Early
Boots; Run the Jewels Lyrics

It be feelin' like the life that I’m livin' a man I don't control
My life feels like it's out of my control

Like every day I’m in a fight for my soul
I feel like I'm constantly struggling to maintain my moral compass

Could it be that my medicine’s the evidence
Is it possible that my skin color is used as evidence against me?

For pigs to stop and frisk me when they rollin' round on patrol?
Do police officers stop and frisk me because of my skin color?

And ask “why you’re here?” I just tell 'em cause it is what it is
When the police ask why I'm in a certain location, I tell them the truth

I live here and that’s what it is
I live in this location and that's the truth

He chimed “you got a dime?
The police officer asked if I had any spare change

I said “Man, I’m tryin' to smoke and chill
I told the police officer I was just trying to relax

Please don’t lock me up in front of my kids
I begged the police officer not to arrest me in front of my children

And in front of my wife, man, I ain't got a gun or a knife
I reminded the police officer that I wasn't carrying any weapons

You do this and you ruin my life
I warned the police officer that an arrest would have severe consequences for me

And I apologize if it seems like I got out of line, sir
I apologized to the officer if I came across as confrontational

'Cause I respect the badge and the gun
I reassured the police officer that I respected their authority

And I pray today ain't the day that you drag me away
I hoped that the police officer wouldn't arrest me

Right in front of my beautiful son”
I emphasized that my child was present and could witness my arrest

And he still put my hands in cuffs, put me in the truck
Despite my pleadings, the police officer arrested me

When my woman screamed, said “shut up”
The police officer silenced my partner when she protested the arrest

Witness with the camera phone on
A bystander captured the arrest on camera

Saw the copper pull a gun and put it on my gorgeous queen
The bystander watched in horror as the officer pointed a gun at my partner

As I peered out the window
I looked out the window of the police car

I could see my other kinfolk and hear my little boy as he screamed
I could see my family members and hear my child crying

As he ran toward the copper begged him not to hurt his momma
My child begged the officer not to hurt their mother

'Cause he had her face down on the ground
The officer had forced my partner to the ground

And I’d be much too weak to ever speak what I seen
The trauma of the event has made it difficult for me to talk about what I saw

But my life changed with that sound
The sound of my child crying as I was arrested changed my life forever

All hands below, high seas in a rickety boat
I feel like I'm struggling to stay afloat amidst difficult circumstances

Smoke o’s, so the kid might cope
I smoke to cope with the stress and anxiety of daily life

You want cash or hope, no clash, matter fact get both
I want both financial stability and hope for a better future

Go without get turnt to ghosts
If I don't have what I need, I feel like a ghost

You know that's the law, deal done by the shake of claws
I know the law is enforced through power and violence

It ain't a game if the shit don’t pause
I can't afford to take a break because life doesn't pause for anyone

And I find you odd, so convinced in the truth of y’all
I find it strange that some people are so convinced of their version of the truth

That the true truth’s truly gone
The true truth has been lost amidst lies and misinformation

And yes there's a they, any time a man say there's not
I believe there are people in positions of power seeking to oppress others

Then you know that he lost the plot, what can I say?
If someone denies the existence of systemic oppression, they are out of touch with reality

Truth’s truth when denied or not, like its true crews ride the cock
The truth is still the truth even if some people deny it, just like some people will always follow those in power

Fair enough, the way that the beat bump do sound tough
The music sounds tough and intense

I made it in the dark like Civil War surgery
I've worked hard and persevered through difficult circumstances

Woke up in the same air you huff, early
I woke up breathing the same air as everyone else, but life is still difficult

By twelve o’clock the whole Earth felt dirty
The world feels dark and dreary by noon

Street Lamps stare when you walk watch the birdie
The street lights seem to watch you as you walk by

They’ll watch you walk to the store they’re recording
There are surveillance cameras everywhere, constantly recording our movements

But didn't record cop when he shot, no warning
The cameras didn't capture the police officer shooting someone without warning

Heard it go pop, might have been two blocks
I heard the sound of the gunshots from two blocks away

Heard a kid plus pops watched, cop make girl bleed
A child and their father watched as the police officer made a girl bleed

Go to home, go to sleep, up again, early
After witnessing the violence, I go home, try to sleep, and wake up early to face another difficult day

Get out, get out, get out, get out
I feel like I need to escape from my current situation

Feeling this, feeling this too early
I'm feeling overwhelmed by all these difficult emotions, and it's too early in the day to be struggling like this

Feeling this way, feeling this way
I'm feeling this way despite my best efforts to stay positive

Feeling this, feeling this too early
Again, it feels too early in the day to be dealing with such intense emotions

Feeling this, feeling this early
I've been struggling with these feelings for a long time

Early, early, early, early
I'm waking up early every day to face these struggles