Chester Himes (Live at Madlife Stage)

I used to want to paint them pictures like Chester Himes

But I'm no good with my hands

So I had to find a new profession

I was just looking for direction

A young man in this world

It was the best of times

But now it's election time and

We ain't got no leaders

Just a couple hypocrites and teleprompter readers

But I'm a ghetto gospel singer who

Ain't got a pot to pee in

Or a window to throw it out of, shit

That's just the situation we in

We ain't have no father figures

We ain't the type of **** you want to call a ****

City getting smaller, but the trap getting bigger

How'd that happen

I ain't rapping, I'm just talking to y'all sinners now

Granddaddy dead, Jew gone

Funeral's the only time I put a suit on

Pop still singing the blues songs

He said, son, time's getting tough, so keep your faith strong

I nodded my head and moved on

My little brother got problems

He can't stay off the narcotics

I tried to warn him about it

But he can't help himself

One night he gave me a call

Told me he thinking about dying

I told him stay on the phone

He damn near killed himself

Just living with the guilt of the past

It's hard to deal with self

But just know that that feeling gone pass

Your soul will heal itself, yeah

Just know that that feeling gone pass