthamstow, London UK; Heidi Salcedo, Bethel, CT; Ms. Jaleesa Bartley, Durham, NC; Jezebel Sheba Rose, Swanee, GA; Veronica Malone, Petersburg, VA; Michael Browne, Bladensburg, MD; Mr. Thomas E. Moore, San Quentin, CA; Shepherdess Angela/The Prayer Box Community, Mountain Home, AR; Carter Grant, New York, NY (again); Shaunda C. Turner, Fairlawn, NJ; Tatiana Williams, Los Angeles, CA; Lisa Marie Betancourt, Riverside, CA; Jezebel Sheba Rose, Swanee, GA (again); Mayah Dyson, Manassas, VA; McCall Brister, Mt. Juliet, TN; Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA (again); Emilienne Gray, Roselle, NJ; Ms. Darlene Fant and Family, South Orange, NJ; Ayanna L. Benton, Stamford, CT; Karla ‘Kae’ Thomas, Parkville, MD; Matthew Akins, Hyattsville, MD; Debbie J. Duncan; Eutaw, AL; Schimeka K. Galloway, Brooklyn, NY; Joshua Curry, Benton, AR (again); The Prayer Box Community, Mountain Home, AR (again); Ms. Vanessa D. May, Sylmar, CA; Jakia Handy, Los Angeles, CA; Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA; Suzette Williams, Teaneck, NJ; Destini Jammeh, Kent, WA; Ms. Sha’Rita McClurkin, Trotwood, OH; Tina Blumenberg-Williams, Portage, IN; Mr. Ryan Jordan, Wethersfield, CT; Kristen Bettencourt, Boston, MA; Timothy Stephens, Desoto, TX; Yvette Walker, Opa-Locka, FL; Maurad Oazine, France (again); Mitchell R. Weinhandl, Calgary, AB Canada; Tajh Abdulsamad, Alpharetta, GA; Yusef Trice, Chicago, IL; Mike Williams G., Barringten, MA; Ainslee Johnson, Cleveland, OH; Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA (again); Hakim ‘Hak’ Bell, West Orange, NJ; Piper Patron, Laughlin, WV; Sydney Atkinson, Austin, TX; Bill Wright and Carroll Jrdn, Washington, DC; Candice Latrice, Denver, CO; Lavonia Jenkins, Philadelphia, PA; Carter Grant, New York, NY (again); Keka Robinson, Emeryville, CA; Emmanuel Schaeffer, France; Dr. Andrea P. Lowe, La Place, LA; Keith Swan, Levittown, PA; Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA (again); Destiny Lewis, Kissimmee, FL; Lisa S. Ridgle, Hawthorne, CA; Charles ‘Duce’ Castaneda, Aurora, CO; Sheila Moore Haddad, Cookeville, TN; Anna Michelle Dorn-Hogan, Madison, WI; Phillip C. Hogan, Sr., Portage, WI; Eden, Greg and Nicole Duncan-Smith, Brooklyn, NY; Remond Wright, Opa Locka, FL; Sonia K., Brooklyn, NY; Colleen Garza, Vallejo, CA; ‘Pretty’ Nicki, East Hartford, CT; Lana DiCostanzo, Savannah, GA; Teresa Lomax, Temple Hills, MD; Lasana M. Sekou/House of Nehesi Publishers, St. Martin, Caribbean; Carter Grant, New York, NY (again); Toni Grant, Brooklyn, NY; Lia Anderson, Lauderhill, FL; MJW, Washington, DC; Mrs. Jolie Willis, Austin, TX; Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA (again); Dylan Hunziker, Naperville, IL; DeJuan Bland, Detroit, MI; James Devlin-Braswell, Atlanta, GA; K. S. Young, Wixon, MI; Nerdy LLC, Chicago, IL; Irvens Andre, Lithonia, GA; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Deborah Jane ‘Cleopatra’ Burke & The Strange Fruit Team, Los Angeles, CA; Joyce Poitier, SC; Michael Green, Fair Bluff, NC; Verlinda Bluestone; Salt Lake City, Utah; Dericka Kalee Yah Ysrayl, Glen Carbon, IL; Temel ‘Mel’ Sinclair, Sanford, NC; Kierra Poe, Cedar Rapids, IA; David Cruz, Hartford, CT (again); Apostle Charles and Prophetess Wanda Logan, Spartanburg, SC; Ms. Mary Mackey Co., Limerick, Eire (again); Evita Colon, Shippensburg, PA; Olivia S. McClenton, Perth Amboy, NJ; Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); Carl Willimas, Roxbury, MA; O’Leatha Harris, Bowling Green, KY; Karl Fields, Richton Park, IL; Brandon Laster, Calumet City, IL; Kara DJ, Whitehouse Station, NJ; Nathaniel Mitchiner, Newark, NJ; Ainslee Johnson, Cleveland, OH; Patrick/The Bookstore Columbia, SC; Luney Marcello, Charlotte, NC; Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA; Maurad, France (again); Jamillah Hatim, Richardson, TX; Brian Bowers; Nazarene Englewood, CO; Shawntavia Day, Cleveland, OH; Joseph Rodriguez, Pueblo, CO; Elizabeth Gerald Flossmoor; Mitchell Thomeycroft, England, UK; Eva Jennings, Philadelphia, PA; David Cruz, Hartford, CT (again); Lloyd Aldridge Jr., Hartford, CT; Raquel Falesbork, Brooklyn, NY; Caprice Lamor, Irvington, NJ; Tomeka Ramocan, Burlington, NJ (again); Danielle Broussard, Houston, TX; Stephanie Black, New York, NY; Stacy LaDonna, Bartlett, TN; Naoisha Postell Bronx, NY; Garrard McClendon, Ph.D, Chicago State University; Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); Siewa Dewar, Mississauga, ON, Canada; Tammy Kiliona, Vallejo, CA; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Leile Akahloun, Johannesburg, South Africa; Selim Tadjiae, France; Ms. Bintou Kone’, Toulouse, France; Erin Chester, VA; Maurad, France (again); Izetta Autumn Mobley, Washington, DC; Chelsea Hargrove, Clermont, FL; Tammi Diggs, Kannapolis, NC; Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA (by way of Tellinn, Estonia); UJ, Wheaton, IL; Reverend Frank Masso/Bible Prophecy Ministry, Stratford, CT; Ariel Cavaseno. Bayside, NY; Ms. Darlene Fant and Family, South Orange, NJ; Yvette Walker, Opa-Locka, FL; Laurel Forrest, Georgetown, SC; Robert Martin, Newark, NJ; Bun Linaeus, South East London, UK; Shawn Thwaites, Martinsville, VA; Kazi Odinga, Philadelphia, PA; Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); Jack Splash, Miami, FL; Ms. Erica ‘Sun Blossom Kente’ River-Pinket, Burgaw, NC; Alexis F. King; Stephanie Eze, Denmark; Atiya Judson-Saunders, Stamford, CT; Jeremy Wilson, Natchitoches, LA; Danyea Brown, Marietta, GA; Theresa Bella Mosley, Cincinnati, OH; Shaconda Magwood, Atlanta, GA; Orlando Lopez, Glen Cove, NY; Petra Almic’, Croatia; LaToya Turner, St. Louis, MO; Senece Dunlop, Erie, PA; Jade A. Mcfarland, Swartara, PA; J. Sanders, Austin, Texas; Jari Tyrel Smith, Landover, MD; Maurad, France (again); Nakia Tuh Smyrna, GA (and also Tonia, Derek, Tiffany, Nakia, Mike, Cherisse, Elena); GaBrilla Ballard, Needham, MA; Ms. Mary Mackey Co. Limerick, Erie (again); Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA; Joyce Swain, West Orange, NJ; Tauheedah Shukriyyah, Elkins Park, PA; Rena ‘Antonia Perdu’, Rochester, NY; Jean Simpson, Kissimmee, FL; SPC Monique Brown, APO, AE; Michael Smith, Brooklyn, NY; Josh Lynch, Elkgrove, CA; Paula Shepherd, Houston, TX; Cherisse Pitman, Alpine, AL; Ruby LeGinel, Dover, DE; Ruby Raynor, Philadelphia, PA; Angela Taylor, Friendswood, TX (again); Simae S., Cincinnati, OH; Deborah Moher, New York, NY; Deborah Jane and the Strange Fruit Production team, Los Angeles, CA; Angela Taylor, Friendswood, TX (again); Jermaine Morris, Pomona, CA; Rosi Reed, Sherman Oaks, CA; Paul Major, Orleans, VT (again); Dianthia Simon, Los Angeles, CA; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Angela M. Wyatt, Charleston, SC; Akajou McDaniel, Los Angeles, CA, Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Audrey R. Clarke, Lanham, MD; Nubia Polk, Detroit, MI; Jeffery Russell; Maurad, France; Jessica Hall, Troy, AL; Amanda Torres, Roslindale, MA; Scott and Niamh Corcoran, Scarborough WA, Australia; Christina ‘Euphrates’ Jones, Atlanta, GA; Darrick Smith, Stockton, CA; Hannah Smith, Brownsville, TN; Thomas F. Henley, Houston, TX; Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); D. Sana Pate, Houston, TX; Melanie Clarke, Mt. Vernon, NY; Crystal Guidry, Stockton, CA; Jason Reese, Columbus, OH; Rachel Ritchie and Family, Mississauga, ONT; Mr. James Brooker III, Raleigh, NC; Mr. James Brooker III, Raleigh, NC (again); Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA (again); Mary Mackey Limerick, Ireland; Inslee Johnson, Cleveland, OH; Reina Noguchi Kitakatsuragi-gun, Nara, JAPAN; Naoisha Postell, Bronx, NY; Nene Gomez, Bakersfield, CA; Samantha Moore; Brian and Juliana Oliver, Sebastopol, CA; Anzania Carter, Dunwoody, GA; Maurice Lunsford, Atlanta, GA; Shavaughn Barnes, Detroit, MI; The Streets Don’t Love You Back Store, Maricopa, AZ; Brandon Jackson, Addison, TX *beautiful poetry; Daria Dorsett Nassau, Bahamas; Maisha Yearwood writing from NYC (again); Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA by way of Klaipeda, Poland; Monica Knox, McDonough, GA; Naoisha Postell, Bronx, NY (again); Paul Major, Brownington, VT; Nicole McNair, Plymouth, NC; Reba Bell East, Stroudsburg, PA; Shavaughn Barnes, Detroit, MI; Tyleshia Anderson, Oroville, CA; Luke Lambert Woking, Surrey; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Tara Michael, Scranton, PA; Greg Brantley, Indian Orchard, MA*; Scott A. Sloan, Gainsville, FL; Carl Williams, Roxbury, MA by way of Berlin, Germany; Camidroel; Maarten and Charlotte; Debbie J. Duncan Eutaw, Al (again); Keka Robinson, Emenjville, CA; Maisha Yearwood from NYC, NY (again); Ms. Darlene Fant, South Orange, NJ; Mark Bowers, Newark, NJ; Jerald Miller, New York, NY; Mr. James Booker III, Raleigh, NC (again); Ceet, Philadelphia, PA; Shawntavia Day, Cleveland, OH (again); Wilda McGugan, Barnigat, NJ; Douglas Moore Jr., Belleville, NJ; Tara Michel, Dickerson City, PA (again); Maurad Ouazine, France (again); Deshaires ‘Maty’ Mathilde, Paris, France; Eric Crume, Las Vegas, NV; John A. Pristell aka R. Logical Allah, Doraville, GA; Lisa Miller Autry, Desoto, TX; Maurad, France (again); Yolanda A. Orozco, Yakima, WA; John A. Pristell aka R. Logical Allah Doraville, GA (again); Ondrae ‘Drae Divyne’ Walker, Lexington, KY; Nikia Barber-Clark, Irvington, NJ *ETP!; Ian Luther, Southhampton, England, UK; Weusi Baraka, Victory Gardens, NJ, Sarai Memphis, TN; Ms. Vanetta Grant, Brooklyn, NY; Eric Gayles, Greensborough, NC *; Tannika Charrae Myers, Philadelphia, PA*; Miriam Banks Farrakhan, Union, NJ; Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Maisha Yearwood writing from NYC (again); Bria Bromell. New Haven, CT; Analisa Ruiz, Houston, TX; Maurad Ouazine, France (again); Christopher Chizer, Houston, TX; Inez Bonilla, Old Bridge, NJ *; DeWayne ‘Haru’ Hendrix, Atlanta, GA; Lingaire Njie, Baltimore, MD; Jamillah Salahuddin; Brooklyn, NY; Tonja Ayers, Detroit, MI; Princess Shipley, Miami, FL; Lauren Halsey, New Haven, CT; Uno Selfe, Tonawanda, NY; Natasha Wright, Nassau, Bahamas; Ryan Josey, Miami, FL; Roconia Price, Manassas, VA; Pink Renee Norbrega, S. Spring, PA; Jimmie Pierre, New Orleans, LA; Justin Blake, Brooklyn, NY; Mr. Antoine Mikell, Hagan, GA; Mikel Irisarri, La Rioja, Spain; Sheronah Dawson, West Point, GA; Kelli ‘Shrimp 40’ Handrich, Brunswick, GA; Brittani Marie ‘Georgie’ George, Charlotte, NC (beautiful drawing); Roconia Price, Manassas, VA (again); Maurad Ouazine, France (again); Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA (again); Tershema Jackson, Pine Bluff, AR; Mr. Lyle Hickman, Scotch Plains, NJ; Hannah M. Smith, Brownsville, TN (again); Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA (again); Devon Young, Newark, NJ (again); Ms. Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); Roconia Price, Manassas, VA (again); Minister Beverly Spears, Hudson, NC; Stephanie, Los Angeles, CA; Pat Reid, Footscray, VIC Australia; Sil Van Der Woerd, The Netherlands; Unknown, Atlanta, GA; Latasha Burnard, Duluth, GA; Ms.Tara Michel Watkins, Dickson City, PA (5 letters); Jazmine Green, South River, NJ; Sister Wilda McGugan, Barnegat, NJ; Johnnie Dent Jr., Cleveland, OH; Stacy LaDonna Bartlett, TN and the Fugees Online Forum (again); Starasia ‘Star’ Daniel, Duluth, GA; Nick Gilchrist, Wagram, NC; Raheem Robinson, Irvington, NJ *no panic room!; Aunt Rafeekah Sabur, Newark, NJ; Private ‘Sonny’ Harrelson B. Watson; Melanie Clarke, Mt. Vernon, NY; Jessica Lee, Canton, OH; Preston McPherson, Atlanta, GA; Claudia Bruno, Los Gatos, CA (again); Candice R. Pittman and Sister G.F., Heights, OH; Sabela Gomez Diaz Galicia, Spain; Ms. Tara Michel Watkins, Dickson City, PA (again); Shelondra Peavy, Houston, TX; Nadia Barrera, San Juan Capistrano, CA; Debbie J. Duncan, Eutaw, AL (again); Malik Allah, Atlanta, GA; Jasmine D. Sayles,  Buies Creek, NC; Laurynn Navarro, Brooklyn, NY; Maurad Ouazine, France (again); Simon Dasher, New York, NY; James Booker III, Raleigh, NC; Ms. Tara Watkins, Dickson City, PA (again); Amelia Alleman Carmichael, New Haven, CT; Deborah Jane and the Strange Fruit Team, Van Nuys, CA (again); Diane L. Martin,  Philadelphia, PA (again); Keith D. Moore, Shomari, LFL, N. Langley, Rashaan Langley, and Troy Frost, Cheshire, CT; Mama G, Conshohocken, PA; John McGuire, O’Brien, FL; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Dianthia Simon, Los Angeles, CA (again); Ms. Darlene Fant, South Orange, NJ (again); Michael Green, Fair Bluff, NC; Monita Lawing,  Concord, NC, Shelondra Peavy, Houston, TX (again), Okenzie Nwoka,  Iowa City, IA; Allen DeWane Harris, Duncanville, TX; Rashad Hawkins,  Alpharetta, GA (again); Jerroid Thomas, Washington DC; Tiffany Renee ‘Twin’ Johnson, Chicago, IL; Diane L. Martin, Philadelphia, PA (again); Paul ‘PV’ Major, Brownington, VT (again); Maisha Yearwood, Los Angeles, CA (again); Mercedes, Sacramento, CA; Angela Taylor, Friends Wood, TX (again); Ms. Tara Watkins, Dickson City, PA (again); Barbara Brown-Rivera, Miami, FL; Matthew Akins, Hyattsville, MD; Terrence Calvert, Madison, TN
**************************************************
Wild Is the WindLove me, love me, love me, say you do
Let me fly away with you
For my love is like the wind
And wild is the wind
Give me more than one caress
Satisfy this hungriness
Let the wind blow through your heart
For wild is the wind
You touch me
I hear the sound of mandolins
And you kiss me
And with your kiss my life begins
You're spring to me
All things to me
Don't you know you're life itself
Like a leaf clings to a tree
Oh my darling, cling to me
For we're creatures of the wind
And wild is the wind
So wild is the wind
And wild is the wind
You touch me
I hear the sound of mandolins
You kiss me
And with your kiss my life begins
Daddy you're spring to me
All things to me
Don't you know you're life itself
Like a leaf clings to a tree
Oh my darling, cling to me
For we're creatures of the wind
And wild is the wind
So wild is the wind
So wild
So wild is the wind
So wild is the wind
**************************************************
Outro - liveIts like
If you
Tired of that
You give yourself up...
Listen, nobody can blackmail you with anything
I'll never forget...
You know when I first...
Started to really understand what this was all about
I just went to my parents and I just started confessing about the stuff I did like in the second grade...
Seriously...
But we don't know how all that stuff from the time we're kids man...
All that repression...
All that stuff just holding you
You know all that
Talking about boys feeling my booty in the second grade
I mean I'm telling you, and I'm ashamed of that
You know?
Like no, like
What other girl in this audience played run catch and kiss or those silly games?
You know?
But just from a child, you know, growing up with all of that guilt
You know?
And we think that that's God
We think that's God...
Telling us feel guilty!
God is saying get free
Confess man
Understand that
Look
Everybody's going through that same stuff
Same issues its just a bunch of repression
And I'm saying man, life is too precious
Its too valuable
For us to just sit here in this boxes all repressed
You know?
Afraid to admit what we're really going through
You know?
I'm saying, I'm tired of that
I'll tell people, listen its so funny it's like
You know, when I tried to...
I'll never forget
When I was pregnant with my first son and I was trying to keep it a secret it was all of over the place
You know?
And when I said hey, I'm having another baby
I didn't hear about it at all
And I said man, y'all just want to deal in stuff that people don't want out
So I just gave myself out
Yeah, I'm having another child
What else would you want to know?
Yeah I'm crazy and deranged
**************************************************
Do You Like The Way(feat. Santana & CEE LO)

[Lauryn's rap]
Watch the master plan, the pastures span
Through the streets, move the sheep
Flipped the beat, like the shepherd
It's a new day, my crew stay forever striving
Give thanks cause we alive, and been through the gutter
Now we see the horizon
It's clear to me now
Used to be confused, took a lot of years to see how
Now, we moving planets
Take the average mind and expand it
You take for granted like we're always gonna be disadvantaged
But soon come, it soon come, ya soon done
Ya start run, you stumble, we catch one
In the rhythm, Santana lick the guits with precision
Not accidental, intentional conscious decision
To Zion, we're marching through with African Mayans
Conquering Babylon with the heart of a lion
And the walls of Jericho come a-tumbling down

Tell me, how long has it been
Is everything, everything alright my friend

You see, time is passing, people asking how come none of this ain't lasting
Money will make people deal like they don't even have to feel
But no, it ain't real, it ain't real

Oh, do you like the way that it's going down
Do you like the way that it's going down
Ooh, do you like the way

How long, how long will we wait, to sit down and communicate
See, everything is relative, if you want to get then give
Can't we all just build and live,can't we, can't we?

Do you like the way that it's going down
Do you like the way that it's going down
Do you like the way that it's going down
Do you like the way that it's going down
**************************************************
Ne Me Quitte Pas[Verse 1]
Ne me quitte pas
Il faut oublier
Tout peut s'oublier
Qui s'enfuit deja
Oublier le temps
Des malentendus
Et le temps perdu
A savoir comment
Oublier ces heures
Qui tuaient parfois
A coups de pourquoi
Le coeur du bonheur

[Chorus]
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas

[Verse 2]
Moi je t'offrirai
Des perles de pluie
Venues de pays
Où il ne pleut pas
Je creuserai la terre
Jusqu'apres ma mort
Pour couvrir ton corps
D'or et de lumière
Je ferai un domaine
Où l'amour sera roi
Où l'amour sera loi
Où tu seras reine

[Chorus]
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas

[Verse 3]
Ne me quitte pas
Je t'inventerai
Des mots insensés
Que tu comprendras
Je te parlerai
De ces amants là
Qui ont vu deux fois
Leurs coeurs s'embraser
Je te racont'rai
L'histoire de ce roi
Mort de n'avoir pas
Pu te rencontrer

[Chorus]
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas

[Verse 4]
On a vu souvent
Rejaillir le feu
De l'ancien volcan
Qu'on croyait trop vieux
Il est paraît-il
Des terres brûlées
Donnant plus de blé
Qu'un meilleur avril
Et quand vient le soir
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie
Le rouge et le noir
Ne s'épousent-ils pas

[Chorus]
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas

[Verse 5]
Ne me quitte pas
Je ne vais plus pleurer
Je ne vais plus parler
Je me cacherai là
À te regarder
Danser et sourire
Et à t'écouter
Chanter et puis rire
Laisse-moi devenir
L'ombre de ton ombre
L'ombre de ta main
L'ombre de ton chien

[Chorus]
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
Ne me quitte pas
**************************************************
African Mailman[Instrumental]
**************************************************
Adam lives in theory - liveAdam lives in theory tryin' to turn stone into bread
Masquerading like he's got it figured out
Cut off from the sunshine, only smart in his own head
Leaving his descendants to hope and doubt
Left to his devices, those worthless sacrifices
Praying to the altar of his self
Making pilgrimages thinking he's religious
Like he's got all the light, and no one else
He takes the unsuspected
'Cuz he knows they're not connected
And he shows them how to be just as he is, virtually real
And commercially appeal, to the lust of all the people where he lives
Eve was so naive, blinded by the pride and greed
Wanting to be intellectual
Drifting from the way, she got turned down one day
And now she thinks that she's bisexual
Caught up in emotion, burning up in her devotion
To the king of exploitation in the field
She handed him her virtue, 'cuz he told, "I won't hurt you"
So she lay with him to see how good it feels
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
Now after the sensation, and the empty fornication
She brought infection home into her bed
Quickly multiplying, now the three of them are dyin'
By the poison she perceived to be good
Now Eve and her husband, are perverted in their judgment
'Cuz everything appeared to be the same
They entertain suggestions, next time just use protection
Desiring to cover up their shame
But much to their demise, poor decision closed their eyes
To the very antidote of their dilemma
Burning in their lust, both of them adulterous
Destroying the original agenda
Praying to the sky, in order to maintain a lie
They exhausted every possible conclusion
They can't even entertain, or the solution in a brain
Or filled with vain, information and pollution
Hiding from the truth, he provided an excuse
To explain away his desperate situation
When confronted, blamed his wife, giving birth to carnal life
Refusing to acknowledge what he'd done
And now, if we can agree with who created us to be
Who says we're guilty, everyone before His eyes
Making no exceptions, since the day of our conception
Predisposed to hating truth, and loving lies
Then can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
Now can you tell me, what, what we gonna do now?
Where we gonna go now? What we gonna say now?
Stop walking in pride, let the thief be crucified
Unlearn everything you know and let Him teach you
Line upon line, and precept upon precept
Say goodbye to this decaying social system
He wants to know, how far we're willing to go?
If we love Him like we say we do, He'll try us
Just you don't regress, or slip into hopelessness
Once He's satisfied, His love, He won't deny us
And then He'll tell us what, what we gonna do now
Where we gonna go now, what we gonna say now
And then He'll tell us, what, what we gonna do now
Where we gonna go now, what we gonna say now
I'm telling you, telling you, I'm telling you
I'm telling you, I'm telling you, I'm telling you
He's gonna tell us, tell us, tell us
Ooh! Yeah
**************************************************
Welcome: The Passion[Intro] (x5)
This is Lauryn Hill wit' J. Period, this is The Best of Lauryn Hill

[Verse 1]
If they only owned love, shown love, grown love like this before
If they only knew love, true love too long like this before
If they only gave love, saved love, grave love like this before
If they only called love "love", love called "love" like this before
If they'd only shown love, they own love, own love like this before
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-love-love-la-la-la-la-love
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-love like this before, yeah

[Outro]
This is Lauren Hill wit' J. Period, this is The Best of Lauryn Hill
**************************************************
Lost Ones (Remix) (Part 2)[Intro]
You might win some, but you really lost one
You just lost one, it's so silly, how come?
When it's all done, what did you really gain from?
What you done done, it's so silly, how come? You just lost one

[Verse 1]
Now, don't you understand, man, universal law?
What you throw out comes back to you, star
Never underestimate those who you scar
Cause karma, karma, karma comes back to you hard
You can't hold God's people back that long
The chain of Satan wasn't made that strong
Tryin' to pretend like your word is your bond
But until you do right, all you do will go wrong
Now, some might mistake this just for simple song
And some don't know what they have 'til it's gone
Now, even when you're gone you can still be reborn
And from the night can arrive the sweet dawn
Now, some might listen and some might shun
And some may think that they've reached perfection
If you look closely, you'll see what you've become
Cause you might win some, but you just lost one

[Hook] (x4)
You might win some, but you just lost one

[Bridge]
You might win some, but you really lost one
You just lost one, it's so silly, how come?
When it's all done, what did you really gain from?
What you done done, it's so silly, how come? You might win one

[Outro]
Yo, this is the full genius
Refugees, they're about to take you on a journey
Into the dimensions of the Book of Basement
The basements were, uh...
Hey, yo, one, two, three, the crew is called Refugees
And if they come for testin' rap stylin'
Stop the violence and just bring it on
Y-O, hey, yo, one, two, three, the crew is called Refugees
And if they come for testin' rap stylin'
Stop the violence and just bring it on, Y-O
**************************************************
Little Drummer BoyCome, they told me
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
The newborn King
You'll see
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Our finest gifts
We bring
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
To lay
Before the King
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Romp-pa-pom-pom
Romp-pa-pom-pom
So to honor him
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
When we come

Baby Jesus
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
I am a poor boy too
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
I have
No gift to bring
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
That fit
Tto give our King
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Romp-pa-pom-pom
Romp-pa-pom-pom
Shall I play for you
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Shall I play for you
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Shall I play for you
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
On my drum
Shall I play for you
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
On my drum

Mary nodded
Pa-rumpa-pom-pom
The ox and lamb
Kept time
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
I played my drum
For him
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
I played my best
For him
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Romp-pa-pom-pom
Romp-pa-pom-pom
Then he smiled at me
Pa-romp-pa-pom-pom
Then he smiled at me
And my drum

On my drum, on my drum
On my drum, on my drum
On my drum, on my drum
On my drum, on my drum
On my drum, on my drum
On my drum, on my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
Me and my drum
On my drum, on my drum
On my drum, on my drum
**************************************************
The Reintroduction[Intro]
Allow me to reintroduce myself
L. Boogie, who you gon' scrimmage like you the champion?
L. Boogie spits with perfect syntax, don't check it
Many styles, style so prestigious, make a sinner act religious
Been lifted, lyrically, I'm gifted
L been this way since creation, put the DJ in it
I'm J.Period, I represent the real hip-hop, I'm J.Period
They say hip-hop is dead, I'm here to resurrect me
Boogie on, yo, (-) Lauryn, yo, (-) Lauryn, yo, Lauryn, (-)

[Outro: Rohan Marley]
Rohan Marley talkin' to you
Don't play that track again, you know? Let it go
**************************************************
Fearless Vampire Killer[Intro]
Fearless Vampire Killer
I am a Fearless Vampire Killer
I am a Fearless Vampire Killer
I am a Fearless Vampire Killer

[Verse]
Watch yourself up in the realm
Watch yourself up in the front
You didn't come up with nothing
These are fuckin' liars
Holes in your pocket, and
Now you're a department store buyer
Put some more leaves on the fire
You're not the wheat you're just the chaff
Your whole operation makes me laugh
No Class
You never had money now your whole Op's about cash
Come on find a new topic
You got kids in the street listening to this SHIT
You going to kill them just to make a profit
You're real short term
You don't see the big picture
Just look at the news
I don't need to quote scripture
At you, but I can do that to
Bad boys what you going to do when the come for you
I don't mean the Coppers (Cops)
I mean the Tormentors
A little ackward
They going to pop you in a padded lock
You know you had it coming

[Chorus]
Where you gonna go now? What you gonna do now? Where you gonna go now? What you gonna do now? Where you gonna go now?
**************************************************
Nas Interlude[Intro]
Yo, what up? This is Nas with the official (-), J. Period
"If I Ruled the World" was originally a Kurtis Blow record
You know? Somebody who I love and saw him in crèche school
And his song wit' "These are the breaks"...
I used to breakdance to his music, you hear what I'm sayin'?
So "If I Ruled the World" was a tribute to him
And also speakin' out to the world
And, um, I used to work wit' the Fugees on tour
And, you know, they would open up for me wit' our first albums
And our second albums, it flipped
And he sold, like, you know, thirty million albums
And I'm — now I'm openin' up for them
So, um, we was — we was cool like that
And, you know, Lauryn came and got on the record
Who I felt was — would make the record even more incredible
Me and her, I really appreciate her work
And, um, and talked to her well
You know, not just my projects, but every projects in December
Everywhere in the world
So I thought that would be the perfect record

[Outro]
If I ruled the world
Still living for today in these last days and times
**************************************************
Everything Is Everything (radio edit)Everything (Everything)
Is Everything(Is Everything)
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually
(2x)

I wrote these words for everyone
Who struggles in their youth
Who won't accept deception
Instead of what is truth
It seems we lose the game
Before we even start to play
Who made these rules? We're so confused
Easily led astray
Let me tell ya that
Everything is everything
(Everything is everything)
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything

I philosophy
Possibly speak tongues
Beat drum, Abyssinian, street Baptist
Rap this in fine linen
From the beginning
My practice extending across the atlas
I begat this
Flippin' in the ghetto on a dirty mattress
You can't match this rapper / actress
More powerful than two Cleopatras
Bomb graffiti on the tomb of Nefertiti
MCs ain't ready to take it to the Serengeti
My rhymes is heavy like the mind of Sister Betty
L. Boogie spars with stars and constellations
Then came down for a little conversation
Adjacent to the king, fear no human being
Roll with cherubims to Nassau Coliseum
Now hear this mixture
Where hip hop meets scripture
Develop a negative into a positive picture

Now everything, is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually

Sometimes it seems
We'll touch that dream
But things come slow or not at all
And the ones on top, won't make it stop
So convinced that they might fall
Let's love ourselves then we can't fail
To make a better situation
Tomorrow, our seeds will grow
All we need is dedication

Let me tell ya that
Everything is everything
(Everything is everything)
Everything is everything
After winter, must come spring
Everything is everything

Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually

La la la la la la la la (until song fades)
**************************************************
Thank You LetterI want to extend a sincere thank you to the following people, who wrote letters to the judge on my behalf:

Linda Banks, Edison, NJ
Davonne Breedlove
Binna Choi, Beijing, China
Hafiz Farid, East Orange, NJ
Miriam Anne Banks Farrakhan, Union, NJ
Vincent Gardner, New York, NY
Michael Green, Fair Bluff, NC
Elitta Harden, Ft Worth, TX
Mrs. Valarie Hill, South Orange, NJ
Maureen Hogan, Jersey City, NJ
Walter Jones, New York, NY
Alicia Keys
Elena Lau, Toronto, Canada
Jerald Miller, New York, NY
Tracy Morris, Jacksonville Beach, FL
Elise Munoz, France
Bunmi Olukoya, Laurel, MD
Jimmie Pierre, Trenton, NJ
Cherisse Pittman
Gabrielle Fulton Ponder, Atlanta, GA
Dominique Reese, Oakland, CA
Chris Schwartz, Philadelphia, PA
Ashley Scott, Brooklyn, NY
Derek Singletary, Astoria, NY
Dr. Sara Tai, Manchester, UK
Suzette Williams, Teaneck, NJ
Lisa Willis, Philadelphia, PA
Stevie Wonder
Jonathan Wunderlich, Cabarete, DR

And thank you Jerald Miller, for taking the initiative to put this together.
I also want to thank all of my family, friends, business associates, and fans who have called, emailed, sent texts, and posted messages of concern, encouragement, and support. I appreciate the well wishes, and I thank you for your prayers.
Also, to anyone who may have written letters that we did not know about, thank you also, all of you.
I will have more to say soon, but did not want to further delay expressing my appreciation.

Thank you again,
MLH
**************************************************
Response to Accusations on “Neurotic Society”Neurotic Society is a song about people not being, or not being able to be, who and what they truly are, due to the current social construct. I am not targeting any particular group of people, but rather targeting everyone in our society who hides behind neurotic behavior, rather than deal with it.

The world we live in now is, in many ways, an abhorrent distortion, an accumulation of generations and generations of response to negative stimuli. Many don’t even have a concept of what normal is, by virtue of having lived afraid, ashamed, as victims of abuse, or inadequately handled for so long. I believe in coming up from under that fear and allowing the psyche/soul to truly heal. I understand that healing is a process, but I also believe that it is our responsibility to seriously care for ourselves, so that we can extend that level of concern for others and positively affect our environment.

I want what is best for Humanity. Humanity, aligned with the Spiritual principles, that help each individual conquer fear, and transcend limited circumstance. I believe in healing and dealing with the traumatizing events of our lives, both in this lifetime, as well as those passed down to us, or inherited, so we can live as fully as possible.

The whole world suffers from a lack of honest dialogue. Character and integrity have suffered at the hands of political correctness and corporate agenda, while our society moves further and further towards unhealthiness and breakdown. I oppose these trends.

Everyone has a right to their own beliefs. Although I do not necessarily agree with what everyone says or does, I do believe in everyone’s right to protest.
The overarching message of my music is to get up and stop compromising! And hopefully it will stimulate and motivate the changes that our society needs.

Artists are constantly under media and public scrutiny. This is not a one-way street. Those of us with the charge of putting out faithful vibrations, have a responsibility to report what we see, and to write about what we know. I have seen some of the best and also some of the worst representations of human behavior. The same way that I exalt that which is high, is the same way I expose that which is abusive, in order to motivate and remind if not all of us, than as many as possible, of the Higher Calling.