South

Man, I grew up in the south
Made a man out of a mouse
Barely talk about my life though
No matter how had it might go
Keep it inside, oh
Don't mean it's right though
South, south, south, south, south
South, south, south
I grew up in the south, south, south, south, south
South, south, south

Where I grew up it was tests, bare trials and tribulations
Bro got post-traumatic stress from violent situations
I was that kid on the left with a objected observation
Grandma spoiled me to death, distracted me from danger
She knew I could end up
She don't say too many prayers
Had to mind where I was playin'
Cah when hunger turned to hatred
Ain't no curfew worth debatin'
Any bed I make, I lay in
I could slip and end up sleep
There's no pillows on these pavements
Still my family did their best
My father's spot was vacant
We know where the nitties cotched
Dirty sheets and no newspapers
'Member this one day I got robbed
Thirteen, walkin' 'round my block
He said, "Blud, what phone you got?"
No fear clocked but I felt naked

Man, I grew up in the south (Man, I grew up in the south)
Made a man out of a mouse (Made a man out of a mouse)
Barely talk about my life though
No matter how had it might go
Keep it inside, oh
Don't mean it's right though
South, south, south, south, south
South, south, south
I grew up in the south, south, south, south, south
South, south, south

Yo, where I'm from, you learn to mind your business and write your lyrics
I don't wanna bury no more bredrins or write to prisons
I ain't tryna see my family argue or fight for pittance
Yo, they always say revenge is sweet, not like forgiveness
I left home when I was seventeen, blud, despite my feelings
Hate to say that it was meant to be, but I've been thinkin'
'Bout my past and all these memories that drive all my decisions
I pray Jesus take the steerin' wheel and swerve them spiteful bitches
I got people I can never let down (Never let down)
Their physical bein' ain't here but they watch from the Heaven in clouds (Heaven in clouds)
It's difficult seein' it clear with all these smoke and mirrors
Broken pictures, dusty baggies, woeful sinners
Me included, system says we've both been victims
Moved around so much in my teenage years
I swear down I still got motion sickness
Home, I missed it, so nostalgic and so distinctive
Dirty football boots in Banana Park, now the goals are different
Fuck what's in your bag, man, my soul the richest

I grew up in the south (I grew up in the south)
Made a man out of a mouse (Made a man out of a mouse)
Barely talk about my life though
No matter how had it might go
Keep it inside, oh
Don't mean it's right though
South, south, south, south, south
South, south, south
I grew up in the south, south, south, south, south
South, south, south

I know exactly what the streets are missin', yeah, yeah
Put pen to paper tryna beat the system, yeah, yeah
I speak a prayer for my G's, I miss 'em, yeah, yeah
Then I hit the road and I complete the mission, yeah, yeah
My homie told me, "Bro, you be protected, yeah, yeah
Just be the voice we need and keep ascendin', yeah, yeah
We've been through struggles, learned some deeper lessons, yeah, yeah
So go remind them what they be forgettin'
Bro, you a legend
And you're straight out of the south"