Myself
Prof Lyrics

My parents got some big money problems
My parents are having financial issues

We're all young and we're countin' on 'em
As children, we depend on them to provide for us

I'm four years old, you think I'm bouncing on 'em?
I may be young, but I am aware of their struggles

I just sit back and watch, thinkin' bout em
I observe their actions and reflect on their situation

Mom's probably stronger than Pops is
My mother may be more resilient than my father

The talk is, that the old man has lost it
There are rumors that my father is struggling with his mental health

Last week he came back from work
My father recently returned from his job

I saw him on the porch
I witnessed him outside the house

With a glass of milk in his shirt
He had a glass of milk tucked into his clothing

He was flippin' out
He was displaying erratic behavior

Mom probably put it there
Most likely, my mother placed the glass of milk in his shirt

Judging from how angry that she was
Based on her level of anger

It probably should be there
It was probably put there intentionally

Now both folks know that I'm standing there
My parents are aware of my presence

But Mama protects me
My mother shields me from the situation

Throws me behind her back
She acts as a physical barrier between me and my father's outburst

Why did Papa do that?
I question my father's behavior

What's that tellin' me?
I am analyzing the situation to learn something from it

Birds can't help but sing a melody. (I ain't stupid)
Like birds who naturally sing, I am observant and intelligent

Happy ever after is nothing but a fantasy
The idea of a perfect life is unrealistic

Police are part of our family
Law enforcement officials are present in our lives

Son and mother look out from the porch
Me and my mother are standing on the porch

See father's head duck under the door
My father lowers his head as he enters the house

I believe in nothing
I do not have any strong beliefs

I believe in myself
I have faith in my own abilities and decisions

Nothing at all
There is nothing else I believe in

My papa got some big anger problems
My father has a significant issue with his temper

I'm getting older and I'm sick about 'em
As I grow up, I am increasingly troubled by his behavior

It's getting harder just to live around it
Living with his anger is becoming more difficult

I need to take a stand as a man, I need to be about it
I feel the need to take action and stand up to him

So ring around the posies round the living room table
We have a heated argument around the table

I can't remember what we were arguing about
I cannot recall the exact topic of the argument

I stood up to the scariest man in the country
I display bravery by standing up to my intimidating father

I held my head high as I left the house
I maintained my dignity and self-respect as I exited the house

Little boy stood in the face of a dragon
I was a young boy who stood up to my father's anger like a fierce dragon

Left with the heart of a lion, amazing
I am proud of myself for standing up to him

It's funny, I left the house so it could cool down
I left the house to let emotions settle and tempers cool off

But the dragon stayed hot, who's the fool now?
Although I left to diffuse the situation, my father still remains angry

Papa and the devil, sitting in the basement
My father has a destructive and dangerous influence in our home

A-R-S-O-N-I-N-G
It seems like they may have started a fire

Young son, headed back to the household
I return home as a young adult

Running down the block, eight firetrucks deep
There is a serious fire happening near my house

Fell to my knees and I screamed in the front yard
I am overwhelmed by the fire's intensity and impact

Fireman running around like no one's in charge
The firefighters seem to be chaotic and disorganized in managing the fire

Sort of like when it rains, it pours
Sometimes when one bad thing happens, it seems to lead to a chain of other negative events

See the flames burst out of the door
The fire has spread out of control

I've learned a lifetime
I have learned a great deal in my lifetime

A lifetime as a boy
My experiences have been shaped by my upbringing and childhood

Evil's on the inside
There is an inherent inner darkness or malevolence within people

Waiting for all
This darkness affects everyone and waits for the right opportunity to manifest

Got an apartment
I have my own place to live now

I'm 20 years old
I am a young adult in my twenties

Finally thinking I have everything under control
I feel like I have a grasp on my life

It's been years since I spoke to the man
It has been a long time since I have had contact with my father

When, he gave me his old cutlass to get out of the sand
I remember my father helping me out of a difficult situation in the past

So just like a hyena, I take the meat
I take advantage of the situation for my own benefit

And then I run my ass away, you need to let me be
I leave quickly and do not want to be bothered

But over time a part of me knew one needed to speak
I realize that I need to eventually confront my father and have a conversation

That's right when the world decided that it couldn't be
Unfortunately, the timing was not right and things did not work out as I planned

It's the biggest hurdle thinking past tense
Reflecting on it now, the biggest challenge was looking back and realizing what could have been different

When a strong man takes his last breath
When a powerful and influential figure passes away