1. |
Code Switch
04:45
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It’s a convoluted time
I’m reaching in and I need my space
My back’s against the wall
Going thru the same things you face
No need for pedestals
I’m out here tryna find my place
I will make mistakes
All I ask is to receive Grace
Hook: I can't be what you want me to be at all
I've gotta be free and I'm not waiting on none of y'all
grew up knowing my purpose
to be an artist who grows
always searching for knowledge
I've gotta follow my nose
but my shoulders tired
from bearing this load
and my thoughts are evolving (exhausting)
I've gotta protect my soul
Hook: Cause I can't be what you want me to be at all
and I've got to be free and I'm not waiting on none of y'all
the atmosphere was so noisy
I had to come to a stop
my silence wasn't a cop out
got quiet to hear my God
because I needed direction
I really needed my mom
because I lost the love of my life
and I had to rise from the fall
all this angst up in my body
got me feeling like my freedom is on the line
(I’ve got to be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee)
expectations of what and who I should be
(Freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee)
i'm up against society’s colonized mind
be feeling unhinged
but I know I'm sound
got to change what I let my subconscious be around
gotta put the social down
new dialogue to problem solve
not holding my breath for this one love type utopia
it's been too long
(Mama Africa come take my hand)
(Mama-Daddy-Mama-Daddy)
(I am stronger than I think I am)
(Mama-Daddy-Mama-Daddy)
want me to leave home
two masks on
my black skin
Frantz Fanon
gotta be safe
and know my place
want me to tap dance
and shine on
you tell me what I need to be
to stay amongst your "good ones"
gotta play the game to get the funds
gotta have your name up in my stuff
this day to day is abusive
but it won't weaken my will to live
this day to they is abusive
but it won't weaken my will to live
this day TODAY is abusive
but it won't weaken my will to live
My life means so much more than just survivin’
I've been
squirming in this discomfort
of doing all this inner work
to raise my health
can't be mad
'cause I played myself
in to believe in speaking writing on my life
changes the hearts and minds of those who privilege depends on my demise
what is there to discuss?
haven't you heard enough?
words don't mean much
in your bubble stuck
and you been lost touch
I'm not gonna front
we're not bearing the brunt of your political stunts
and your germs and your guns
this one's for us
you're not our saviors
and I'm done giving fcks
Hook: you didn't listen when I said it nicely
there's only so much anger I can put into my writing
you don't like it bite me
your cognitive dissonance is frightening
don't know whe-whether to fight, flight, or strike you like lightning
you didn't listen when I said it nicely
there's only so much anger I can put into my writing
you don't like it bite me
your cognitive dissonance is frightening
don't know whe-whether to fight, flight, or strike you like lightning
Lightning!
Lightning!
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2. |
Hard Truths
04:29
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It was the coldest May ever-ever,
last year
I never cried so many tears
Brought to my lowest self
Surrounded by my fears
It was a different kind of numbness that went thru me
You left and I realized I needed you the most.
Oooh…cause You left me on my own baby (yeah)
And bad enuf the whole world’s shaky
And now I’m living it without ya
Hook:
Long Run
(These are my hard truths)
Long Run
(Oh Girl, it will be better for you)
In the Long Run
(Got-to do what ya gotta do and move on)
Long Run
It will be better
No back and forth
When you walked out the door
I decided to love myself more
I can’t disrespect myself
For your ease and your comfort
I can admit that I still love ya
But my boundary line is real strong
Ooh I will remember you forever darling
And loving you was my heart’s calling
But, I’ll accept moving on without ya
Hook:
Long Run
Long Run
In the Long Run
Long Run
It will be better
it will be better
it will be better
These are my hardest truths
(These are my hardest truths)
I have nothing to lose
(Gave the best of me, just to be a fool, come on)
But my chains
(So caught up in the pain, I was afraid to lose these chains)
And, all of this pain
(because..it meant…losing you…)
These are my hardest truths
Oooh …You-were-right-its-o-kay-to-let-it-go,
No-animosity-it’s-all-respect-tho
We-tried-it died-I grieved-turned-the-page-yo.
Oooh …because, I feel another life calling
A new love who is present, all in
I finally see a silver lining
In the long run it will be better!
Hook:
Long Run
Long Run
In the Long Run
Long Run
In the Long Run
Long Run
(yeah) (It’ll be bettttaaaaa)
In the Long Run
(I’m ready for new life, mew love, new everything)
Long Run
It will be better!
MMHMMM Lord, it will be better, babe…
(scat)
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3. |
Should've Been Me
03:52
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So you run around
Chasing people that don’t even want you
Time and time again trying to prove
Yourself, when there’s no reason for these motions you go thru
You see you’re playing with your life
I know it hurts now
But I promise you’ll know joy again
Eve-ry-body ain’t meant to stay
This time you gotta walk your way
Girl get yourself together
Your mama raised you better
You’re stressing out your own mindset
And what’s to gain from all this?
Hook:
It Should’ve Been ME, that you chose
(Oooh I will never let you down)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(I will always uphold your crown)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(Baby, never let yourself down)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
Remember who you are
This ain’t no time to be caught up
In a cycle that will never ever change
You’ll never get those old days back
nor will it ever be the same
…be the same
Instead of choosing them
You should’ve put yourself first
Because you’ve thrown your own life
into a world of hurt
…yeah baby!
Know better do lesser harm
Care for your mind and heart
You’re blessed with a brand new start
This is a lesson I don’t want to have to learn again
Hook:
It Should’ve Been ME, that you chose
(Oooh I will never let you down)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(I will always uphold your crown)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(Baby, don’t let yourself down)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(Always listen to your heart and your mind…your Spirit…your Ancestors!)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(Lesson Learned Baby! Lesson Learned, Yes!)
It Should’ve Been ME, now you know
(Bye Bye, Baby)
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4. |
Emergency!
03:42
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Down-Down-Down-D-Down-D-Down
Down-Down-Down-D-Down-D-Down
Down-Down-Down-D-Down-D-Down
Down-Down-Down-D-Down-D-Down
Down-Down-Down-D-Down-D-Down
Down-Down-Down-D-Down-D-Down
I’m hurting bad
(Inside)
IDK if I am gonna make it
(Thru the strife)
Hook:
Emergency
Can’t u see
I’m going down real slow
I wanna help myself but,
I don’t know where to go
One day I stared
(Into my reflection)
I didn’t know
this woman I was seeing
(Who is she???)
It made me sadder
(than, I already was)
Mama came to me in a dream
And told me what I need to give up...
These things, that are not enough!!!
Hook:
She said to me
Can’t you see
That you’re already whole
Stop looking for
the outside
To validate what’s in your soul
Hook:
Emergency
Get Free
This Environment’s got me sick
It’s my liberty and autonomy
I’m willing to take a risk
It’s-time-to-get-off-of-the-grid
Do-more-than-just-post-on-social
Real-life-is-greater-than-these-likes
Come-out-from-under-the-stronghold
It’s-time-to-get-off-of-the-grid
Do-more-than-just-post-on-social
Real-life-is-greater-than-these-likes
Come-out-from-under-the-stronghold
I’m feeling kinda ancy
And how!
Like I’m backed into a corner
Options dwindling now
Any minute,
I can explode
!This world is full of madness
I’mma OVERLOAD!!!!
-guitar solo-
(Emergency)
(Emergency)
I don’t like who I see
(Emergency)
I don’t know what’s wrong with me
(Emergency)
(Emergency)
And, only I can help myself
(Emergency)
It’s time to focus on my wealth
(Emergency)
Silent pain, keep playing it off
(Emergency)
Until one day you’re fully engulfed
(Emergency)
In what you chose to not work on
(Emergency)
I can see that my vibrance is gone
(Emergency)
I want to get it right in my life
(Emergency)
Gotta face these fears head on, this time
(Emergency)
(Ooohhhhhh)
If not now, then when will you heal?
(Ooohhhhhh)
Open your heart so you can feel.
(Ooohhhhhh)
If not now, then when will you heal?
(Ooohhhhhh)
Open your heart so you can feel.
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5. |
Self-Care
04:47
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The signs are showing up for you
And you know what you got to do.
(Don’tcha?)
Yes I do! Will this heartbreak last?
How can I make peace with my past?
(I need answers!)
Forever your woes won’t last
(Walking-in-your-truth is the best path)
Reconcile what has taken place
You get no do-overs and you have to face.it
Hook:
Be truthful to self to grow
You will have to let it go
(You will have to let it go, come on)
Do the work to free your mind
What you seek and peace, you’ll find
(Peace you’ll find)
Let me say it again…
On Me.
(On ME!)
(Whohoohoohoohooooo)
Everything just feels like a lot
Pressure mounting and I don’t know where to start
Anger and sadness is mounting high
I feel so small...not myself, I just want to hide
You gotta take some accountability
And admit to yourself, that your inner child needs some help!
You can small and work your way up to them bigger pains
It’s an inner thang
So take it day by day
Hook:
Be truthful to self to grow
(You gotta be truthful)
You will have to let it go
(You’re gonna have to let them things go that be running round your mind)
Do the work to free your mind
What you seek and peace, you’ll find
(It’s your personal journey for you to find yourself)
Look inside and reflect back
(Do what you can do today…just move baby!)
Meet yourself just where you at
Move on your intuition (oohhh yeahh…)
Through your real intentions
-breakdown-
I want to be….better…better
(Be truthful to self to grow)
I want to be my best self
(You will have to let it go)
(Do the work to free your mind)
(What you seek, and peace, you’ll find) I’m tired
I’m tired…tired of going round and round about the same shit!
(Look inside and reflect back)
If you need to get help then get that help…there’s nothing wrong with it
(Meet yourself just where you at)
(Move on your intuition)
(Through your real intentions)
Whoooooahhhh
I’m feeling so free…now that I can breathe
(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)
Ahhhhhh yes!!!! Reclaiming my time……..yeah!!
(Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)
Hook:
Be truthful to self to grow
(You gotta be truthful)
You will have to let it go
(you gotta let yourself go baby….)
Do the work to free your mind
What you seek and peace, you’ll find
(If there’s anything...anything that you need to heal [in] your body & mind!)
Look inside and reflect back
(Look to your Spirit)
Meet yourself just where you at
Move on your intuition (oohhh)
Through your real intentions
Gone’ get free…mmmhmm.
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6. |
SOVEREIGN
04:28
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Give it to me now!
This is my hour
Cause I know My Power
I’m Black and I’m Proud
I’ll say it louder
This keg’s full of powder
All bets are off now
Lock and load…
Brrrah-Ahh!
Hook:
Put aside your feelings cause I’m not doing just what you want
I’ll do whatever feels right…
Form your tight opinions if you like
I pay it all no mind
Stay in your lane
I’ll stay in mine
Folks so judgmental these days
It seems you can’t do anything right
Try and take your might
Wanna turn everything into a fight
This fake outrageousness is just
Reactions from your amygdala
So check yo triggers, Bruh
I’m not ‘bout to play so go and find you one... who will…
Hook:
Put aside your feelings cause I’m not doing just what you want
(What you want)
I’ll do whatever feels right
(I’ll do whatever feels right…yeah)
Form your tired opinions if you like
(Form your tired opinions if you like…I’ll pay it all no mind)
I pay it all no mind
Stay in your lane
I’ll stay in mine
Hurt people hurt people
I’m empathetic with the whole scenario
But, you can’t do me, tho
I’ll wrap that shit up
You won’t see me no more
I spend time my wisely, speaking life, bringing light
What would I acknowledge the petty for?
Y’all must be bored…
And I can see that we’ll never be on one accord…yeah…come on now!
Hook:
Put aside your feelings cause I’m not doing just what you want
I’ll do whatever feels right
Form your tight opinions if you like
I pay it all no mind
Stay in your lane I’ll stay in mine
Bridge:
It’s such a shame to see how we are forced to compete..
in the scene..
Which is ultimately the community..
I really be out here..
Not bothering you my dear..
Somehow you sought me out..
And now want you want to run ya mouth
Leave me alone
Leave me alone
Go and get yours
Focus on your own
Baby..work on yourself
Get you some help
Jealousy only confines…
Stay in your lane and I will stay in mine
Hook:
I’ll do whatever feels right
Stay in your lane I’ll stay in mine
(scat) Bye-Bye!
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7. |
Rights
03:39
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We the People, We the People!
(oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh, Right on) x4
I’m not excited
And dancing in the street
Cause I still have the same problems of yesterday
Tomorrow, right in front of me
Ain’t a damn thing changed
Same bag different grocery
And, I ain’t with the shit
Cause you’re not talking about taking down
These draconian policies
Hook:
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Cause, I’ll take ‘em.
(oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh, Right on) x2
Can’t lull me to sleep
Cause the veil has been lifted
Emboldened people
Pushing evil agendas
Half the country’s with it
We gonna keep right moving
Despite the spite against us
Black people we’re stronger than anything
That we’ve faced
And we’ve got unfinished business
Hook:
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Cause, I’ll take ‘em.
Bridge:
(oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh, Right on) x8
You had enough time to change the trajectory
No more of this asking y’all to, “set us free”
Cause that, would imply y’all have the power over we
When in fact, Black culture holds this country together
I’m ready to get on with my people
And learn how to wield our own economy,
Cause we really don’t need y’all
To do anything for us but
Undo the laws that empower y’all
And disfranchise the marginalized
Stop killing us as a sacrifice
Let us be and let us live our lives
Hook:
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Heyyyy!!
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
You cannot give me my rights
You cannot give me my rights
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Listen to the words I say
You have no ownership of me
You cannot give me my rights
Take it home for me yeah!
|
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8. |
GARVEYITE
03:24
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What is right?
Is it the only pathway to freedom, to fight and give up my life?
Don’t wanna live with white supremacy and for it, I’m not gonna die.
At the hands of systemic oppression
400 years
a cycle of psychosis
I know this
I'm tired
got options
and I'm second guessing what I was taught to believe
Done everything
from begging and pleading
to burning and looting
to entering the political arena
and we see our people continue to bleed
too accepting too resilient
living under this anti-Black sentiment
still seen as chattel by our government
we're profitable if we live or die so they're good with the suppression
Hook:
Feeling like I'm a Garveyite
Yeah…
With all of my might
With all of my might, all of my might…yeah.
We don’t need yo’ permission
You don't get my forgiveness
I want you so far the fuck away from me
I can heal from your transgressions
where can we breathe
and get reprieve
from white American exceptionalism
we tried to leave
but you don't want us to take our natural resources with us
How do you plan to reach atonement for these acts that you still commit
'cause I'm beyond my limit
y'all even hunting us down in a pandemic
push us to the brink
deflect, deny, we die
Spending all this time
talking about our pain with no change in sight
Justify your plans of genocide
but you can’t ever extinguish our light!
The saga continues
the Maafa continues
no justice no peace
But justice ain't never been served
if we're not going to be heard
then fuck all these words
you say violence ain’t the answer
but y'all use it to make your stance clear
that manifest destiny kinda thought
must’ve ate ya brain up like it’s a cancer
Hook:
Got me feelin’ like a Garveyite
I say it with all of my might, all of my might…yeah
Feelin’ like I’m a Garveyite
White supremacists they want their war…
The good intention ones are asking for more…
…of our labor…
so they can write their think pieces
and get Pulitzer awards
oh you need academia to hear me
well, let me break it down with a lesson
a quadricentennial is the long game
incremental work won't get my blessing
Brute force and savagery
backed up by immunity
Protected by policy
held up by the elite
“they” say we'll be alright but, whenever have we been?
I've been talking a lot to God to keep my heart from hardening.
…with all of my might, all of my might!
got me feeling like…
I'm a Garveyite.
|
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9. |
Warrior
03:55
|
|||
I don't wanna live as a second class citizen
I'd rather take my chances and throw caution to the wind
After so many years of subjugation
the Veil has been lifted
Even in the face of fear I will stand on my square
Don’t call me a coward because, you’re scared of new ideas…to fight the system.
Ahhhhh—Yeahhhhhhhh!
We’re so busy living in an app
Chasing instant gratification can’t see it’s a trap
We give tacit consent to the unknown
I wonder how much we have grown
when the cycles keep repeating themselves
I can tell you the conclusion is we're on our own
Hook:
A Warrior without worry
moving forward fearlessly
There is no stopping me
A Warrior without worry
moving forward fearlessly
There is no stopping me
Standing on my integrity
moving forward fearlessly
I got all my peoples with me
Warriors without worry
moving forward fearlessly
There is no stopping We
Separated from each other
Virus has the upper hand now
experimental drugs they pushing ‘cross the land
nobody knows
how this will manifest
as the cold tech war continues to advance
Hook:
A Warrior without worry
moving forward fearlessly
There is no stopping me
A Warrior without worry
moving forward fearlessly
We gotta be stronger
Gotta be wiser
And not get caught up in the mire
Bridge:
Our pleasure center is overwhelmed
all the world is catching hell
got your data
chipping away
post intimate thoughts you should've kept to yourself
let them improve your user experience
Target your behavior and influence your politics
Surveillance capitalism
A.I. times
follow the money and you'll see who's aligned
Hook:
A Warrior without worry
moving forward fearlessly
There is no stopping me
A Warrior without worry
moving forward fearlessly
There is no stopping me
We gotta get stronger
We gotta get wiser
And not get caught up in the mire
FIGHT BACK!
|
||||
10. |
Rabbit Hole
01:57
|
|||
I'm feeling like Alice wondering where's my land
I ain’t got no time for talking
put the deed in my hand
I hate this fuckshit
They try to offer you crumbs
in lieu of the very things
that you already asked for - for real?
unless you tryna strike a new deal
You can save your bureaucracy
Your emotional appeals
I hear them trigger words tote
preying on the black vote
but, wont acknowledge reparations
for bringing us over on them boats
Hook:
They’ll get you high…get you high..
Going Down the Rabbit Hole…
Is you big mad 'cause I'm not smiling
and I'm talking about the reality of my world
did you put me in a box?
labeled the good ones?
I could go on but let me stop
I'm venting right now and that can only last for so long
we don't need a leader
form a small group and press on
they know how to get us
'cause we don't know how to get together
we're stronger than we know
'cause the storm we always had to weather
so stop freezing when the world is cold brotha
We ain’t taking blankets from these heathens
histories repeat-in
fuck the idea that it's par for the course
and Biden plans a Trojan horse
going from bad to worse
vote for the grave or the hearse
A lack of understanding on how civics work
it's a crazy demonstration
disagreeable to our souls
it's a game they keep saying…
You know…it's all political…. ;)
Hook:
They’ll get you high…get you high..
Going Down the Rabbit Hole…
I’m feeling like Alice, wondering, where's my land?
I’m feeling like Alice, wondering, where's my land?
I’m feeling like Alice, wondering, where's my land?
I’m feeling like Alice, wondering, where's my land?
|
||||
11. |
Ancestors Said It
03:32
|
|||
ANCESTORS-ANCESTORS
ANCESTORS-ANCESTORS
ANCESTORS-ANCESTORS
ANCESTORS!!
I call YOU into the room
Mom & Daddy, I call YOU into the ROOM!!!!
It’s another world out here
Some other shit is going on
Hook:
So don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
Living in Bizarro World
Folks willfully do wrong,
Hook:
Strap ya,
Chest,
Look ahead,
Be direct,
Ancestors Said It.
Look for like-mind people
And, you form yourselves a plan
Hook:
Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
Eco-Coop together
And get yourself some land,
Hook:
Strap ya,
Chest,
Look ahead,
Be direct,
Ancestors Said It.
Moving on without them
Cause We don’t need their hand
Hook:
Run them checks,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
Fo-cus-ing on US
No-longer-on-the-illusion
Hook:
Strap ya,
Chest,
Look ahead,
Be direct,
Ancestors Said It.
Get back to each other
And, we heal each other’s wounds
Hook:
Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
Understanding within
That we’re holding all the tools…
Hook:
So Get that,
Bread,
Be Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
…To be the architects of our own standards
We can make our own rules
Taking back our talents
No more profiting for you
We know that you need US
Our culture has the juice
But, consumption of our life force?
Our Humanity is not for use!
HEY!!
Hook:
So Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
We don’t all have to agree…
To work toward a common goal, now…
Hook:
So Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
…To get up out these systems,
Is the only way to go…yeah…
Hook:
So Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
Living in this bondage
Is not a further option!
Hook:
So Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
Repatriate our own ways!
Not the ones that were placed on us, YEAH!
Hook:
So Don’t be,
Scared,
Get Prepared,
Use ya head,
Ancestors Said It.
So Don’t be, Scared!!!!!
So Don’t be, Scared!!!!!
So Don’t be, Scared!!!!!
|
||||
12. |
Bye
04:02
|
|||
Now I was told the main focus is self-preservation
But I keep on putting myself in the line of fire
This don’t make no kind of sense to me
And my whole lineage has done this for our entire…
…Existence on this continent
My cell memory, it can’t forget
The grief I have everyday
With these game we continue to play
You showed me who you are
Got me hooked up in your allure
Got me thinking there is progress
When it’s all just a ploy
You tell me it’s a bad situation, if I were to leave you
You say it’s a weak move, to not fight for you…
Well my freedom comes first
Not talking ‘bout your flag unfurled
When you make me feel I’m on my own
You must respect the seeds I’ve sown
Hook:
I’m working on my liberation
There’s no more time to wait
I’ve finally walked out of the house of illusion,
Headed toward the gate
I’m working on my liberation
There’s no more time to wait
I’ve finally walked out of the house of illusion,
No longer taking the bait.
This ain’t the time to compromise
(It Ain’t Getting No Better)
All we ever done is sacrifice
(It Ain’t Getting No Better)
All we done was try to survive
(It Ain’t Getting No Better)
Under the guise of code-switching, or believing the lies
(It Ain’t Getting No Better)
It took me ‘til now, to realize,
The struggle for so long, I’ve romanticized
I’m ready and willing to come to the table
To plan and act as I am able
To bring my full self and my honesty
To put in the work of setting ourselves free…
In the end goal
For all of the tribes of the whole
It’s purely fundamental.
I
AM
SOVEREIGN.
I love you, Mommye, [that’s how, Mama Z spelled ‘Mommy’],
I love you, Daddy.
|
PaviElle French Minneapolis, Minnesota
PaviElle is an Emmy Award winning, interdisciplinary artist and Composer, from St. Paul, MN. She is a Jerome Hill Artist
Fellow, a McKnight Fellow, and a Sage Awardee for Dance and Choreography.
She has graced such stages as, Icehouse MPLS, Penumbra Theatre, Guthrie Theatre, The Orpheum Theatre, First Avenue, Ordway Center, and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to name a few.
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