SHED TEARS

(album: MICHAEL - 2023)

If you weren't so eager to please the white man and send the grading curve up
There'd be three times as many of us here now
What kind of Tom are you, anyway?
Same as you, I guess
Except that I don't try to have it both ways
Are you calling me a 'Tom', man?
Well, none of us were picked for our militancy now, were we?
Now why don't you go away and leave me alone?
Why don't you join the team, man?
Team? Man, I'm not playing any games
Come here now, come
This fool is crazy, man

Ayy, brother, brother
And any men born to mothers
Just know that your days are numbered
And life might be filled with troubles
Your troubles may come in doubles
In form of your former lovers
They use your kids for revenge
'Cause you dug her, but never loved her
Never loved her, but drug her
Drug her and made her suffer
Left her a single mother
No malice since I was younger
Barely filled with that hunger
Barely could help my mama
How could I be a father?
Daily, keep getting harder
Have mercy
Every week, something hitting me adversely
I remember dropping my babies off at the church nursery
I remember sitting hurt all alone in the church service
Asking God to reveal me a plan and a higher purpose
Was a boy, now I'm grown
Immaturity gone
Lying, scheming, and dreaming in queue is getting your own
Ask anybody that know me, I suffered slowly for years
And now I'm like Kobe, gripping that trophy closely and I shed tears

Rest, rest
I'm right here waiting to give you rest for your soul
Oh, rest for your soul
When your soul needs peace, come unto me, I'll give you rest
Come unto me, I'll give you rest
Rest, rest
Today is the day you find rest
Rest for your soul
Trust in me, I will give you rest
Rest, rest
Rest for your soul

Yeah, ayy
Love nothing, we ain't just come from it, we cut from it
Troubled youngin, unload firearms, ain't think nothing of it
Product of my environment, I am nothing but it
We prepare ourself for the penitentiary, it come with thugging
Ayy, mama told me it get lonely in that cell
But she ain't tell me it'll break you, sis, I thank you for your mail
Popping pills 'til I can't feel, somebody save me from myself
Giveaways is bool and all, let's do some ... that'll really help
'Member granny grabbed the belt and went berserk about us smoking
Get teary-eyed about them moments, they was golden
Yeah, rainy days approaching, we was sheltered, do they help her?
Wish I could hit your cellular, without you here, I'm helpless

Rest, rest
I'll give you rest, rest for, rest for
Oh, rest for your soul
I'm standing here waiting
Come unto me, I'll give you rest
Rest, rest
Don't be afraid to rest
Rest for your soul

I shed tears every morning in the bathroom mirror
Face to face with fate, had to face my fears
It was me, I'm the reason that I fell
That was hell, locked in self-guilt like jail
Lord, I cried, almost died, empty inside
The devil whispers in your ear, you contemplate suicide
I tell you I know, promise, honest, been there before
And it's pride before the fall, it's how it usually go
Looking at me, I was strutting, proud as can be
Couldn't tell me nothing, I was hushing people, keeping it G
I heard my ancestors' voices, now they speaking through me
Sometime my faith get fully shaken, I get weak as can be
Pray and repent, gather my strength, fast like it's Lent
The devil sent the storm to break me, but I didn't bow or bend
Won't buy a bin, I'll suffer, then will do it again
Made it to the mountaintop straight from the valley of sin

Rest, rest
I've learned to live with some pain
When you're feeling tired
I guess it come with the game
Oh, rest for your soul
When you're feeling broken
For those who suffered for years
When you're feeling burdened
Th-th-that's why I shed tears
Come unto me, I'll give you rest
I will give you rest
I've learned to live with some pain
Rest, come unto me
Rest, rest
I guess it come with the game
I'll give you
Rest for your soul
For those who suffered for years
I'm your refuge, any day you can find me
Th-th-that's why I shed tears
Come unto me, I'll give you rest
Rest, rest
Oh, rest
Rest for your soul
For your soul, for your soul
Come unto me, I'll give you rest
Rest, rest
Ooh
Rest for your soul
I'll give you rest, rest for your soul