These American Blues

A FlipSide Production
(Ahhhh)
Instinctively I push forward as others retreat
The gift of ancestors that never knew the meaning of defeat
The curse of never seeing life from the drivers seat
It's easier when blessed with a down home beat
I can hear the train whistle riding the track
Through southern towns and sweaty brows
Through 90% humidity
And 100% humility
Head down as I head downtown
Chest swells tho cuz my time is coming
But I don't want to forget these American blues

I choose to uplift cuz I have that choice
I demand to speak cuz I'm allowed that voice
Things are better cuz the floor is no longer the ceiling
Once couldn't go inside now I can own the building
I take pride in the fact
Their blues were better than mine
Deeper, darker maybe less refined
Cuz it was played with far less sunshine
So I'm honored to call those ancestors mine
But I don't wanna forget
These American blues

We've come so far
Yet still so far to go
Making strides in reality
Not just for show
Lynchings down to an all time low
So we're showing progress even if it is slow
My best friend's white
My daughter's nana is too
I don't think that was even possible in 1962
Not in America
Land of the free
Oh say can you see
The deep roots of hypocrisy
In these American blues

Hypocrisy that digs at my people
From core to fingertips
Through scarred backs to bloodied lips
To societal appropriation and overly sexualized hips
We come so far
Yet the journey is ongoing
Like the Nile of old our river stays overflowing
With the cool they covet
But they can never quite get
It's like
That's why they hate so much
It's why they can't touch the sacred fire
No matter their desire
Melanin I guess it's not required but needed to get it poppin'
For us we ain't never stoppin'
We just keep droppin' buckets
Maybe it's the shoes

That's why I can't forget these American blues
I can't forget these American blues