Raheem DeVaughn
What A Time To Be Alive
[Interlude: R.A. Brown]
What a time to be alive
If I haven't before understood that time is relative
Well, I understand it now
Understand that less profound and now is all that exist
We no longer recognize one another in these different masks
No longer feel threatened by a covered face even if it's black
And yes, I remember a time before this
Before COVID-19 and livid 24/7
I remember complacency shrouded in normalcy
And ignorance to bliss, one seeks
I was Black before and now it appears that everyone sees me
Before, prayer had me on my knees
We all seeing the dark now
When we've been seen through on ghost and chalk outlines
Seemingly born laying down
But I've always stood in love's transparency
Always been the magic in black
Always the night that brings the stars
Always the breath in life's lungs
Living life while I'm alive, now look at where we are
We're alive just tryna live
Tryna do it one more time and give it one more chance
Born into fear and dying by the hands of someone on their phone or in their privilege
'Cause I walk the land and stood
I took a stand
And if I haven't understood before that these lessons hold with them gifts
As hard as it is to comprehend hate
It may be hard to understand this, but we must give
Give ourselves a break
Give to your life
Give to you and yours
Love is something they can't take
Be in love's transparency
We can't take this pain with us
All we have is love
And it ain't on the other cheek
Meek ain't never met weak
What a time to be in love
For beyond this life and certainly beyond time, love
Love is what will save us from it all
And it's love that will deliver us to ourselves