16 @ War
Karina Pasian Lyrics

Ain't no daddy's where I'm from,
There are no fathers present in the singer's community.

It's just mad mothers.
There are only frustrated and overwhelmed mothers present.

And eyes that still seem,
The people in the community still hold onto discriminatory views.

They can't look past color.
They judge people based on their skin color.

Why am I disrespected by
The artist is puzzled by the lack of respect they receive.

Someone I should call brother?
Specifically when it comes from someone who is supposed to be part of the same community.

And why girls feel unpretty
The singer questions why girls have low self-esteem.

And constantly hate each other?
The artist is curious about why girls cannot support each other.

Bad air in my lungs,
The environment is polluted, and the artist has difficulty breathing.

Man I can't breathe.
Their breathing difficulties are serious.

My eyes burnin' from all the dirt and the debris.
The dust and pollution cause the singer physical pain.

And it's third degree.
The situation is intense and severe.

Emotionless on the scene.
People around them seem indifferent to the suffering in their community.

It's like a disease
The negativity and toxicity in their environment is spreading.

The way y'all killin' me.
The situation is affecting their mental health and well-being.

I'm 16 and I shouldn't have to feel like this.
The artist is too young to be burdened by these problems.

Every young boy out here wanna kiss.
The artist and other young girls feel objectified and sexualized.

And me and my mama goin' through it.
The singer's mother is also suffering and struggling.

16 on the block
The singer is stuck in this difficult environment.

Around here cool is another word for fool
The artist's community values dangerous and reckless behavior.

If he smoke then she smoke,
Influence spreads easily and quickly among young people.

I gotta smoke too.
The artist feels pressure to fit in and follow the crowd.

Now what would I do if I didn't have a clue?
The singer is lost and unsure how to navigate their situation.

I'm 16 Y.O.
The artist is sixteen years old.

Asking God oh Why, OH
The singer is questioning their faith and seeking guidance.

If my clothes ain't tight,
The singer feels they must dress a certain way to be accepted.

Then he ain't gone like me.
They fear rejection from others.

Eyes on the prize,
The artist is determined to succeed.

So the next girl dress just like me.
They want to be a positive influence on others.

I'm so full of promise,
The singer has potential.

But why promise if I'm gonna just be rewarded
The singer fears their efforts will be for nothing.

By bad actions.
The negative behavior of others is hindering progress.

To him I'm just a transaction.
The artist feels dehumanized and objectified by others.

I want you to love my mind,
The artist desires to be respected for their intellect and personality.

My smile, my style
They want to be appreciated for their uniqueness.

I want you to know the best of me
The artist yearns for genuine connections with others.

I want to belong without being treated
The singer wants to fit in without feeling devalued.

Like property
They don't want to be objectified like an object.

Why does this seem like a fantasy?
These aspirations seem unreachable and unrealistic.

16 on the block
The artist is still stuck in their difficult surroundings.