Lost Desire
The Roots feat. Black Thought Lyrics

It's the lump in your heart
Referring to the feeling of sadness and depression that one cannot ignore

Or the pain in your mind
The mental anguish and distress that one experiences continuously

No one cares what the truth is
People are not interested in understanding reality or facts, only what they want to believe or what suits their agenda

Cause a fortress built on lies
A deceptive stronghold or barrier that has been constructed with falsehoods, making it impenetrable to the truth

I'm exhausted but I never ever forfeit
Feeling extremely tired and weary, yet determined not to give up or quit

Y'all just bullshit while I knock a nigga off quick
Others are only talking nonsense while the singer takes swift action and eliminates their enemies efficiently

Y'all start speaking in tongues and start reaching for guns
Those nearby suddenly become hostile and start brandishing their weapons, ready to attack

A militant will put this heat in your lungs
An armed combatant is capable of shooting and causing serious bodily harm or death

The street and the slums, the weekend is done
Referencing the tumultuous and violent nature of inner-city neighborhoods during the weekend, especially at night

The local class always show you what [?] is become
Referring to the negative state of the community and how it is being depicted by the media or government

The seasons are done, and reasons are none
The situation is dire and showing no signs of improvement, and there are no valid explanations for the senseless violence and destruction

People dyin' bullets flyin' cause they schemin'[?] for fun
Violent acts being committed by individuals for entertainment or enjoyment, leading to loss of human life and damage to property

It's all of a nightmare, that's right there
The reality of the situation is like a horrific dream, and it is happening in plain sight

They hopin' that somebody in the hood just might care
Desperately wishing that someone in the community will take a stand and try to put an end to the violence and chaos

With all this protestin' and rallyin'
Despite all the public demonstrations and gatherings, the situation remains the same

Death toll tallyin'
Keeping track of the number of people who have lost their lives due to the violence

Foul smells around them [?] in the alley and
Describing the unpleasant scents and the general filth and squalor that pervade the streets and alleyways

Corner filled with teddy bears, cause they killed a child again
Paying homage to a young victim of the never-ending violence with stuffed animals and other memorabilia

They sing about murder, so it ain't a song it's [?
Songs that glorify violence and killing are not really music but rather propaganda that encourages destructive behavior

Get off the choir with your soft attire,
Telling others to stop pretending to care or taking a passive stance against the violence, which is not going to solve the issue

Niggas out here don't give a fuck, cause they lost desire
Many people in the community have become apathetic and indifferent towards the violence because they have lost hope or motivation

My city's full of heartbreakers and stargazers
Referring to the diverse mix of people in the artist's hometown, including those who cause emotional pain and those who dream big

Who puff kush Vegas, So they gone with the wind, like Clark Gable,
Some people in the community smoke marijuana and other drugs in an attempt to escape their problems, leading to a hazy or indeterminate state

Breathin' like Darth Vader, believin' in dark angel
Some people have given up hope and are living a spiritually dark and bleak existence, similar to the villainous character from Star Wars

Yeah, we got flags, but they not star-spangled
Alluding to the American flag, but saying that it does not represent or apply to their particular community

We not patriotic, the heroes are not them,
People in the community do not feel particularly loyal to their country or government, and are not inspired by the traditional definition of heroism

Ghetto griots like rims, you stop, they still spin,
Describing the resilience and staying power of individuals in the community who are able to keep going despite hardships and challenges

Tall tales at the bar, witnessed after dark,
Gossip, rumor, and exaggeration being spread by people at bars and other social venues, especially during the night

And we still stop in and chicken and [?]
The community still has its local shops and eateries, even amidst the violence and chaos

And listen to Rakim
Despite the harsh reality around them, people in the community can still find comfort and inspiration in music and other forms of art

With the [?] that y'all been
Not clear what this means, as the word is unclear - could be referring to the influence of outsiders or outside forces on the community

For realla, I hadn't been schemin' to [?]ply in
Admitting that the situation in the community is indeed serious and cannot be easily ignored or denied

You fear us? Fear is self, personified
Saying that those who are afraid of people in the community are really just projecting their own fears and anxieties onto others

Payin' homage to homicide
Some people in the community have become desensitized to killing and see it as an inevitable part of their reality

Prayin' to the dollar sign
People in the community are obsessed with making money and acquiring material wealth, even amidst the violence and destruction

It's idol worship
Describing how the community's fixation on money and other material goods has become like a religion to them

The rebel forces
Those in the community who resist or challenge the status quo, often at great risk to themselves

Bodies lie at the foundation of the fortress
The violence and death in the community seem to be the very core and foundation of the community's existence

This is war, we expect some losses
Saying that the situation is akin to a military conflict, and that some level of sacrifice and loss is unfortunately expected

And we comin' for the heads of the bosses
People in the community are not content to simply be victims of the violence and chaos, and are ready to take down those who are responsible for perpetuating it

We on some casualties of war shit,
Referring again to the notion that people in the community are experiencing a kind of military conflict, where there are unintended casualties and losses

What you stand for, kid?
Asking what the listener believes in and stands for, as a way of persuading them to take action or join the cause

We in the city where they definitely lost it
Saying that the level of violence and chaos in the community has reached a point where people have simply lost their minds

You open your eyelids and get capped in the ribs
Even opening one's eyes, an innocuous and seemingly harmless act, can result in getting shot and killed in the community

Your funeral they have your 12th grade portrait
At people's funerals, they often display a photograph of the deceased student from their senior year of high school as a way of remembering them

Pretty corpse in casket, bell-shaped orchids
Despite the tragedy of the violent death, the family and community members try to make the funeral as beautiful and respectful as possible

Said he 19 and left a self-made fortune
Describing how some young people in the community, despite their limited options and opportunities, are able to make money and establish themselves financially

And left trey orphans
Referring to the tragic situation where someone's death leaves their children without parents or guardians

Now he in a box with the same chain and watch
Speculating about how someone's material possessions, such as jewelry, might be buried with them when they die

That never came off him
The jewelry or other accessories were so important or significant to the person that they never removed them, even after they died

It's a shame what it cost him
A lamentation for the young person's tragic and untimely death

Where he come from it ain't nuthin'
The environment and upbringing of the individual in question probably contributed to their tragic fate

It's a everyday thing, that's a problem
Saying that the violence and death that are happening in the community occur with such frequency that they have become normalized, which is a major concern

It's chambers revolving
Describing the trigger being pulled and the bullet being fired from a gun

Bustin' like Russian roulette
Russian roulette involves spinning a gun with one bullet in the chamber and then taking turns pointing the gun at one's own head and pulling the trigger - this line is implying that the violence in the community is like an uncontrolled game of roulette

With a full set, then change what the odds is,
In Russian roulette, if the gun has a full set (i.e. six bullets) then the odds of dying are much higher than if there were only one bullet - this line is saying that even when the odds seem to be against you, you can change them

Flames in the mosque, and
Referencing arson and other acts of vandalism against religious institutions like mosques, suggesting that even the sacred and holy are not immune to the community's violence

People held hostage
Some people in the community are taken captive or kidnapped for ransom or other reasons

Everyday I struggle, try to get up out the mosh-pit
Describing the singer's personal struggle to avoid being consumed by the destructive environment of the community and to find a way out

Homicide for profit, tell me how we not sick?
The idea that some people in the community are motivated to commit acts of violence and killing because it is profitable or lucrative, which is deeply disturbing

This shit is out of control, they can't stop it
Acknowledging that the situation has spiraled out of control and that those in positions of power or authority are unable to fix it or make it go away