What We Say

This is for the kid out tryna live his dreams
Family ain't behind him, ain't sure what he really sees
Little bit of support is really all he needs
See, his father was an athlete; wants to see his son the same
Wants to see him touchdown, taking down them other dudes
Added to the scoreboard, sayin, "Son, I'm proud of you"
See, that's what he dreams of
But his son's losing, making moves behind the paintbrush
The way the colors splashing, really, that's his passion
He don't give a damn if all the athletes laughing
But his father, that's a different story
'Cause he just wanna make him proud
Ain't talked since graduation, feel it wasn't allowed
I asked, "If you could go back, what would you say to him now?"

Tell him that I had fun
Tell him that I knew low
Tell him in the mirror
That I knew I was
'Cause when I leave the earth
It's all I wanna lead
Tell him, "Be yourself"
"That's all you're meant to be"

This is for the girl working, paying for her man's rent
He ain't doing nothing, waving welfare checks
She got big plans, yeah, she tryna go to med school
Dreamed of doing that since the days of using stepstools
But her man's always stumbling like websites
Used to love him so much, but she forgets what that's like
Says, "To leave would be impossible"
Still can't feed both of them and save for med school
She decides she's going for it
Ain't letting him hold her back
Her relationship a trap
Time taken, won't get it back
Heart's meant for breaking, she's making it all back
Walked out the door, never stopped to glance back
Last day of class, feeling better than she ever have
Graduation, finally
Ph.D. in hand
I asked, "If you saw him again, what would you say to your man?"

Tell him that I had fun
Tell him that I knew low
Tell him in the mirror
That I knew I was
'Cause when I leave the earth
It's all I wanna lead
Tell him, "Be yourself"
"That's all you're meant to be"

This is for the kid that the kid's calling dropout
Works a day job, taking shots to get knocked out
Rides are now globally; locally, he's knocked down
Saying he unqualified; they see a false background
'Cause it ain't everything it seems
Hate you when you fail, hating moment you succeed
Inside he knows one day he'll be back in class
For now, he's in the studio, still busting his ass
Tryna go create a chance that he won't have to go back
'Cause there ain't nothing for him there
Learned more from his fans than a desk in a chair
He wants the life so bad, a normal one he couldn't bear
Working for the top, he really can't wait to hit it
And if his dream ever dies, know his life dies with it
Never quit it and you could never live wrong
So I went and asked the mirror what we say when we're gone

Tell him that I had fun
Tell him that I knew low
Tell him in the mirror
That I knew I was
'Cause when I leave the earth
It's all I wanna lead
Tell him, "Be yourself"
"That's all you're meant to be"