Karma
The Last Emperor Lyrics

Over and over and over and over again now
Life is a cycle of repeating patterns that we must navigate through.

For all the women and men
This song is for everyone.

Here we go again
Another story begins.

He was a fly young cat, 23 to be exact
The artist of this story is a confident, young man.

Ready to conquer the world fresh out of the pack
He is ambitious and eager to succeed.

Comes from a small town, wrong side of the tracks
He had a tough upbringing in a rough area.

But somehow, he managed to slip through the cracks
He overcame his circumstances and found a way to succeed.

He writes rhymes to escape what was awful and evil
Music is his outlet to express his emotions and cope with his past.

Walks a fine line between lawful and legal
He struggles to balance his desire for success with his moral principles.

Seen a lot of bad times, there's a lot of good in him
Despite facing adversity, he has a positive outlook on life.

Been around the world and still got the hood in him
Even after traveling, he remains true to his roots.

If he carried a tech, would you call him a schemer?
If he carried a gun, would you label him as a criminal?

If he sounds far fetched, would you call him a dreamer?
If his goals seem unrealistic, would you dismiss them as impossible?

Stays true to himself, so he's not a deceiver
He is authentic and does not pretend to be someone he is not.

He found a lifetime job of making you a believer
He is an artist who inspires others through his music.

Every now and then he would stare into space
He reflects on his journey and ponders his future.

And maybe think about if he had what it takes
He wonders if he has what it takes to achieve his goals.

He thinks about the hood and why he had to escape
He has mixed feelings about leaving his community to pursue success.

And the family he left in that desolate place
He is nostalgic for his hometown and misses his family.

It could be you or me or any man
We are all capable of achieving greatness.

Driving a sports car or a mini van
Our external circumstances do not define our potential.

These are the aspirations of certain men
Some people are driven to achieve more than what they were born into.

Who leave the neighborhood only to return again
Despite leaving their communities, some people feel drawn back to their roots.

She was a sweet young thing, tender age of 20
The artist of this story is a young woman.

Comes from a poor family with no money
She grew up in poverty.

Two children of her own, she never let them go hungry
She is a devoted mother who prioritizes her children's needs.

There she is, all right you go honey
She is a hard-working, capable woman.

Early in life she had a chance to win
She had opportunities for success when she was younger.

But she chose to put her future in the hands of men
She relied on relationships with men to support her.

Ever since her first love she was sure she could handle it
She believed she could navigate romantic relationships with ease.

But in the end all she got was abandonment
She was let down and disappointed in her relationships.

Over and over again they seem to use her
She feels taken advantage of by men repeatedly.

From jerk to creep and from creep to loser
She attracts men who mistreat her and have no respect for her.

Come on mami, who would treat you like a friend?
She craves genuine love and companionship.

You need somebody, when will the cycle end?
She longs to break the pattern of toxic relationships and find true love.

Another break up, you don't really love him girl
She realizes that her current relationship is not healthy and cannot last.

You better wake up; you're in trouble girl
She needs to recognize the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.

But in her dreams she's a queen in another world
She is hopeful and optimistic about her future.

Easy, breezy, beautiful, cover girl
She imagines a life of happiness and success.

On the runway to Mr. Lover Man's charms
She is seduced by the idea of a perfect romance.

She breaks away from Mr. Lover Man's arms
She must learn to let go of toxic relationships.

And just when she was sure she had enough of men
She becomes disillusioned with the idea of romance and relationships altogether.

She turns around and falls in love again
Despite her past experiences, she remains hopeful and open to love.

Damn girl, why you got to go though this?
The singer empathizes with her struggles.

I watch her stand there emotionless
She is numb and disconnected from her emotions.

When nobody else noticed it
Her pain and suffering go unnoticed by others around her.

Ooh, the sad songs from the vocalist
The singer expresses his sorrow and empathy through his music.

Please embrace these stories
The singer encourages his audience to listen and learn from these tales.

That have been placed before me
These stories have been imparted to the singer for him to share and spread.

From hatred comes warring
Conflict and violence arise from hate and intolerance.

From goodness must come glory
Success and recognition should come from leading a virtuous, righteous life.

What is it I wonder
The singer ponders the meaning of life's struggles and difficulties.

Some honor, some conquer
Some people rise above adversity and achieve great things.

Different day, same drama
Life can feel repetitive and challenging.

Remember it is karma
Our actions have consequences and will come back to us in some way.

There's an old gray couple living right upstairs
The final story is about an elderly couple living in the same building as the singer.

Mid seventies, seemingly no cares
Despite their age, they appear content and carefree.

Always seem happy I can only guess why
The singer wonders what brings them so much joy.

Cause they barely getting by off the SSI
They are living on a fixed income and struggling financially.

Over the years their love affair grew
Their enduring love and commitment to each other has grown over time.

It was meant to be and some how they both knew
They were destined to be together.

He said pray for me and I'll return to you
The husband went away to war, and promised to come back to his wife.

She waited faithfully during World War II
She remained loyal and devoted while her husband was at war.

It was a hard time for a young couple just married
They faced many difficulties as a newly married couple during wartime.

But they held on to the love they both carried
Their love for each other sustained them through difficult times.

She read his letters telling her to stay strong
Her husband provided her with emotional support and encouragement while he was away.

And on the phonograph played their favorite song
The couple cherished a special song that brought them comfort and joy.

There were times they thought their love wouldn't make it
Their relationship faced challenges and obstacles over time.

But like that old record, hard times couldn't break it
Their enduring love was like an old record that stood the test of time.

An old dusty record that they still hold sacred
Their special song remains a cherished memory between them.

And every anniversary I still here them play it
The couple continues to celebrate their enduring love and commitment to each other.