Lyrics
[Verse 1]
**** be thinkin' I'm deep, intelligent, fooled by college degree
My IQ is average, there's a young lady out there she way smarter than me
I scrolled through her timeline in these wild times and I started to read
She mad at these crackers, she mad at these capitalists, mad at these murder police
She mad at my ****, she mad at our ignorance, she wear her heart on her sleeve
She mad at the celebrities, low key I be thinkin' she talking 'bout me
Now I ain't no dummy to think I'm above criticism so when I see something that's valid I listen
But shit, it's something about the queen tone that's bothering me
She strike me as somebody blessed enough to grow up in conscious environment
With parents that know 'bout the struggle for liberation and in turn they provided with
A perspective and awareness of the system and unfairness that afflicts 'em
And the clearest understanding of what we gotta do to get free
And the frustration that fills her words seems to come from the fact that most people don't see
Just 'cause you woke and I'm not, that shit ain't no reason to talk like you better than me
How you gon' lead, when you attacking the very same **** that really do need
The shit that you saying? Instead of conveying you holier, come help get us up to speed
Shit it's a reason it took like 200 years for our ancestors just to get freed
These shackles be lockin' the mental way more than physical, I look at freedom like trees
Can't grow a forest like overnight, hit the ghetto and slowly start planting your seeds
Fuck is the point of you preaching your message to those that already believe what you believe?
I'm on some "fuck a retweet," most people is sheep
You got all the answers but how you gon' reach?
If I could make one more suggestion respectfully I would say it's more effective to treat
People like children, understanding the time and love and patience that's needed to grow
This change is inevitable but ain't none of us seen this before
Therefore we just gotta learn everything as we go
I struggle with thoughts on the daily
Feel like a slave that somehow done saved enough coins to buy his way up outta slavery
Thinking just maybe, in my pursuit to make life so much better for me and my babies
I done betrayed the very same people that look at me like I'm some kind of a hero
Because of the zeros that's next to the commas, but look here I promise I'm not who you think
Ran into this **** outside of the store yesterday he said something that had me like "wait"
He was like, "Cole, 'preciate what you been doin' my ****, that's real" but damn, why I feel faker than snow on the bluff?
Well maybe 'cause deep down I know I ain't doing enough
[Verse 2]
The sun is shining today
The sun is shining today
The sun is shining today
[Verse 3]
Can you walk with me? I hope we'll find
The reason why we often sob, go on cry
[Verse 4]
Painful memories fuck up the vibe
Though I be trying to let the time heal my mind
[Verse 5]
I was once a child, I've gotten older
Still, I know I'm just a boy in God's eyes
[Verse 6]
Fill me up with wisdom and some courage
Plus endurance to survive help mine thrive
Written by: J. Cole, Kelvin Wooten, Larry Griffin, Jr., Margaux Alexis Roselena Whitney