Father Figures - Brother Ali

Full grown father of four still in search of father figures

Hard to feel at home here in the body that my trauma lives in

Self-hatred still my opposition

I chop a parcel out the wisdom I’ve been given, out atop the rhythm

I’m not a victim or a liar and I’m not afraid

Offer me a kingdom if it’s wrong I’ll walk away

I know my talent versus fame isn’t adding up

Folk that know me throwin' shade said I ain’t wanted it bad enough

Seen so many change and get strange for the spotlight

If that’s what you mean brotha, you couldn’t be more right

I’d rather feel shame than an atoms weight of arrogance

Mention deaths name prepare for it, ain’t fearing it

Atheists describe the God that they don’t believe in

See we ain’t even at odds cause I don’t feel that neither

I know we come from a source that’s much realer

A cause that all sleepers keep concealing

Seekers overcome the amnesia

Feel the heartbreak bleeding all through my songs

My Atmosphere brothers brought me along

I carry on, for the love of love, and for the hope of hope

I feel it from above, and hold the moment close

Soak up the rawness, floating all through my songs

The Eltorom twins kept me strong

I soldier on.

For the love of love, and for the hope of hope

I catch a sudden buzz, an overdose

I got a knock up on my door it was the FBI

«Can't come inside with out a warrant but I’ll talk here on the steps awhile»

They want to question my travelin', what’s the harassment, power obsessed

authoritarians to test what I’m channelin

He said his mission keep the innocent from dying, had to laugh a little bit to

keep from crying

I sigh as if we don’t know about the COINTELPRO and devilish drones they rain

hell in to homes

Never an empire rose without blood on its hands and face

They hate the poets for exposing the sacred space

Whether I’m in Iran, or Lebanon

Or the south side of Chicago or Sudan

The power in the song is the truth not the performer

My question for you is where’s the honor

In bothering a father in his home in pajamas

On his birthday in front of all his daughters

Next time call the lawyer

I’m part of this resistance, blistering through my song

The great Chuck D kept me strong

Sound the alarm, for the love of love, and the hope of hope

This is what justice does, put you in their scope

My steadfastness, blastin' this dope ass song

Colonel West never led me wrong

I soldier on, for the love of love, and for the hope of hope

For every one of us, that hold the rope that won’t be broke

Truth teller, truth yeller

Bring it back though let me finish

I’m from a long line of writers and teachers

And spend all of my time with guides and seekers

And criminals and preachers

Sifting through the secrets just to kick 'em through your speakers

These tears just flowing my whole life long

Look in the mirror still see my mom

I’m writing songs for the love of love and for the hope of hope

This is from dusk to dusk, and pray they hold me close.

Ghost

Truth teller, truth yeller.

Proof.

Evi-dence, yes yes

Manifest in the flesh to be the best of the best…