Tony! Toni! Toné!
The Tale
[Produced by JAYBeatz]

[Verse 1]
Who would have ever thought
I'd jump from you reading Velvetine Rabbit to me
To laughing at things that aren't even funny
I'm in the habit of being the loudest one in the room
Who's proudest of it?
Quiet covet 'tween you and me about everything
But barely seen you 'round anyways
I ran away from home the other day
Like a renegade astray from his soul
Another mold on the potter's clay, what a day
Charcoal in the ashtray, hope it don't start a fire
Hope I don't choke from their smoke
Only hang 'round the dope wise
Never bang with the no minds
I hope you heard me pray about changing lives
And changing ways
I hope you and God have heard it clear
And heard it straight
Mommy I need them to see me shine crystal
I ain't a fake, I ain't conceded
I just speak my mind simple
I hate how so many look down upon me
But don't decide to say it to my face
They got me pent up in a cage
[Break 1]
But Dad would always say I got it (You got it)
And you would always say its true
So I would listen to you tell The Tale
That I am trying to now tell you...

[Chorus]
It's alright, it's all fine
It's alright, it's okay
Alright? All fine, alright?
And you don't even gotta tell me alright?
It's okay, just go on, you'll be fine, alright?
And you don't even gotta tell me alright?
I feel you—

[Post-Chorus]
Cause I just wanna hopefully, talk to you mostly
I just wanna hold you, closely, I feel you

[Verse 2]
I wanna fly out—text you, say I'm racing for a tryout
Just got your cellular
And some music for us to try out only (like always)
When communication dies, you got my full attention
Every time that I pry
I swear there's good intentions behind it (damn)
I swear I'm reminded I'm blinded
By the fact that I want to take you out for the ride
When I find you, wanna protect you, you got your own back
You got Erick—I know that, but you don't ever show that
Strong as a buck but weakest
In the league of hearts in the world
Can't leak our hearts when we're hurt
But hard as rock when attacked
'Tryna get my school to recognize a new tradition
The combination of talents, the triple threats
The new editions, you always knew I was ambitious
Well this is me tryna fulfill a vision, flose up the distance
Feels like you hate my persistence, I know you fear it
Been on the look for studios to fire up some tracks
But who in hell but me can keep it crisp Cook?
[Break 2]
I always say that you the greatest
I still don't feel you think it's true
But 'til we meet again you'll have The Tale
I finally learned surrounds you too

[Chorus]
It's alright, it's all fine
It's alright, it's okay
Alright? All fine, alright?
And you don't even gotta tell me alright?
It's okay, just go on, you'll be fine, alright?
And you don't even gotta tell me alright?
I feel you—

[Post-Chorus]
Cause I just wanna hopefully, talk to you mostly
I just wanna hold you, closely, I feel you

[Outro]
Cause I just wanna hopefully talk to you mostly
I just wanna hold you, closely, I feel you
And even though you're not here
I can still hear you, I can still feel you

[Sound Clip: Kain Carter]
You look at me and you see what? Young, black, funny, successful? What do I have left? Broken relationships with family. Broken relationships with friends. A few years ago I had a conversation with my best friend's sister. She saw potential in me before I even saw potential in myself. She said, "When this thing blows up, you know you can never go back to being normal again right?" I looked at her and I said, "I don't care. I want it all." And I'm getting it...