Back Story VI: This Is Why
Streaming Thursday, June 25th at 7:30 PM
On facebook, Youtube Vimeo and storystitchers.org
Stitchers Youth Council members Emeara and Elijah talk about Elijah’s raps, survival in the city, and personal growth. Recorded performance of This Is Why is included in the stream and will premiere on Youtube along with a lyric video.
This Is Why
Lyrics
Stitchers Youth Council
Branden and Elijah
CHORUS
Branden
I came to thrive; I’ll tell you why
Knew it was mines soon as I arrived
I get knocked down, I don’t pout I don’t cry
I step up, get knocked down, I pop up like surprise
Up like surprise, I’m up, they surprised
I get knocked down, I pop up like surprise
I’ll tell you why, we not alike
You’re trying to live
I’m trying to thrive
(Repeat)
Verse I
Elijah
Yo, we making the bread
Keeping our families fed
Keeping our sons off the streets
So they don’t end up dead
Tryna make it to college
Cuz they cannot go to the feds
Cuz they tryna go for our heads
Cuz they got a price on our heads
I’m talking about lifetime imprisonment
Or a right time to be militant
They don’t fight crime they are diligent
On smiting mine and pillaging
So we getting that education
We elevatin
No procrastinatin
Or hesitation
We boss Nation
Heard across the Nation
Tryna save us it dogs from incarceration
Yeah
Ima have all of you feeling me
Yeah
Ima have all of you seeing me
Yeah
I do all of this willingly
Yeah
Look at how they are treating me
Yeah
Just cuz I’m black they are beating me, yeah
Cuz they don’t see what I see in me, yeah
This is why I cannot see defeat,
This is why I cannot leave the streets
CHORUS
(Repeat)
Verse I
Branden
I’m trying to show you I’m more than just gifted
I’m more than my issues, more than statistics
I’m more than the chasing of money and women
I’m more than the bundles of graves that they digging
I’m more than potential that’s lost in the system
I’m more than a criminal, more than a victim
There’s more to my image, immortalize this
That there’s more to the morals of stories you hearing
(Hold up)
Aye, how many fears must I face in a day
How many friends can be taken away
How many planned to spend life in a cage
How many wish they got that but in graves
How many wish they got that but in chains
How many wish they enacted a change
(Yea)
How many wish they enacted a change
CHORUS
Copyright Saint Louis Story Stitchers, 2019.
