His mother, Rochelle Hairston, coping with the ills of single parenting and trying to escape the influence that street life ends up having on young minds, led her family to live everywhere from friend's homes, shelters and finally the Passyunk Homes housing projects. It was there that Eshon, the oldest of four children, took on the leadership role in his family. Instead of playing the latest video games and getting involved in other childhood activities, he made his mother, brother's Seiffuddin and Ameer and his sister Aleema his main activity and responsibility. After his family, running errands and chasing girls, his spare time included writing rap songs with his best friend and rap partner Maik Sharp.
When Eshon was 15 years old he was shot three times right outside the Passyunk Homes housing projects while waking home. He says he had his first intimate encounter with Jesus Christ while laying on the ground, going in and out of consciousness from the gunshot wounds. Despite the fact that at this point he had no idea how this would later effect his music career (and he was still living a life that didn't reflect his encounter), thereafter he became even more aware of God's presence.
Eshon spent the next 5 years making a name for himself in Philadelphia's underground hip-hop scene. He performed at talent shows, open mic's, house parties and local events. In 1999 he signed a record deal with a city-known drug dealer and childhood friend, and again with another big time drug dealer the following year. Because of Eshon's Godly convictions neither venture ever progressed into anything.
In 2001 Eshon was introduced to the Lord more deeply when he met a pastor who gave him God's Word in a way that he hadn't known. He joined that pastor's church and began serving immediately. At this time he saw fit to start the group Society Park with fellow believers Larry "Who I Am" Dixon and Cobbina "Chances R" Frempong. While working on their album the group was invited to perform with Jazmine Sullivan in London, England alongside some of the United Kingdom's brightest stars like Andrew Roachford. "Freedom's Journal," Society Parks first and only album, was released in 2002.
From 2002 to 2006 Eshon continued to broaden his musical experience by performing at numerous events in places like Canada, Detroit, Miami, California, New York, Chicago, and New Jersey; and even shared the stage with well known artists including Mos Def, Common, Alicia Keys, Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Talib Kweli, Roy Ayers and Pharoah Monch. He also toured with the guerrilla theater team Salt World, where he spent months using rap to spread the love of God on the street corners of Philadelphia's most drug infested neighborhoods. In that same year Eshon was introduced to Jazzy Jeff (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) by long-time acquaintance Black Ice (Def Poetry Jam), who featured the two on the song "Run That Back" which appeared on Jeff's "The Return of the Magnificent" (BBE Records).
After years of dabbling in both secular and holy hip hop, Eshon finally decided to focus his message solely on the saving grace of God through Christ, but still for the streets. He's poured out his message in mixtapes like "The Fire Escape," "Cleaning Out My Closet," "Blood Bought" and "The Fire Escape Reissued" between 2007 and 2010. Along the way he discovered his graphic design and film making abilities and founded GoodLook Multimedia, providing design and video services to other artists and clients.
Eshon currently resides in Florida with his wife Tandeace and two daughters Harlem Promise and Evyr Anadai, working on his first album to be released in 2011.
Good Grief
Eshon Burgundy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some of the most unfortunate events have taken place inside my brain
I try to condense but it expands when I explain
And that may sound intense but that's just agony and pain
That I casually contain
But magically it change
When I'm in front of everybody yo
I laugh and joke but I'd rather just go hang out in the lobby doe
I guess it come off that way after seeing so much gun play
Post traumatic stress disorder
I don't know but I guess so sorta
Man especially when I had my first daughter
And I ain't have a clue of what I could possibly do to support her
My pride kept me outta Burger King, "may I take ya order?"
The Lord'll provide even though I'm living my life less organized
An example of grace not an excuse to make mistakes
I'm not abusin my faith I'm just concluding what it takes
And that space is reserved for the
One who died in my place
That burden get on my nerves
Burden give me the shakes
That burden is heavy weight
That burden'll make me break
And me giving it all away(to God)
Is me learnin to levitate
Instead of a ski mask on my face
I'm just off in a better place
Lets pray
I know I'm set free when I feel trapped
Can't let it live gotta kill that
No matter how hopeless
I can't deny that
There's a calm blue sky over Iraq
There's hope
There's hope
To be honest I can't do nuffin but believe the Promise
No frontin
I'm just stuck on something only He can accomplish
I mean the streets is in me deep
See I done seen too much
So when things get tough it's screamin to be released
And if I'm not preoccupied those demons can be increased
That's verse 45, chapter 12 of Matthew
The least of my troubles
When I entertain the speech of the devil
So I remain in reach of the Father
Who applies heat to the kettle
So I scream
When I blow off steam
Then I'm settled
Reminded of the power in that Name
Then I'm leveled
Still embezzlin my dreams
Negligent of my schemes I know Heaven intervenes
When I war with spiritual things
Ignore amphetamines when I'm offered the better things
No substitute for the truth and that
Truth is He never change
Simple and plain I'm a man
And I ain't got it all together
I need His Son
I need His Spirit
And I need'em all forever
Good grief
My eyes are on the sky above
Where the fire can't climb high enough
I'm focused on the
Sky above
Where the problems can't fly high enough
In "Good Grief," Eshon Burgundy speaks about the traumas he has faced in his life, both inside his mind and in reality. He reveals that he casually contains his agony and pain inside, although he may sound intense when he explains it. However, when in front of others, he puts on a facade, laughing and joking. Eshon speaks about his pride and how it stopped him from taking a job at Burger King to support his family. He also talks about finding hope in the midst of his difficulties by turning to the Lord, who provides him with grace and the strength to overcome his burdens. The song ends with him focusing on the calm blue sky above, where his problems cannot reach him, and reminds himself of the power of the Lord's name.
The song provides insight into the struggles and traumas that people face in their lives and how they cope with them. It highlights how, despite the pain and heartache, there is hope and that turning to a higher power can provide the strength to overcome the burdens. Eshon's honesty and vulnerability in the lyrics make the song relatable to many people who may be facing similar struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Some of the most unfortunate events have taken place inside my brain
I carry the emotional scars of traumatic experiences, which have left a deep impact on my psyche.
I try to condense but it expands when I explain
The more I talk about my struggles, the more complicated they seem, as if they are constantly growing and evolving.
And that may sound intense but that's just agony and pain
My struggles are not exaggerated, they are a real source of pain and torment for me.
That I casually contain
I keep my emotions in check and don't let them show, even when I'm struggling.
But magically it change
But something happens to me when I'm around others, and I open up and let my guard down.
When I'm in front of everybody yo
When I'm in public and around others, I put on a brave face and try to act like everything is okay.
I laugh and joke but I'd rather just go hang out in the lobby doe
I use humor to hide my pain, but really I would rather just be alone and away from the spotlight.
Somebody asked me if I was paranoid one day
Someone asked me if I was overly anxious or fearful, probably because of my experiences with violence.
I guess it come off that way after seeing so much gun play
I realize that I may seem paranoid or jumpy because I have witnessed so much violence in my life.
Post traumatic stress disorder
I have been diagnosed with PTSD, an anxiety disorder caused by experiencing traumatic events.
I don't know but I guess so sorta
I'm not exactly sure if I have PTSD or not, but it seems likely.
Man especially when I had my first daughter
The birth of my first child was a particular trigger for my anxiety.
And I ain't have a clue of what I could possibly do to support her
I felt overwhelmed and underprepared for the responsibility of providing for my child.
My pride kept me outta Burger King, "may I take ya order?"
I was too prideful to work a low-wage job, even if it meant providing for my family.
The Lord'll provide even though I'm living my life less organized
I trust that God will provide for me, even if I don't have my life together in a neat and organized way.
An example of grace not an excuse to make mistakes
God's grace is not a license for me to keep making mistakes, but rather an opportunity for me to turn my life around.
I'm not abusin my faith I'm just concluding what it takes
I'm not using my faith as an excuse for my mistakes, but rather acknowledging that it takes a lot of work and discipline to follow God.
And that space is reserved for the
I reserve a special place in my heart and life for
One who died in my place
Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and gave me eternal life.
That burden get on my nerves
The weight of my struggles and fears wears on me and causes me stress.
Burden give me the shakes
My fears and struggles make me feel physically and emotionally unwell.
That burden is heavy weight
My struggles and fears are a heavy burden to carry.
That burden'll make me break
If I don't find a way to cope with my struggles, they may become too much for me to handle.
And me giving it all away(to God)
By surrendering my struggles and fears to God, I am letting go of my worries and putting my faith in Him.
Is me learnin to levitate
Surrendering to God allows me to rise above my struggles and find peace.
Instead of a ski mask on my face
I'm no longer hiding behind a mask, pretending that everything is okay.
I'm just off in a better place
I have found a sense of peace and comfort by putting my faith in God.
Lets pray
Let's end this song with a prayer for strength and guidance.
I know I'm set free when I feel trapped
I find freedom and peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Can't let it live gotta kill that
I can't allow my fears and struggles to control me.
No matter how hopeless
Even when things seem impossible or hopeless...
I can't deny that
...I can't deny the reality of my struggles.
There's a calm blue sky over Iraq
Even in the midst of war and chaos, there is a sense of peace and tranquility that exists.
There's hope
No matter how challenging or difficult things may be, there is always hope to be found.
To be honest I can't do nuffin but believe the Promise
In truth, all I can do is trust in God's promises and His plan for my life.
No frontin
I'm not pretending or trying to impress anyone with my faith.
I'm just stuck on something only He can accomplish
I'm focused on God and what He can do, knowing that only He can get me through my struggles.
I mean the streets is in me deep
I come from a rough neighborhood and have experienced a lot of violence and trauma.
See I done seen too much
The things I have witnessed in my life have left a deep impact on me.
So when things get tough it's screamin to be released
When I face difficult moments or triggers, the pain and trauma inside me feels overwhelming.
And if I'm not preoccupied those demons can be increased
If I don't focus on my faith and spiritual well-being, my struggles and fears can become even stronger and more difficult to manage.
That's verse 45, chapter 12 of Matthew
This is a reference to a Bible verse that reminds me to stay focused on God in order to overcome my struggles and fears.
The least of my troubles
Compared to everything else I'm dealing with, this is the least of my problems.
When I entertain the speech of the devil
When I give in to temptations or negative thoughts, it feels like I'm giving power to my struggles.
So I remain in reach of the Father
I try to stay close to God and remain in His presence, which helps me resist temptation.
Who applies heat to the kettle
God uses the challenges and struggles in my life to help me grow and become stronger.
So I scream
I cry out to God for help and guidance.
When I blow off steam
When I'm feeling angry or frustrated, I turn to God to help me process those emotions.
Then I'm settled
Praying and seeking God's guidance brings me a sense of peace and comfort.
Reminded of the power in that Name
My faith reminds me of the power and strength that God provides.
Then I'm leveled
Finding peace and comfort through my faith helps me stay grounded and centered.
Still embezzlin my dreams
I'm still holding onto my hopes and dreams, even in the midst of my struggles.
Negligent of my schemes I know Heaven intervenes
I'm not relying on my own plans or schemes to get through my struggles, but instead trust that God will intervene.
When I war with spiritual things
When I face spiritual battles or temptations, I turn to God for strength.
Ignore amphetamines when I'm offered the better things
I avoid harmful or addictive substances, knowing that there are better and healthier ways to cope with my struggles.
No substitute for the truth and that
There is no better way to find peace and healing than to embrace the truth of God's love and grace.
Truth is He never change
God is always there for me, and will never abandon me.
Simple and plain I'm a man
I'm just an ordinary person, with my own struggles and flaws.
And I ain't got it all together
I don't have all the answers, and I'm still working through my struggles.
I need His Son
I need Jesus Christ in my life, to guide me and provide salvation.
I need His Spirit
I need the Holy Spirit to give me strength and comfort.
And I need'em all forever
I will always need God's love, guidance, and support.
Good grief
This phrase is used to express frustration or disbelief, and represents the difficulties I face in my struggles and journey of faith.
My eyes are on the sky above
I am focused on the hope and promise of heaven, where my struggles will be no more.
Where the fire can't climb high enough
In heaven, there will be no more pain or torment.
I'm focused on the
I am committed to seeking God's guidance and presence.
Sky above
Salvation and peace can be found in heaven.
Where the problems can't fly high enough
In heaven, there will be no more struggles or challenges to overcome.
Writer(s): Terry Thomas Joseph
Contributed by Elliot F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.