Good Mourning
Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek Lyrics

What's the meanin of ghetto fabulous
What does it truly mean to live in the ghetto while living life in luxury?

Not ridin the back of the bus
I refuse to be marginalized and oppressed, I am a revolutionary.

I'm a revolutionary antagonist
I will continue to challenge the status quo and question societal norms.

Some playas is mad at us for just doin our music out of love
Some people may hate us for our passion for music and our refusal to conform to the mainstream.

Some underground heads is hatin cause we have fun at clubs
Some underground hip-hop enthusiasts may criticize us for enjoying the club scene.

I'm probably on some government list for my rhymin
I am likely being surveilled by the government for my provocative lyrics.

You a fool if you don't think they already tapped your line
If you believe that the government is not already spying on you, you are naive.

Medicine is big business so my remedies is herbal
Pharmaceuticals are heavily influenced by capitalism, so I prefer using natural remedies.

It's music is for the people so we Reflection Eternal
Our music is made for the people as a form of collective reflection and remembrance.

Listen, you hear the difference between science and science fiction
You can easily distinguish between actual scientific fact and made-up stories.

We blow it out like if you leave on every appliance in the kitchen at once, still rolling kind bud in Cuban blunts
We party hard, smoke weed, and live life to the fullest.

On the corner watchin how kids comin to Brooklyn for they fronts
I see how people come to Brooklyn to show off their wealth and status.

Niggas run past what they need chasing after what they want
People often ignore their necessities and obsess over what they desire.

Fuckin chumps, you walk down the street and get jumped
Those who are foolish, vulnerable, and naïve could easily become victims of violence in our community.

Brooklyn cats like to bubble out of town no lookin back
People from Brooklyn often leave to explore the world and never come back.

When you a ghetto chef you mastered the art of cookin crack
It's easy to become a great chef in the ghetto, but it's unfortunate that some choose to make and sell crack instead.

Some get caught sleepin on the Mother City so when they go
Some people overlook the importance and beauty of their own community until it's too late.

They come back as tales of niggas we used to know
Some may return to our community as a distant memory and gossip.

Never looked up to see the stars in all they heavenly glory
Many people in the ghetto never have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Just straight ahead cause the peripheral is buildings with mad stories
The distractions and chaos around us make it difficult to appreciate the world beyond our immediate surroundings.

Not floors but dramas is played out, shorties get laid out
Our daily lives are full of violence and conflict, and children are often the victims.

like respect and fade out like TV sets
Although some things, like respect, are vital and desirable, they can easily be lost or forgotten.

into the banks of our memories (let it be) we'll never forget you
We will forever remember those who have left us but made a significant impact on our lives.

Lyin on your deathbed askin for God to bless you
As you approach death, you may ask for blessings and forgiveness from a higher power.

Good mourning, good afternoon, good night
Acknowledgment of the different phases of the day as well as the phases of life.

What have you done with your life?
Examining whether or not you have used your time on earth effectively.

Everybody time comes to be embraced by the light
Eventually, everyone must succumb to death.

You only scared to die when you ain't livin right, man
You only fear death if you haven't lived your life with purpose and integrity.

I'm puttin up a hellafied fight
I'm fighting hard to live my life with meaning and purpose until my last breath.

I need you all to be clear on exactly what I'm sayin
I need everyone to truly understand the message I am conveying.

With your attention span I understand that I ain't playin
I acknowledge that in today's fast-paced world, it's hard to capture your attention.

You mistaken if you somehow think it's just me you facin
If you think that my message is only directed at me, you're sadly mistaken.

Starin me down while your enemy is standin adjacent
While you're focusing on me, your true enemy is standing right beside you.

My heart is racin but I know just what I stand for
I feel nervous, but I am confident in my beliefs and values.

We chasin death carelessly like +Jessica+, I +Care Moore+
Like careless characters in novels or poetry, we often don't realize the extent of our own mortality.

Who said, "Just because no one can understand how you speak don't necessarily mean that what you be sayin is deep"
Just because others may not understand our language, it doesn't minimize the depth and importance of what we are saying.

In case you die in your sleep you ask the Lord for a blessin
It's essential to live your life as if each day were your last, to be at peace with yourself and offer thanks to a higher power.

Sometimes they sneak up so quiet that the silence is deafenin
Death can sometimes come without warning and leave behind complete silence.

You'll never know who the assassin is until it's your time to go
Death is unpredictable, and no one knows when it will be their time to pass on.

Your life is flashin, askin for forgiveness but you move too slow
People often regret their past and may seek forgiveness when facing death, but it may be too late to make up for lost time.

Now the people that you love bear the pain that you once harbored
The people you love will be the ones to carry on the pain you felt in life, after you pass on.

You was livin for yourself so you could never be a martyr
Living selfishly may bring temporary pleasure, but it won't make a positive impact on others.

Life is hard, death is harder; you somebody baby father
Life is a difficult journey, but death is an even more challenging obstacle. Prioritizing your role as a father is essential.

Someone's lover, son of your mother, somebody brother
In addition to being a father, you are also a lover, son, and sibling, and you must not forget these roles and responsibilities.

Somebody nigga, now your spirit in the air like a whisper
You may have been someone important to those who knew you, but after death, you become nothing more than a fleeting memory.

Hearin your name mentioned when we pourin out some liquor
We remember and honor the lives of those who have passed by pouring out alcoholic drinks in their memory.

The days go by quicker and the nights don't seem to differ
Time feels like it's slipping away, and one day feels just like the previous one.

It's gettin cold, so I shivered and asked my soul to be delivered
As life goes on, it becomes increasingly difficult to find warmth and reassurance. We must continue to seek and nourish our inner selves.

Yo, the time come for everybody
Death is inevitable and will come for everyone.

It ain't somethin' you can really prepare for
Despite our efforts to prepare, death will always be an unpredictable and challenging obstacle to face.

Yo, yo, Mad Duke, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment and celebration of those who have passed on.

Curtis Mayfield, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of the influential musician Curtis Mayfield who has passed away.

Grover Washington, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of the influential musician Grover Washington who has passed away.

My Aunt Hazel, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of Talib Kweli's Aunt who has passed away.

Big L, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of the influential rapper Big L who has passed away.

Freaky Tah rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of the influential rapper Freaky Tah who has passed away.

Jerome Green, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of the influential guitarist Jerome Green who has passed away.

Slang Ton, rock rock on and
Acknowledgment of the influential rapper Slang Ton who has passed away.

We celebrate life
Through our acknowledgment and celebration of those who have passed away, we remember and celebrate their lives.