HERE. // (Reprise)
So one time I tried to leave this place
Alright, maybe twice.. Three times.. Four
Whatever.. I thought I had some good ideas for my life
But each time, God said stay
I think He may be a little smarter than me
I think.. I’m done trying to run
I’m learning to embrace where I am
This.. this is me yo, right here
Don’t get it twisted, I ain’t settling
I’m just retiring the idea that “there” is better
I often find it fascinating
How quick we are to praise the birds
Praise wind, we praise flight
Yet forget to praise the trees
Who stand resisting the reign of time
See I pray that I could grow roots deep enough
To have branches that stretch through these streets
Palms open, ready to tend to this garden of possibility
To help dreams grow wings and
Be here long enough to see my seeds bear fruit
I’m planting my feet here, ten toes down
On the grounds that raised me
The soil that was the genesis for my becoming
Where my heart realizes itself
In the families God made out of motley crews
Where these arms learned to curl tender
Around those I hold close as kin
Where I made peace with 6AM alarms
Because I knew it was an intro to a day full of inspiration
Except 530 on the boulevard.. That would make you question some things
But this, this is where I overcame my fear of commitment
No longer afraid of being stuck
I see the beauty of this place; there’s something special
And I am discovering myself whole
Here.
See I’ve become many things to many people..
But above all I am not me without you
So this is an ode to us
A celebration of our being
Sing, freedom every time we gather
Like the movement of a dancer on open floor
With joyous rhythms beating beneath this skin
Unlearning shame in every step
Sing, we make victory in the minutia
And laughter gives us a window to hope
Sing, you make smile blossom out of this concrete heart
Cause you are a breath of fresh color
In a world too often gray
Sing these bonds is illmatic
Realness never lackin
Always hold it down
Ain't nobody can attack it
And we fly like dragons
Float against gravity
Ask us how it is
Tell em boom, it's magic
Sing, when worst comes to worst
My peoples come first
Sing, all I got is my all and Imma give it to you
Sing, love need not be spoken but is always present
Sing, how we find heaven in our shared hereness
And there ain’t no place I’d rather be
God, it feels good
To know I am right where I belong
Here. in the Mecca.
For years I laid in my bed
Hoping for some sort of direction
But now I can see God’s fingerprints
All through these cords He strung together
I am now here
Building a table for us
‘Cause I know the weariness of trying to earn a seat elsewhere
I know I am no savior
I seek no glory
No praise nor pay
My reward is in you
The thesis of many prayers poured out
To make space for revolution
To see you take flight
I’m here for that.
And when home seems far
Know that you have a permanent one in my life
So come, have a seat
Sing with me
While today is still today
Let’s steal these moments from the hands of time
And celebrate
Here.
Alright, maybe twice.. Three times.. Four
Whatever.. I thought I had some good ideas for my life
But each time, God said stay
I think He may be a little smarter than me
I think.. I’m done trying to run
I’m learning to embrace where I am
This.. this is me yo, right here
Don’t get it twisted, I ain’t settling
I’m just retiring the idea that “there” is better
I often find it fascinating
How quick we are to praise the birds
Praise wind, we praise flight
Yet forget to praise the trees
Who stand resisting the reign of time
See I pray that I could grow roots deep enough
To have branches that stretch through these streets
Palms open, ready to tend to this garden of possibility
To help dreams grow wings and
Be here long enough to see my seeds bear fruit
I’m planting my feet here, ten toes down
On the grounds that raised me
The soil that was the genesis for my becoming
Where my heart realizes itself
In the families God made out of motley crews
Where these arms learned to curl tender
Around those I hold close as kin
Where I made peace with 6AM alarms
Because I knew it was an intro to a day full of inspiration
Except 530 on the boulevard.. That would make you question some things
But this, this is where I overcame my fear of commitment
No longer afraid of being stuck
I see the beauty of this place; there’s something special
And I am discovering myself whole
Here.
See I’ve become many things to many people..
But above all I am not me without you
So this is an ode to us
A celebration of our being
Sing, freedom every time we gather
Like the movement of a dancer on open floor
With joyous rhythms beating beneath this skin
Unlearning shame in every step
Sing, we make victory in the minutia
And laughter gives us a window to hope
Sing, you make smile blossom out of this concrete heart
Cause you are a breath of fresh color
In a world too often gray
Sing these bonds is illmatic
Realness never lackin
Always hold it down
Ain't nobody can attack it
And we fly like dragons
Float against gravity
Ask us how it is
Tell em boom, it's magic
Sing, when worst comes to worst
My peoples come first
Sing, all I got is my all and Imma give it to you
Sing, love need not be spoken but is always present
Sing, how we find heaven in our shared hereness
And there ain’t no place I’d rather be
God, it feels good
To know I am right where I belong
Here. in the Mecca.
For years I laid in my bed
Hoping for some sort of direction
But now I can see God’s fingerprints
All through these cords He strung together
I am now here
Building a table for us
‘Cause I know the weariness of trying to earn a seat elsewhere
I know I am no savior
I seek no glory
No praise nor pay
My reward is in you
The thesis of many prayers poured out
To make space for revolution
To see you take flight
I’m here for that.
And when home seems far
Know that you have a permanent one in my life
So come, have a seat
Sing with me
While today is still today
Let’s steal these moments from the hands of time
And celebrate
Here.
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