Leaving the Past
Immortal Technique Lyrics

They told me I would never make it, I would never achieve it
People doubted my success and said I would never achieve my goals

Reality is nurishment, but people don't believe it
The truth is important for growth, but many people refuse to accept it

I guess its hard to stomach the truth like a bulimick
Accepting the harsh reality of life can be difficult and painful

its a dirty game and nobody is willing to clean it
The world can be a corrupt and ugly place, but few people are willing to address these issues

But this is for the paralygics, people dreamin' of runnin'
I create music for those who feel disadvantaged or limited in life and inspire them to pursue their dreams

ladies married to men who don't please 'em, dreamin' of comin'
Women who are unsatisfied with their relationships and dream of a better future

urbanly murderous like David Berkowitz when I'm gunnin'
I am a fierce and dangerous rapper, like the notorious serial killer David Berkowitz

Some cowards on the internet didn't think I would sell
People on the internet doubted my success and popularity as a rapper

scared to talk shit in person, 'cause they stuck in a shell
People who hide behind anonymous online personas and are too afraid to challenge me directly

and couldn't understand the pain of being stuck in a cell
Those who have never experienced the pain and suffering of being incarcerated cannot relate to my struggles as a person of color

Hell is not a place you go, if you not a christian
Some people believe that only Christians can go to heaven, but this is not true

it's the failure of your lifes greatest ambition
Hell represents the disappointment and failure of one's greatest life ambitions

It's a bad decision to blindly follow any religion
Following a religion without questioning its teachings and practices is not a wise choice

I don't see the difference in between the raw and the wrong
I do not see a distinction between what is real and what is moral

Soldiers emptyin' the clips at little kids and they moms
Innocent civilians, including women and children, often become casualties in wars and conflicts

I'm just like a desperate motherfucker strapped to a bomb
I am like the desperate individuals who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their beliefs or causes

Humanity is gone, smoked up in a gravity bong
Humanity is lost or consumed by addiction and distractions

by a democrat republican Cheech and Chong
Both political parties are guilty of perpetuating the problems in our society, like the stoner duo Cheech and Chong

Immortal Technique, you never heard me preachin' a song
I do not preach in my music, but rather reflect on the harsh realities of society

I'm not controversial, I'm just speakin' the facts
It is not controversial to speak truthfully about the issues in our society

Put your hands in the air like you got the heat to your back
Raise your hands in solidarity with those who suffer from injustice or oppression

and shake your body like a baby born addicted to crack
Shake your body and dance with the passion and energy of a newborn baby born into difficult and challenging circumstances

And since life is a gamble like the crabstables at Vegas
Life is unpredictable, like gambling in Las Vegas

I freestyle my destiny, it's not written in pages
I create my own destiny through my actions, rather than following a predetermined path

I hate it when they tell us how far we came to be
I am frustrated when people only acknowledge our progress from slavery and ignore the rich history that preceded it

as if our peoples history started with slavery
The history of people of color in America is often reduced to slavery, ignoring the significant contributions made before and after this period

Painfully I discovered the shit they kept us secret
I have learned about the hidden truths and injustices that have been kept from us

this is the exodus like the black jews out of Egypt
This is like the Exodus story from the Bible, where the Israelites escaped from oppression in Egypt. It reflects the struggles of black people in America to escape racism and discrimination

I keep it reality based wit the music I make
My music reflects the harsh realities of society and brings light to important issues

brought the truth to your face with the style I run wit
I bring the truth to my audience in a direct and powerful way through my music

like the navy missile that shot down flight eighthundred
My music is like a powerful weapon that takes down lies and misinformation

I'm like the africans who came here before Colombus
I represent the rich history and culture of the Africans who were brought to America before Christopher Columbus's arrival

and from the 15hundreds until after the model
I recognize the long and tumultuous history of Latin America and its struggles with colonization and oppression

I watch Latin America get raped in the sorrow
I have witnessed the injustices and suffering inflicted on Latin America over the years

You see the spanjards never left Espace the Cologne
The Spanish never truly left Latin America and its culture, language, and customs still bear their influence

and if you don't believe me, you can click on Uni Mission
If you doubt my claims, you can research and learn for yourself by clicking on the Unification Mission website

I never seen so much racism in all of my life
I have experienced and witnessed a great deal of racism in my life

every program and newscast, all of them white
The media and news are dominated by white voices and perspectives

It's like a part tide with 10 percent ruling the rest
A small group of wealthy and powerful individuals hold control over the majority of society

that type of stress 'll make me put the fucking tool to your chest
The stress and frustration of oppression can drive someone to extreme and violent actions

Step in my way nigga, I wouldn't want to be ya
If you challenge me or stand in my way, you will face the consequences

I burn slow like (a) pissing drunk with gonnorrhea
I am fierce and intense like a burning sensation, but I also take my time to achieve my goals

I'll do a freak show in North Korea, burning the flag
I will proudly express my beliefs and opinions, even if it goes against powerful or oppressive governments

while Jay Edgar Hoover politicians dress up in drag
Even those in power who pretend to be one thing, like the director of the FBI while secretly engaging in behavior they publicly denounce

Try to confuse you, makin' it hard to follow this:
Those in power attempt to confuse and distract the masses to maintain control and prevent change

capitalism en democracy are not synonymous
Capitalism and democracy are not interchangeable systems, despite often being presented as such

You swallow propaganda like a birth control pill
You accept and internalize propaganda, like birth control pills, without questioning its validity or effects

sellin' your soul to the eye on the back of the dollar bill
You sacrifice your morality and values for money, represented by the eye on the back of the dollar bill

But that will never be me, 'cause I am leavin' the past
I will not be held back by my past, and instead, I choose to move forward and embrace change

like an abused wife with the kids, leavin' your ass
I am leaving behind the pain and trauma of my past, like an abused wife leaving a toxic relationship

Like a drug addict clean and sober, leavin' the stash
I am breaking free from the addiction and harmful habits of my past, like a recovering drug addict walking away from drugs

unbreakable Technique leavin' the plane crash
I am leaving behind the wreckage and destruction of my past, like a survivor of a plane crash who walks away unscathed

I'm out with the black box and I refuse to return
I am leaving behind the record of my past mistakes and missteps, represented by the black box of an airplane that contains crucial information about a crash

I spit reality, instead of what you usually learn
Through my music, I present the realities of society that are often ignored or twisted by mainstream education and media

and I refuse to be concerned with condecending advice
I reject patronizing or belittling advice, and instead, choose to make my own decisions and path in life

'cause I am the only motherfucker that could change my life
I am the only one who has the power to make significant changes and improvements in my own life

Some people think I won't make it
Some doubt my abilities and potential

but I know that I will
But I am confident in my own abilities and belief in myself

Escape the emptiness
I reject the emptiness and dissatisfaction of my past and present

'cause that shit is slow and it kills
Those negative feelings and attitudes slow me down and hold me back from my true potential

the flow and the skill
I am focusing on my artistic skills and craft as a rapper

I made y'all believe that it last
I previously allowed others and my past to dictate my life and beliefs, but I now know that things can and will change

You can make the future
I can make my own future and shape my destiny

but it starts with LEAVING THE PAST
But first, I must leave behind the negative and harmful parts of my past in order to move forward and create a positive future