[Interlude]
...Captial Hill to work out a compromised Health Care plan, he lost his voice after his State of the Union speech. A roof collapsed at a supermarket in France...
Hey Arnold!...
[?]

[Part 1: Produced by P K]

[Intro: Byron Henderson]
Being sober meant me being ready to go where I was going without you, but then you came with me. Thank you

Yeah
Mhmm, mhmm

[Verse: Byron Henderson]
Humanity breeds chaos, pardon me for my absence
Went missing for twelve years, y'all finally know what happened
Decisions reeking of innocence decaying now
Born in New Orleans, but still somehow I was heading south
Animosity lurking
Burdened with sin, it was personal
Biggest question is, what’s remembered of me when when the curtains close
Streets will never love you as much as you love the streets
You gon need the Devil, he'll need a shovel because I'm deep
The cerebellum of felons and what they fail to pursue
If I was born in LA, how I dress, they would probably shoot
Not enough to unloose the noose, but you’re spooked
Rely on Jesus, till they leave you leaking for loot
And that's what they feed to the youth
What's the difference tween a cop and someone that looks like me
When my reflection is a stranger, who knows what they might see
I'm regressing out of anger, I'm stressing
Ain't no time for a Reverend
Everything I hated, turns out I just might be
F that
A hero unsung, me and my roots undone
Thinking black thoughts on a quest love, for lump sums
Most mentally flawed, all this baggage I would deadlift
Spit like the same gun they chose to shoot Detroit Red with
But did you believe in me (yeah)
Did you take precaution, in case I let you down easily (yeah)
Is your fave on that auction block, is your heart where it needs to be
Will it take you a lifetime just to learn where the furnace is
Learned this while turning six
Took my switch, made it permanent
Now life's lit like a burning wick
Twelve years of burning bridges, sinking ships to furnish with
People want respect but won't do what it takes to earn the ish
What part of loving God is making who’s giving the sermons rich?
I was just company to this country’s misery for so long
I was left thinking, "There's really nothing left to go wrong"
Met Aaliyah in 2010, Kelsey two years later
I learned I was meeting my friends, they learned what fear is made of
I was-
Hours, countless hours I lost
How was it having memory so bad, I’m jotting my thoughts
My past foggy as the skyline
If I'm up, they can't be down, but I was down during my down time
And still they found time
My demons had a leg up on me, so I stayed off track
Send anyone you want, but don't send anyone you want back
Some don’t know what it's like to feel really played
Used to feel enraged
Dealing with friends on the other side like Facilier
These white folks look in my eyes and they really think either I'm letting off shots, or I facilitate
See this hood's over my eyes, but the wool isn't
Same material they had my people picking
Even centuries later, it's like y'all don't see a difference
Even when Kels got assaulted, her people ain't see a victim
Y'all been tricking for a golden ticket
Time is ticking down
I'm missing out cause I'm emotion driven
Y'all just here for clout
How you call yourself a parent when you know your daughter's been taken advantage of
No repercussions, even with knowledge of damage done
People wonder why I keep Aaliyah close
Cause people go from loving to destructive when you need them most
I was fading fast (fast)
Kels is fading fast, cause every parasite needs a host to run from their past
Doubled down on never needing hope, cause hope ain't last
Had to check in with them both to make sure I ain't spazz
Now, that's B.S
I was seeing very clearly that you people had me pegged wrong
But couldn't care less, just know your POV was dead wrong
You people met my demons, never met me
Even before '05, was just a person you should let be
Was really still a kid when Matt asked how I feel knowing that my skin tone alone could probably get me killed?
Too exhausted to answer, but honestly, you'd never know
Cause I was fighting demons, yet was hesitant to let them go
Trust me, I was heated, just a vessel full of rage
A devilish grin for every sin, no coping mechanism came
Thinking if I overcome this, what good will really come from it
Trauma eating off my plate, and that's something I couldn't stomach
If I plummet, then what?
Cause what I have with them outweighs whatever trauma
Know what happens if I never come back
That revelation kinda stays with me
Like this permanent disconnect to disinfect what's plaguing me
I know my fear was dying young, but now somehow it's saving me
Probably wonder how on Earth I got over it
Over just being nothing, said F it, and got it over with
Re-emerged as threat, so I'm reimbursed with some peace
My demons will never rest
But for now, they live on the streets
Aaliyah, take it from me, you're hearing what Kelsey went through
History's made to teach, so you know that you weren't meant to
Kelsey, we're seven years in
I know you well enough to sense that you feel some resentment
Cause deep within, I'm sure the carelessness of your people regarding you
It left you in the same place I was in and you're falling too
But you ain't strong, though
That's what you always say, like you ain't wrong
Demons bring you to your knees, like I would really let you fall
Ran track just to keep myself in shape to run from them
Took my last lap yesterday, I'll never run again
Let everyone and thing go, to gain back what's most important
So that when they come for me, you all will understand this portrait
What we have is forever

[Hook: Byron Henderson]
Til it's blood on the leaves
Gunshots fired, more black bodies swinging in the breeze
Would you sacrifice it all just to breathe
Turn on channel five, revolution televised as you flee

Letting go of my high hopes
Got my eyes closed, dreaming
Thinking I'll go back to who I know
Even though I can burn your flag (flag), mute your anthem (uh huh)
I can learn your craft (craft), recruit your fandom

[Refrain: Byron Henderson]
The Mighty Don't Kneel, or maybe just my love died
Either way, tell darkness goodbye, cause I'm sober yet still above high
(Yeah yeah, yeah yeah)
False prophets get buried alive, no we don't trust lies
Giving you food for thought to try and season your mind
I promise on my still beating heart, you'll understand my reason in time
I spent today thinking of you and everything you made me feel
Til death does us part, but Kels and Lee, you know it never will

[Part 2: Produced by Young Shockolate]

[Bridge: Soap&Skin]
Neither ever, nor never
Goodbye
Neither ever, nor never
Goodbye
Neither ever, nor never
Goodbye
Ever, nor never
Goodbye
Neither ever, nor never
Goodbye
Goodbye

[Outro: Byron Henderson]
They know why I can't let up
F your fame, tell us why you're trying to get to the same Heaven
I'm scribbling killings down and sending them all out like chain letters on your TV
While Aaliyah's reading school books, asking, “Why I don't see me?”
I'm the one in front the gun and the one behind the trigger
Defacing death with a comment, cause he'll never find or feel us
If he's ever to find or feel us, just identify the killer
Kels and I the only witness, it's that coward in the mirror
Still if it was fall or fly, and I plummeted from the sky, I'll never die
You're my dawg, remember love conquers all, tell them why
Longevity was telling me better me to survive
Gave you both the best of me, and my legacy is alive
The Mighty