Jonylah Forever
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

You live forever
Your memory and impact will always remain

How bout them bullets ain't slow you up
Even though you were a victim of violence, it did not dampen your spirit

You ain't really die and we watched you grow up
Your presence continues to inspire and motivate us, even though you are no longer physically here

At 12 months you took your first steps
You began to explore the world and develop your independence at a very young age

Awkwardly across the kitchen floor to your best
In your own unique and endearing way, you took those steps towards your loved ones

Your first breaths that we can call words
The first sounds you made were meaningful and impactful

In your father's lap on November 23rd
You shared a special moment with your father, creating a lasting bond

They were 'live for me', and he did for you
Your father made a commitment to always be there for you, living his life for your sake

Flipped to Neutron and stayed inside the crib for you
He made sacrifices in his own life to ensure your well-being and safety

And this commitment from your father
Your father's dedication and love had a profound impact on you

Imparted a deep sense of value you'd forever harbor
You learned the importance of self-worth and carried it with you throughout your life

And we were all so proud as we seen you getting smarter
We witnessed your intellectual growth and couldn't help but feel an immense sense of pride

And the bond grow deeper between a mother and a daughter
Your connection with your mother strengthened over time, forming a profound bond

But you were not a martyr, you lived
You were not defined by tragedy, but rather by the way you lived your life

Find out, I was just a bad dream
Realize that the pain and suffering you experienced were only temporary and not your true reality

Goodbye
This is a final farewell, but your memory will endure

At six, you started reading whole books
Your thirst for knowledge began at a young age, as you delved into entire books

At seven, you knew how a brain looked
You developed a deep understanding of the human brain at a remarkably early age

And could roughly describe, all the different regions
You possessed the ability to provide a basic description of the various parts of the brain

Could tell when we was sick and even knew the reason
You had the perceptive skills to recognize illness and understand its cause

The world wasn't at peace, gunfire every weekend
You were aware of the violence and unrest that plagued the world

But you were hardly there, 'cause you was always leaving
You were rarely affected by the negative environment, as your curiosity and ambition took you elsewhere

Field museum planetarium aquarium
You found wonder and inspiration in places like the Field Museum, planetarium, and aquarium

You saw something special in that tank you were starin' in
You discovered a sense of awe and beauty while observing a tank, revealing your ability to find meaning in small moments

And those moments as a little girl
These experiences shaped you during your childhood and left a lasting impact on your worldview

You realized it was a bigger world
You came to understand that the world was vast and full of possibilities

Bigger than the South Side, bigger than Chicago
You recognized that there was more to life than your immediate surroundings

You were bigger still wanted rims on your car, though
Despite dreaming of material possessions like car rims, you never lost sight of the bigger picture

And big ass woofers in your car door
You desired powerful sound systems in your car, showcasing your personality and preferences

So you could wang like your daddy at the park eating sharks
You longed to enjoy music like your father did, appreciating joyful moments in life

Went to King where you were teased for being smart
You faced challenges and bullying at school due to your intelligence

Where you bumped into Hadiya teaching art
You unexpectedly crossed paths with Hadiya while she was sharing her love for art

You live forever
Your memory and legacy will never fade away

Find out, I was just a bad dream
Discover that the difficulties you faced were temporary and not a reflection of your true worth

Neither ever, nor never, goodbye
This is not a complete farewell, as your impact will always be felt

At sixteen is when you got your scholarship
You achieved great success at a young age, earning a scholarship

At twenty-two is when you got your doctorate
Your dedication and hard work resulted in you obtaining a doctorate degree at the age of twenty-two

Even now it's kind of hard to believe
The magnitude of your accomplishments is still somewhat unbelievable

But your father taught you work hard, and achieve
Your father instilled in you the values of hard work and reaching for your goals

And you complied, accepted by every medical school you applied
You followed his teachings and were accepted into every medical school you applied to

But the coolest thing is when they offered you that high paying slot
The most admirable aspect is when you were offered a lucrative position

You replied: 'they need me in the hood' and that's where you reside
You selflessly chose to serve your community instead of pursuing financial gain

Free clinic, nobody denied
You established a free clinic where everyone was welcome, regardless of their circumstances

And that's where you heard the shots and quickly ran outside
While at your clinic, you heard the sound of gunshots and immediately took action

And saw a man and a van and a bleeding baby in his hands
You witnessed a distressing scene of a man holding a bleeding baby

Fading fast, but you knew she could survive
Despite the dire situation, you had faith in the baby's ability to overcome and survive

Did everything you could to keep this girl alive
You utilized all your medical knowledge and skills to ensure the baby's survival

Stabilized until the ambulance arrived
You successfully stabilized the baby's condition until professional help arrived

And in that moment, where you gave your help
During that critical moment when you provided your assistance

I bet you didn't know that you saved yourself
You may not have realized it, but in saving that baby, you also saved a part of yourself

Fold down your hands, give me a sign
Let go of your worries and uncertainties, and provide me with reassurance

Hooked on your lies
I am captivated by the stories and myths that surround your legacy

Lay down next to me, don't listen when I scream
Stay close to me, even when I express my pain and frustration

Bury your doubts and fall asleep
Let go of your uncertainties and find solace and peace in sleep

Lord have mercy
May God show compassion and forgiveness