Straighten It Out
T. Bone Lyrics

Let's break it out all of this black-on-black, brown-on-brown, in every town,
We need to end the violence and destruction within our own communities, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Because I'm sick of seeing my people's sketches scattered all over the ground.
I'm tired of seeing the lives of our people being taken away so frequently and carelessly.

Since these murders occur every single day, so put the gun away because I want
Murders occur far too often, and we need to stop killing each other for the sake of our own survival.

To live to see another day. A happy day. Where there's peace between
We need to strive for a peaceful coexistence among different races, ethnicities, and nations.

Nations, love within races and no division in the congregations. No more
We need to unify and eliminate the divisiveness that currently plagues us.

Pimps and drug dealers on every corner. A homeless people struggling with no
We need to address the socioeconomic issues that contribute to the suffering of our people, such as poverty and drug addiction.

Home freeze and they pump for quarters. I am talkin' about a world of peace,
We need to create a world in which nobody has to suffer and struggle to survive.

With no mo' closed caskets if you know rows like most of my homies that have
We need to end the cycle of violence that leads to the untimely deaths of our loved ones.

Been deceased. No more murderers, diseases, or suicides, it's time we all
We need to take steps to prevent the factors that lead to death, such as violence, disease, and suicide.

Wake up and wipe the mucus from my sleepy eyes. And straighten things out
We need to wake up to the reality of the world we live in, and take action to create a better future.

Like a ruler 'cause nowadays, the cart we juggle is full of hate, killas, and
We need to use clear and objective standards to measure and tackle the issues that we face today.

Runaways. I'm sick of it, so I'll be the first brother to shout, let's
We need to reject the negative state of the world we live in, and work towards a better tomorrow.

Straighten it out 'cause together we can work it out.
We need to work together to make real progress towards peace, unity, and progress.

Let's straighten it out, from the west side to the east side.
We need to address issues of violence, poverty, and suffering in all areas, regardless of location or geography.

Let's straighten it out, from the north side to the south side.
We need to work towards a better future in all communities, and ensure that everybody has access to opportunity and prosperity.

I wish somebody would tell me why, we can't just straighten out all this mess,
We need to find solutions to the problems that we face, and create a better future for ourselves and our communities.

At times I think, my fat should be a bulletproof vest. Got all these homies
I often feel threatened and vulnerable in this world, and I fear for my safety and the safety of those around me.

Claiming south side, west side, east side, north side, Asian, Black, and Brown
We need to move beyond our tribal identities and come together as one community.

Pride. It seems that there's no mo hope, my own people's send me their guns
I'm losing faith in our collective ability to create positive change, and it's disheartening to see members of our own community contributing to the problem.

And try to push me the dope, I can't cope. But I gotta, why? Because I'm
It's difficult to resist the temptation of drugs and violence, but I know that I have to continue to fight against these destructive forces for the sake of my own survival.

Sick of all the shots ringing from the sixty-fo and hollas. Remember where we
I'm tired of hearing gunshots and witnessing the violence that's tearing our communities apart. We need to remember where we came from, and strive to create a better future for ourselves and our loved ones.

Was familia, where we could kick it and not worry about your own kind killin'
We need to remember the times when we were united as one community, and work towards restoring that sense of unity and togetherness.

Ya'. Seems like all we care about is money and fame, drugs in the game, it's
We need to stop prioritizing material wealth and status over our own lives and the greater good of our communities.

Killin' me softly like Lauren from the Fugees sang. Man, what's it gonna take
The problems that we face are taking a serious toll on my mental and emotional well-being, and I'm struggling to find solutions.

For us to grow up, before love is the only ganG sign we throw up? 'Cause all
We need to mature and take responsibility for our own actions and the state of the world we live in, before it's too late.

Our peoples headin' straight for the morgue unless we put down the guns and
We need to take action to end the cycle of violence and destruction that's claiming the lives of our loved ones.

Start to trust in the Lord, let's straighten it out!
We need to have faith in a higher power, and work towards creating a better world for ourselves and future generations.

I wonder what could make a man, hit a woman, wit' a ferious hand. Somebody
I'm puzzled by the actions of those who perpetrate domestic violence, and I wonder what motivates them to cause others so much pain and suffering.

Tell me because I just don't seem to understand. And then we wonder why why'all
We need to address the root causes of domestic violence and take steps to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Kids is bangin' with none at home, it seems the parents is the one givin' they
We need to address the breakdown of family units and take steps to support parents in their role as caregivers.

Kids a trainin'. Beatin' em' down, with your fists and a buckle of a belt.
We need to reject violence as a means of disciplining our children, and seek alternative methods to teach and guide them.

To prideful to accept that you needed some serious help. So you kept strikin'
We need to address the stigma surrounding seeking help for personal or emotional issues, and encourage individuals to seek help when needed.

Like thirsty bats straight out of Hell, but what you did was wrong, stop and
We need to hold individuals accountable for their actions and address the harm they've caused to themselves and others.

Listen to my song. It breaks my heart in two when I see the things you put
I'm deeply saddened by the harm people cause to themselves and others, and I hope that my music can inspire them to change their ways.

Them through. Why do you do all the harmful things that you do? Spiritually
We need to seek deeper understanding of why people engage in harmful behaviors, and address the underlying emotional and spiritual issues that contribute to those behaviors.

Guided with decieve and rags on both your wives, not knowin' you was led by
We need to recognize the ways in which we're being misled and deceived by negative influences, and seek out positive role models instead.

Demons when you made them cry. But you didn't quit till' they finally ran
We need to recognize the harm we've caused to others, and take responsibility for repairing the damage and making amends.

Away from home. Then your wife left you too, and now your sad and all alone.
We need to address the harm that domestic violence causes to families, and take steps to support those who are affected by it.

Just thinkin' about everything your family could have been, so now your
We need to acknowledge the potential we have to create positive and fulfilling lives for ourselves and our families, and work towards realizing that potential.

Squeezin' the trigger to leave this life of mine
We need to address the despair and hopelessness that leads individuals to take their own lives, and provide them with the support they need to overcome their struggles.