Take A Minute

And any man who knows a thing
Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurtin'
I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe

How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday
When injustice had him caged and trapped in every way?
How did Gandhi ever withstand the hunger-strikes and all?
Didn't do it to gain power or money if I recall
It's the gift, I guess I'll pass it on, mother thinks it'll lift the stress of Babylon
Mother knows, my mother she suffered blows
I don't know how we survived such violent episodes

I was so worried, it hurt to see you bleed
But as soon as you came out the hospital you gave me sweets, yeah
They tried to take you from me
But you still only gave 'em some prayers and sympathy
Dear Mama, you helped me write this
By showing me to give is priceless

And any man who knows a thing
Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurtin'
I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe

All I can say is, the worst is over now
We can serve the hard times, divorce it's over now
They try to keep us out, but they doors is open now
My nigga Akon is gettin' awards and covers now
This is K'naan, and still reppin' the S
Comin' out of Mogadishu and still draped in the mess
And no matter how we strong homie
It ain't easy comin' out of where we from homie

And it's the reason why I can never play phoney
"Tell 'em the truth" is what my dead homies told me, ooh yeah
I take inspiration from the most heinous of situations
Creatin' medication out my own tribulations
Dear Africa, you helped me write this
By showin' me to give is priceless

And any man who knows a thing
Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurtin'
I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe

Nothin' is perfect man, that's what the world is
All I know is
I'm enjoyin' today
You know
'Cause it ain't every day that you get to give

And any man who knows a thing
Knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all
And every time I felt the hurtin'
I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe

(Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah)
I ain't got nothing to complain about
(Yeah yeah yeah, yeah yeah yeah)
You know where I'm from, and you know where I'm at, so

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride (I'm flying high)
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe (yeah yeah yeah)
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it ride (peace)
I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe (yeah yeah yeah)