[Intro: Mereba]
Ooh, oh, oh

[Chorus: Johnny Venus & Mereba]
I met a man playin' in the woods
His piano was off-key
He sang to me softly
I bet he wouldn't change it if he could
Gunshots ringin' in my hood
They sound so off-beat
I'm prayin' they don't off me
I promise I'd change it if I could

[Post-Chorus: Johnny Venus & Mereba, Johnny Venus]
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
(Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)

[Verse 1: Mereba]
I retreat to the trees, surrounded by green, but I need
Need more for my kin and more for my team (Oh shit)
Dance to a different type beat, off kilter rhythm
Took the traces of my feet, but I need more
Before I dip out of the scene
For my n***as, for my queens, for the babies, for my rounds
For my sisters missin' crowns, homies victims to apathy, like
Honey drippin' off the table in front of me, ah
They say, "Go," but my heart still fights for the seed
They buy shows, but my soul shouldn't back the deed
Oh, why? Oh, why? Why, why, why?
So, you get rich, I'ma try to get free, but
Not exclusive, mutually, but
Oh, I, oh, I gotta find the balance between
[Verse 2: Johnny Venus]
Some say, "Life is just a Hell
And it's here we dwell until we're truly, truly, truly free"
Some say, "Projects and ghettos and seeds that will never grow
Is all there is to see"
I'll stay with you through the night and in the darkest times
We'll fight through it all until we reach that dawn
I dream of a world where love is the rule
Where hearts walk two by two
And I with you
I dream of a place where a child's wish can always come true
And the old and withered become renewed

[Chorus: Johnny Venus & Mereba]
I met a man playin' in the woods
His piano was off-key
He sang to me softly
I bet he wouldn't change it if he could
Gunshots ringin' in my hood
They sound so off-beat
I'm prayin' they don't off me
I promise I'd change it if I could

[Post-Chorus: Johnny Venus & Mereba, Johnny Venus]
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
(Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
Oh, why? (Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, why?)
[Verse 3: Benji.]
I can see the ripple, I can see the changes, oh, my
I can feel the reaper, I can hear the angels, oh, I
Cross my heart for safety, hope I stay alive, oh, Lord
They always go too crazy, it's really peace of mind, good God
All my life, I had to fight, all my life, passin' by
All my life, I had to write, all my life, I had to die
All I had to sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears pays the price
Start to think for better day's tomorrow, keep my spirits high up
When it rains, it pours, my ceiling go up
Then it turn in my floor, then the game show love
Then count my blessings, my praise goes up
Big dawg, my n***a since day one
When the Sun go down, when the lights go up
Still ten toes down, I'ma keep mine tucked
I'ma bang my buck, I'ma play my hand
Then I ain't gon' change 'til I free my lands
I'ma use my hands, I'ma play my songs
I'ma play mine right 'til I prove my dance
And the key to my life, I'ma sing my wrongs
I'ma be that light, I'ma clap my hands
I'ma smoke my weed, see my bands
And I lead by faith, and I play my jam
And you might think I'm out of tune
But it ain't got shit to do you with you, oh my, God
[Outro: Big Rube]
Your freedom is beyond anyone outside of yourself's controllin'
It can't be bought and sold, given away, or even stolen
It's a divine entitlement, vital to the nourishment of the soul
Encouragin' spiritual growth to channel the ethereal flow of creation's river across the cosmos
This blessed osmosis, triggerin' consciousness to focus
And the paradigm ascension, transcendin' beyond all space and time dimensions
Not to mention my penchant for benediction
Been addicted minds, been consistent in my grind
Of usin' every pen and pencil I can find
To elevate the state of decline, that's draggin' my people down so deep that the climb could never be done in a single lifetime
So I write life's lines, correction, my lines write life
Correction, my life lines right up
When serving' my purpose to write and recite what touches
And sights ignite that unites us
So we can finally stop runnin', from freedom
Yeah