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Give Me A Reason
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Dedicated to the fallen Black, young and gifted in America.
poetry spoken word hip ho
Legacy Leonard acclaimed spoken word artist, poet, and singer that combines poetry for social change and conscious elevation with song and rhythms.
In 1995, at the age of 15, Legacy Leonard made her debut as a spoken word artist at the Detroit Institute of Arts. She blends a variety of socially conscious, revolutionary, and thought provoking poetry with song and soul, painting the pictures of the world and society as seen through her eyes. Her passion for the art is surpassed only by her passion for change and revolution. She is an Urban Griot that believes the Power belongs to the People. Enter the mind and heart of Legacy through the art of her compelling and controversial spoken word...
Song Info
Genre
Podcasts • Poetry
Charts
#3,758 today Peak #14
#602 in subgenre Peak #3
Author
Legacy Leonard
Rights
2005
Uploaded
December 20, 2005
Track Files
MP3
MP3 3.6 MB • 128 kbps • 3:55
Story behind the song
This song was written after the death of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Lyrics
Eyes trying to deny the truth that swam across the screen "Why?" The cold reached into my heart and squeezed it's iron fist Until I could feel the breath turn still inside I would have let the tears stream down my face But the bitterness coated my tongue too thickly I felt as if lead had been slammed into my chest As the question sunk into my mind swiftly Painfully intense "Why?" I could not minimize the headlines dancing before my eyes "TLC singer Left Eye Killed In Car Accident" Come on Forreal.... This shit can't be serious Another fuckin joke like Pac or Biggie or Aaliyah Or 911 right? Naw, this shit ain't real *Breathe real slow* Let me read this shit again The words would not change As I struggled within to keep the seal from breaking Upon the scarred tissue of my heart Torn from crying too many nights out to God: "Why?" I have too many questions Now, damnit, God I want reasons The reason for the Black, Young, & Gifted dropping like flies My mind is spinning and I can't justify the reasons For the unexplained deaths Unaccounted for bankruptcy of their presence Can't fake another bullshit condolence Turn around wipe the tears away and tell the mirror faces Of our children that it's gonna be alright It's not , and it never will be This shit is a conspiracy Somebody is laughing and rejoicing that another Black angel is dead Somebody thought this destruction into existence And I have no control over this new epidemic This spiritual monstrosity that manifests itself against our flesh Killing us like Ebola so silently, but now swiftly I got too many questions! Now God give me a reason What happened to Black responsibility? When we demanded justice for the wrongs wrought against us Who will plead this case for the stolen souls of our young men and women Power destroyed before they even realize their full potential I can't write another beautiful eulogy Half finished testaments to lives unlived I won't pay homage to meaningless memories When on the other side of town I got young sisters and brothers dying as well I won't stick my head in the American melting pot and try to keep on living Assimilate myself into the threads of red, white, and blue until I can no longer feel the sting Of being Black I won't play my role in this fallacy Reality is yall just don't give a damn We need to be in community centers We need to be mentoring We need to be loading guns and aiming For a brighter future for our Black babies We need to wage spiritual warfare to shatter the invisible shackles We need to untangle ourselves from the American illusion Respond to the final call for us to return to Black Feeling, Black Judgment, and Black Thought No more pointing fingers Just turn them into your chest Stand in the mirror and take accountability The conspiracy is that we allow our own to die Never ask ourselves why And keep on marching to the beat of silent drums Leading us straight to the demise That Pac told us about time and again Biggie wasn't ready to die Aaliyah was down for rocking the boat, but never anticipated going overboard LeftEye was blindsided before she could see right And 911 was the emergency call left unanswered I got too many questions Now I'm not looking to God to give me a reason Cause the responsibility lies with all of us Conspiracy revealed Black nonchalance and ignorance Is our fiercest adversary It the "I" in Me How about We change the scenario No more over reactions but proactivity To the situations that concern the upliftment of our people The renewing of our spirits The choice to engage in the struggle instead of pleading off No more debates and discussions Just action Too many questions Now, you give yourself a reason Why, YOU refuse to change?
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