Langston Hughes
Around Me
VERSE 1:

High hopes, used to lead me to hopeless thoughts
Damn the pain that that would cause
Thinking 'bout my decisions, I'm feeling like Joseph Cross
The way I'm running with scissors, while wide awake wouldn't walk
Where I'm from, hope is becoming lost
They don't care if it's freezing, you getting jacked for your frost
Same kids, look up right at a cross
Beg the lord for forgiveness then go back to breaking laws cause
The hunger like Everdeen
And the m.o is to get it by any means
You know why, when you young they tell you you need your greens
And the greed just leads to a murder scene
I keep myself out the mix, but I know the streets
When a problem needs fixing they go and they grab the piece
Your spirit will face eviction once you facing your decease
I just hope the next barrel ain't facing me

HOOK:
And I’m gon’ break though
No matter what’s around me
And I’m gon get past
All of my surroundings
They said a dream deferred
Is a broken winged bird, it cannot fly
And I’m gon’ rise up, keep my eyes up
Won’t let em die

VERSE 2:

So what’s the problem?
Some say it’s the movement
Some say the environment
Cause they fail to improve it
They don’t like when we riot
They say the protest are violent
But when we do em in silence
They don’t like when we do it
Appropriation, that’s a form of them looting
Along with gentrification, that seems to really been booming
It’s a race and a social class issue I’m assuming
Let’s erase every local fast, thats a great solution
What are we supposed to do? Sit and get wiped out clean?
Dress in different attire so we do not make a scene?
Ask to form an alliance and hope that they don’t deny us
Cause they don’t want to supply us
Until then the people scream
Saying, "we want reparation, free education
It’s locked behind societies grip
No hesitation
To ever let it go because they want to keep us gated
Tell us that change is coming
But for years we’ve patient ah!"
HOOK:
And I’m gon’ break though
No matter what’s around me
And I’m gon get past
All of my surroundings
They said a dream deferred
Is a broken winged bird, it cannot fly
And I’m gon’ rise up, keep my eyes up
Won’t let em die