Why
Sway Lyrics

I reminisce for a spell, or shall I say think back
I think back to the past for a while

22 years ago to keep it on track
specifically 22 years ago to be precise

The birth of a child on the 8th of October
When a child was born on October 8th

A toast, but my granddaddy came sober
My granddad was sober, despite the celebratory drinks

Countin' all the fingers and the toes
Checking if all the fingers and the toes are present

Now I suppose, you hope the little black boy grows, huh
I assume you want the little black boy to grow up well

18 years younger than my mama
18 years younger than my mother

But I really got beatings cause the girl loved drama
But I received beatings as my mom enjoyed drama

In single parenthood, there I stood
As a single parent, I was solely responsible

By the time she was 21, had another one
My mother had another child by the time she was 21

This one’s a girl, let’s name her Pam
The new baby is a girl, let's call her Pam

Same father as the first, but you don’t give a damn
Pam has the same father as the first child but you do not care

Irresponsible, plain not thinking
The father is irresponsible and not considering the consequences

Papa said chill but the brother keeps winking
Father advised him to relax, but he continues to act unwisely

Still, he won’t down you or tear out your hide
Despite his actions, he won't attack you or harm you

On your side while the baby maker slide
He is supportive even as the mother moves on with another man

But mama got wise to the game
But mom became aware of his trickery

The youngest of five kids, hon here it is
I am the youngest of five children, and here is my story

After 10 years without no spouse
After 10 years of being single

Momma’s gettin' married in the house
My mother is getting married at home

Listen, positive over negative for the women and master
Listen, choose positivity for women and those in control

Mother queen’s risin' a chapter
The matriarch is starting a new phase of her life

Deja vu, tell you what I’m gonna do
Feels like we've been here before, here's what I'll do

When they reminisce over you, my God
When people remember you, my God

When I date back, I recall a man off the family tree
When I go back in time, I remember a man from the family

My right hand poppa doc, I see
My right-hand man was my poppa doc

Took me from a boy to a man, so I always had a father
He guided me from boyhood to manhood, so I always had a father figure

When my biological didn’t bother
When my biological father didn't care

Taking care of this so who am I to bicker
Taking care of me, so why should I complain

Not a bad ticker but I’m clocking pop’s liver
I have a healthy heart, but I worry about my father's liver

But you can never say that his life is through
Regardless, you cannot say his life is over

5 kids at 21, believe he got a right too
He had five kids at 21, and he has a right to live his life

Here we go while I check the scene
Now, let me examine the situation

With the Portuguese lover at the age of 14
With the Portuguese lover when I was just 14

The same age, front page, no fuss
At the same age, and on the front page, without causing a stir

But I bet you all your dough, they live longer than us
I bet you all your money, they (Portuguese people) live longer than us

Never been senile, that’s where you’re wrong
He's never been senile, that's where you're mistaken

But give the man a taste and he’s gone
However, he gets drunk easily

Noddin' off, sleep to a jazz tune
Nodding off, watching jazz music

I can hear his head banging on the wall in the next room
I can hear him banging his head on the wall next door

I get the pillow and hope I don’t wake him
I get a pillow and hope I won't wake him

For this man do cuss, hear it all in verbatim
Because he curses a lot, and I can hear it clearly

Telling me how to raise my boy unless he’s taking over
He's trying to control how I raise my son unless he takes over

I said pop, maybe when you’re older
I said, dad, maybe when you're older

We laughed all night about the hookers at the party
We laughed all night about the sex workers at the party

My old man standing yelling good god, almighty
My dad was standing, shouting 'good god, almighty!'

Use your condom, take sips of the brew
Use a condom and take sips of the alcohol

When they reminisce over you, for real
When people remember you, for real

I reminisce, so you never forget this
I remember so that you never forget this

The days of wayback, so many bear witness the fitness
Back in the days, many saw the strength and endurance

Take the first letter out of each word in this joint
Remove the first letter of every word in this song

Listen close as I prove my point
Pay attention as I demonstrate my argument

T to the r-uh-o-y, how did you and I meet?
T.R.O.Y. - how did we meet?

In front of big Lou’s, fighting in the street
In front of Big Lou's, we were fighting in the street

But only you saw what took many time to see
But only you could see what took many a long time to see

I dedicate this to you for believing in me
I dedicate this to you for believing in me

Rain or shine, yes in any weather
Regardless of the weather forecast

My grandmom Pam holds the family together
My grandmother Pam keeps the family united

My uncle doc’s the greatest, better yet, the latest
My uncle Doc is the best and the most up-to-date

If we’re talking about a car, Uncle Sterling got the latest
If we're talking about a car, Uncle Sterling has the latest one

I strive to be live ’cause I got no choice
I strive to stay alive because I have no other options

And run my own business like my Aunt Joyce
And manage my own affairs like my Aunt Joyce

So Pete Rock hit me, nuff respect due
So Pete Rock reached out to me, much respect due

When they reminisce over you, listen
When people remember you, pay attention

Listen, just listen
Listen carefully unto me

To the funky song as I rock on
To the cool music as I keep dancing

And that’s word is bond
That's the absolute truth

I’m not playin
I'm serious

Everybody, just coolin
Everybody just chillin'

This song we dedicate
We dedicate this song

To the one and only, never be another
To the one and only, there'll never be anyone else like him

He was my brother, Trouble T-Roy
He was my brother, Trouble T-Roy

It’s like that y’all, and you don’t stop
That's how it is, y'all, and it won't stop

Pete Rock and CL Smooth for ’92 and we out, later
Pete Rock and CL Smooth in 1992, and we're done, later