Lost Desire
Talib Kweli Lyrics

It's the lump in your heart
The deep sadness or heaviness that you feel within your heart

Or the pain in your mind
The anguish and torment that consumes your thoughts

No one cares what the truth is
People are indifferent to the reality and facts

Cause a fortress built on lies
Because the foundation of society is constructed upon falsehoods

I'm exhausted but I never ever forfeit
I am tired, yet I never give up or surrender

Y'all just bullshit while I knock a nigga off quick
While others engage in meaningless talk, I swiftly eliminate my adversaries

Y'all start speaking in tongues and start reaching for guns
People resort to aggressive and violent behavior, abandoning rational discourse

A militant will put this heat in your lungs
An activist will take action, confronting and challenging oppressive systems

The street and the slums, the weekend is done
The impoverished neighborhoods, where the struggle is constant and never-ending

The local class always show you what [?] is become
The marginalized communities expose the harsh reality of societal decay

The seasons are done, and reasons are none
The passage of time brings no change or justification for the suffering

People dyin' bullets flyin' cause they schemin'[?] for fun
People are losing their lives, bullets are flying, due to senseless and malicious intentions

It's all of a nightmare, that's right there
It is a horrifying reality that is present and tangible

They hopin' that somebody in the hood just might care
Those who are suffering hope that someone from their community will show empathy and concern

With all this protestin' and rallyin'
Despite the ongoing demonstrations and gatherings for change

Death toll tallyin'
The increasing count of lives lost

Foul smells around them [?] in the alley and
A putrid stench permeates the alleyways where illicit activities occur

Corner filled with teddy bears, cause they killed a child again,
A street corner adorned with teddy bears as the community mourns the loss of another innocent child

They sing about murder, so it ain't a song it's [?
They glorify violence in their music, making it more than just a song

Get off the choir with your soft attire,
Stop pretending to be righteous and compassionate with your empty words

Niggas out here don't give a fuck, cause they lost desire
People in this community no longer care because they have lost all hope and motivation

My city's full of heartbreakers and stargazers
The city is filled with individuals who cause pain and disappointment, as well as dreamers who aspire for greatness

Who puff kush
Who smoke marijuana excessively

Vegas, So they gone with the wind, like Clark Gable
They leave the city like a gust of wind, similar to how Clark Gable disappears in the movie 'Gone with the Wind'

Breathin' like Darth Vader, believin' in dark angel
They breathe heavily like Darth Vader and embrace the idea of a sinister force

Yeah, we got flags, but they not star-spangled
While we have flags, they do not represent the values of the United States

We not patriotic, the heroes are not them,
We do not feel a strong sense of loyalty or admiration for our society, as the true heroes are not celebrated

Ghetto griots like rims, you stop, they still spin
The storytellers of the ghetto, like spinning rims, continue their tales even when faced with adversity

Tall tales at the bar, witnessed after dark,
Exaggerated stories are shared at the bar, where secrets are revealed under the cover of night

And we still stop in and chicken and [?]
Despite the hardships, we find comfort in indulging in simple pleasures like fast food

And listen to Rakim
We find solace in listening to the music of Rakim, an influential hip-hop artist

With the [?] that y'all been
With the knowledge and wisdom that you have acquired

For realla, I hadn't been schemin' to [?]ply in
Honestly, I haven't been plotting or conspiring to impose myself upon others

You fear us? Fear is self, personified
Do you fear us? Fear is an embodiment of one's own insecurities

Payin' homage to homicide
Paying tribute to acts of murder and violence

Prayin' to the dollar sign
Worshipping the pursuit of wealth and materialism

It's idol worship
It is the veneration of false idols and superficial desires

The rebel forces
Those who defy the norm and resist societal expectations

Bodies lie at the foundation of the fortress
Dead bodies are the basis and support of the corrupt society

This is war, we expect some losses
In this battle for justice, we anticipate and accept that there will be casualties

And we comin' for the heads of the bosses
We are determined to challenge and overthrow those in power

We on some casualties of war shit,
We are experiencing the severe consequences of warfare

What you stand for, kid?
What do you believe in and support, young one?

We in the city where they definitely lost it
We are in a place where people have completely lost their way

You open your eyelids and get capped in the ribs
As soon as you wake up, you are shot in the side

Your funeral they have your 12th grade portrait
At your funeral, they display your high school graduation photo

Pretty corpse in casket, bell-shaped orchids
Your body lies beautifully in the casket, adorned with bell-shaped orchids

Said he 19 and left a self-made fortune
He claimed to be 19 years old and left behind a wealth he had accumulated on his own

And left trey orphans
And orphaned three children

Now he in a box with the same chain and watch
Now he is contained in a coffin, still wearing the same chain and watch

That never came off him
Which he never removed, even in death

It's a shame what it cost him
It is tragic what he lost as a result

Where he come from it ain't nuthin'
In his hometown, there is nothing left for him

It's a everyday thing, that's a problem
It happens every day, and that is a significant issue

It's chambers revolving
It's like a revolving chamber in a gun

Bustin' like Russian roulette
Firing shots unpredictably, similar to a game of Russian roulette

With a full set, then change what the odds is
With a complete set of bullets, altering the odds

Flames in the mosque, and
There are fires in the mosque, and

People held hostage
Innocent individuals being captured and controlled against their will

Everyday I struggle, try to get up out the mosh-pit
Every day, I strive to escape the chaotic and frenzied environment that surrounds me

Homicide for profit, tell me how we not sick?
Murder being committed for personal gain, how can we not be morally sick?

This shit is out of control, they can't stop it
The situation has spiraled out of control, and they are unable to bring it under control