Where Have You Been
Jay-Z Beanie Sigel Memphis Bleek Lyrics

Damn how I'ma say this shit?
How do I start this conversation?

Hey, hey dad, yeah, it's your boy
Addressing his absent father

Remember me? I wanna talk to you scrap
Asking to talk to him

I remember being kicked out the house
Recalling past events

'Cause I looked just like you
Being told he is similar to his father

Said I'd be nothing but a crook
Being criticized as worthless

Just like you
Similar to his father's behavior

The niggas in the hood was shook
People were scared of him

Where the just like you
People associated him with his father

'Cause all they said was little whitey look
Being teased for his appearance

But dog I can't see it at all, shit
He doesn't want to be like his father

We never kicked it at all
They never spent quality time together

We never pitched or kicked at a ball
They never played sports together

Dog, you never taught me shit
Father never taught him anything

How to fight, ride a bike, fix the flat
Father didn't teach him basic skills

None of that sorts of shit
Father didn't teach him anything useful

Nigga you was an abusive pop
Father was abusive

Fuck you left me out to dry, stuck
Father left him without support

Gotta teach news to box
He had to learn to fight on his own

Gotta teach news to bop
He had to learn to dance on his own

And that ain't the half of it man
There's more to the story

I gotta teach news to block
He had to learn to avoid danger

It's about time we have a father to son (nigga sit down)
He wants to have a serious conversation

Sit down let me tell you 'bout your fatherless sons
He's talking about fatherless children

How they grew to be men and father they sons
Fatherless sons become fathers

Father they daughters
Fatherless daughters suffer too

Nigga, you left a fatherless daughter
His father left behind a daughter

I never follow your orders
He doesn't listen to his father's commands

Nigga you make me sick
He is disgusted by his father

Pussy you could, ooh
Insulting his father's sexuality

How you gonna leave these memories in the back of my mind
He can't forget his negative childhood memories

I can see it clear as day you smackin' my mom
He remembers seeing his father beat his mother

I 'member that day you showed me that gat, that 9
Father showed him a gun when he was young

Put it in my palm when I was young
Father handed him a gun as a child

And said that would be mine, you turned me out
Father influenced him negatively

The reason why I hit the block
He started selling drugs

Reason why I tried to hit them cops
He became violent towards police

Reason why I started hittin' shots
He began shooting a gun

Reason why I started gettin' licked
He started using drugs

And drinkin' syrup and skippin' court
He started committing crimes

Ginger bread man never think of gettin' caught
He didn't think he'd get caught

Look at your hands man damn you fought
Father was a violent man

Nigga you left my mom
Father left his mother

Left us with no good-bye's
Father left without saying goodbye

You left us out to dry
Father left them without support

You left us with no letters, notes (nothing), no replies
Father didn't keep in touch

No digits numbers was unlisted
Father's phone number was not available

You left me with some of my loneliest nights
He was alone without his father

Nigga some of my hungriest nights
He didn't have enough food sometimes

Shit, one of the reasons for years (shit embarrasin')
He was embarrassed by his situation

Damn we used to think money was white
They had a skewed perception of money

Yeah you gave us life like, fruit from a plant
Father gave them life

We ain't eat right from them foods from them stamps
They were poor and couldn't afford good food

And to think you was my pop
He can't believe his father is like this

Man I gotta stop, shit
He has to stop thinking about this

Daddy, where have you been?
Asking father where he's been

And when you come home, you got us here all alone
Being alone while father is absent

Mommy, where daddy went?
Asking where his father went

You always stick up for him, always said you'd make up for him
Mother supports father's absence

What was you cheatin' on him? Why he's always beatin' on you?
Asking mother why father was abusive

Nigga, you gon' hear me out
He wants to be heard

I wanted to walk just like you (remember?)
As a child, he looked up to his father

Wanted to talk just like you (word)
He wanted to emulate his speech

Often momma said I look too much and I thought just like you
Mother didn't like him emulating his father

Wanted to drink Miller nips and smoke Newports just like you
Wanted to engage in father's habits

But you left me, now I'm goin' to court just like you
He ended up in the criminal justice system

I would say, "My daddy loves me and he'll never go away"
Believing in father's promises

Bullshit, do you even remember December's my birthday?
Father didn't remember his birthday

Do you even remember the tender boy
Father didn't remember him as a child

You turned into a cold young man
Father became distant

With one goal and one plan
Father only had one goal

Get mommy out of some jam, she was always in one
Father only cared about their mother

Always short with the income
Father was never financially stable

Always late with the rent
Father didn't keep up with rent payments

You said that you was comin' through
Father promised to help

I would stay in the hallway (waitin')
Waiting for his father

Always playin' the bench (waitin')
Feeling left out

And that day came and went
Father never showed up

Fuck you very much, you showed me the worst kind of pain
Feeling hurt by father's actions

But I'm stronger and trust me I will never hurt again
He is stronger now

Will never ask mommy, "Why daddy don't love me?
No longer seeking father's love

Why is we so poor?, Why is life so ugly?
Asking why life is so hard

Mommy why is your eyes puffy?"
Asking why his mother is crying

Please don't cry everything'll be alright
Trying to comfort his mother

I know it's dark now, but we gon' see the light
Things will get better

It's us against the world
Family is all they have

We don't need him, right? (Right)
No longer needing father's support

Mommy drivin' 6's now (yeah), I got riches now (yeah)
Family is successful without father

I bought I nice home for both of my sisters now
Taking care of his siblings

We doin' real good
They are thriving

We don't miss you now
No longer feeling the need for father

See how life twists around, fucker?
Irony of their success without father