The Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free) Songfacts reports that Fiasco’s first single off his fourth studio album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1 debuted on May 21, 2012. On "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)," he spits rhymes about aspects of modern American life he doesn’t like such as "Suicide bombers and prosperity gospels, emaciated models, with cocaine and blood pouring out their nostrils” as well as socio-political problems in Ghana and the invasion of Iraq.
Lupe released his fifth studio album Tetsuo & Youth on January 20, 2015.
Lupe's 8th Studio Album DRILL MUSIC IN ZION was released on June 23rd 2022
Lupe has previously been on label Epic with his group Da Pak and then signed a solo deal with Arista. His years at Arista only led to the 2003 promo single "Pop Pop" as well as guest appearances on singles from Tha' Rayne (2002's "Kiss Me" and 2003's "Didn't You Know") and K Fox (2003's "This Life"), then Arista folded in 2004 and Lupe was signed to Atlantic Records.
Brave Heart
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics
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Forgive me for my fetishes, my purchases, my clothes
Allow me to catch my rhythm so the nervousness just goes
That's why I sound so certain in my verses and my flows
The verbiage just gets merciless the wordsmithness just rolls
I've tuned into my pertinence, my purposes, my goals
The feeling when you realize you've been working for your foes
And the curtains have just opened and they worthlessness exposed
There was nothing in the oven and just work up on the stove
And you blossomed from the bottom, yeah, you worked with it and rose
From nothing to a dozen and a gardener that grows
Tell 'em!
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart (That's me)
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart
(Yes sir)
Brave heart
(Yeah I got that) Brave heart
(You know) Brave heart
May the Lord have mercy on my soul
Like shows keep cushion where I land
Keep the devil off my heels
But please keep me on my toes
Like a reposessor checking for everything I drove
Like I owe, but I don't
Paid my dues from the go
Doing donuts in the door, keep my shoes on the floor
Revered by the rich, plus approved by the poor
I guess it's better when they sniff it
(I've been sped up where they sniff it)
And screwed up where they pour
See I flew so way up high
And I scuba'd way down low
Put the top down on my fears
Put the roof up on my woes
I dropped that food and liquor to put you up on my stove
They shoplifted and stole
That just let me know they know
That was Lupe #1 now this version #4
And I still feel like a virgin me versus the globe
From the surface to the cove
I took on the biggest wave
And I surfed it to the shore with no pomade in my fro
Took the wood from the slave ships and furnished my abode
Now that boat is now my bed, desk, dressers and my drawers
Now that's a house of pain!
Plus I use nooses when I hang up all my clothes
Couldn't change up if I chose
That's me
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart (That's me)
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart
(Yes sir)
Brave heart
(Yeah I got that) Brave heart
(You know) Brave heart
May the lord have,
Mercy on my soul
Lupe Fiasco Feat. Poo Bear's song Brave Heart is a powerful statement about courage, perseverance, and overcoming life's challenges. The song is about the struggles and sacrifices one must make to achieve their dreams and goals. The lyrics talk about the importance of staying true to oneself and not compromising one's values in the process.
The opening lines of the song, "May the Lord have mercy on my soul, forgive me for my fetishes, my purchases, my clothes" suggests that the singer is acknowledging their shortcomings and asking for forgiveness. The lyrics then go on to talk about catching one's rhythm and becoming certain in one's verses and flows, indicating that the singer is confident in their abilities and is not afraid to express themselves. The song also touches on the theme of betrayal and the feeling of working for one's foes. The imagery of stolen purses and nothing in the oven is particularly powerful in conveying a sense of poverty or destitution, from which the singer has come, where they worked and rose from nothing to a dozen.
The chorus of the song, "Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart" speaks to the theme of courage and the importance of persevering in the face of adversity. The repetition of the phrase "Brave heart" reinforces the idea that the singer is a fighter and is not afraid to face challenges head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
May the Lord have mercy on my soul
Asking for forgiveness from God for my mistakes and shortcomings
Forgive me for my fetishes, my purchases, my clothes
I am asking for mercy for my actions and tastes
Allow me to catch my rhythm so the nervousness just goes
I need to find my confidence and overcome my anxiety
That's why I sound so certain in my verses and my flows
My confidence in my abilities allows me to sound sure in my music
The verbiage just gets merciless the wordsmithness just rolls
The lyrics come easily to me and I am ruthless with my words
I've tuned into my pertinence, my purposes, my goals
I am focused on my objectives and what I want to achieve
The feeling when you realize you've been working for your foes
Discovering that I have been working against my own interests is painful
And the curtains have just opened and they worthlessness exposed
Once the veil of ignorance is lifted, I see the true value (or lack thereof) of things
You remember where you came from, where the purses was stole
I recall my humble beginnings, where I had nothing and struggled to make ends meet
There was nothing in the oven and just work up on the stove
There was no food or wealth, only hard work and determination
And you blossomed from the bottom, yeah, you worked with it and rose
I overcame adversity and emerged stronger and successful
From nothing to a dozen and a gardener that grows
I went from having nothing to flourishing and helping others grow like a gardener
Courage under fire, gave me a brave heart (That's me)
I have faced challenges with courage and it has made me brave
Like shows keep cushion where I land
Like a safety net, my success cushions my fall
Keep the devil off my heels
I want to stay away from temptations and negative influences
But please keep me on my toes
I want to be alert and ready for whatever comes my way
Like a reposessor checking for everything I drove
I am constantly vigilant and checking on everything in my life
Like I owe, but I don't
I act like I owe something, but in reality, I am debt-free
Paid my dues from the go
I have worked hard and paid my dues since the beginning
Doing donuts in the door, keep my shoes on the floor
I am enjoying my success, but staying grounded and humble
Revered by the rich, plus approved by the poor
I have respect and admiration from both ends of the socioeconomic spectrum
See I flew so way up high
I experienced great success and achievement
And I scuba'd way down low
I have reached my lowest point and have had to dig deep to continue
Put the top down on my fears
I am brave and unafraid, even in the face of fear
Put the roof up on my woes
I have found ways to mitigate and cope with my troubles
I dropped that food and liquor to put you up on my stove
I have made sacrifices and changes to prioritize my goals over my partying lifestyle
That just let me know they know
The fact that my fans shoplifted my album means they are aware of my music and its worth
That was Lupe #1 now this version #4
I have evolved and grown as an artist since my first album
And I still feel like a virgin me versus the globe
I am still a newcomer and an underdog in the music industry, competing against established artists and trends
From the surface to the cove
I have explored and experienced a wide range of emotions and situations
I took on the biggest wave and I surfed it to the shore with no pomade in my fro
I tackled a major challenge and came out successful, without any external help or tricks
Took the wood from the slave ships and furnished my abode
I have repurposed and regenerated historical artifacts to create a comfortable home
Now that boat is now my bed, desk, dressers and my drawers
I have adapted to living on a boat and made it my permanent residence
Now that's a house of pain!
Although my home is unique and eccentric, it comes with its own set of difficulties and hardships
Plus I use nooses when I hang up all my clothes
I hang my clothes with nooses (like those used for lynching) as a statement against oppression and racism
Couldn't change up if I chose
I could not change who I am or what I stand for, even if I wanted to
Brave heart
I have a brave and courageous heart
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW HARR, JERMAINE JACKSON, WASALU MUHAMMAD JACO, JASON BOYD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind