I'm the sum total of my ancestors

I carry their DNA

We are representatives of a long line of people

And we carried them around either with

This long line of people

That goes back to the beginning of time

And when we meet - they meet other lines of people

And we say bring together the lines of me.



When I look back over the years

at the things that brought tears to my eyes

papa said we have to be wise

to live long lives

now i recognise

what my father said before he dies

vocalise things I've left unsaid

left my spirit unfed for too long

I'm coming home to my family

Where i can be strong

Be who I planned to be

Within me my ancestory

Givin' me continuity

Would it be remiss to continue in this way

would you rather I quit

come with the other shit

making people's hips sway

lip service I pay but i'm nervous

i pray for all the mothers who get no sleep

like a lifeline I light lines cause my compassion is deep

for the people who fashioned me my soul to keep

and this is who i happen to be

and if I don't see that I'm strong then I wont be



This is what my Daddy told me

I wished he would hold me

A little more

than he did

But he taught me my culture

And how to live positive

I never wanna shame

The blood in my veins and bring pain

to my sweet grandfathers face

in his resting place

I make haste to learn and not waste

everything my forefathers earned in tears

for my culture



Fall back again

Crawl from the warm water



for my culture



water to air

you're on your feet again

your feet again.

Hello Dad, remember me?

I?m the man you thought I?d never be.

I?m the boy who you reduced