Children
Tonedeff Lyrics

Why don't you fly on by?
Why don't you move forward and leave your current situation behind?

If your flock dives you'll die
If you follow others blindly, without thinking for yourself, you will face negative consequences

You can get up under the wind and glide away
You have the opportunity to rise above obstacles and glide towards your goals

The sky is big enough for everybody
There is enough space and opportunity for everyone to succeed

You don't have to live life the normal way
You don't have to conform to societal expectations and can choose your own path

Just glide your own way
Just follow your own unique journey

One day you'll look back at your life and wonder, like 'what the fuck was I thinking?'
In the future, you will reflect on your past choices and question their wisdom

Puffing and drinking at seven, public delinquent
Engaging in risky behaviors at a young age, showing a lack of judgment

Setting yourself up for nothing, just loving life, cussing and beefing
Engaging in meaningless activities and conflicts without considering the consequences

Without knowing what to believe in
Lacking a clear sense of purpose or beliefs

Or even care for that matter, 'cause you're too young to be hunting for reason
Not caring or seeking understanding because of youth and immaturity

When school days are your function of meeting
When your main focus is only socializing and meeting people at school

And looking back on the days when the term 'back in the days' wasn't existent
Reflecting on a time when the concept of nostalgia and reminiscing about the past wasn't present

You wonder if who you were is who you are this instant
Questioning if your past actions and identity define your current self

'Cause when you're ten you're not far from an infant
At the age of ten, you are still very young and inexperienced

Or when prom could be listed down as your longest commitment
Prom, a high school event, being the longest dedicated commitment in your life at that point

Shit, time has a wicked sense of humor that's harshly sadistic
Time can play cruel tricks on us, making us realize our mistakes in hindsight

It puts what you did wrong in the distance by fogging your senses
Time blurs our memory of past mistakes, making it difficult to fully comprehend their impact

I harbor resentment for bandwagons, and tailgaters
I hold negative feelings towards people who blindly follow trends and imitate others

Braggart cats who ain't graduate with a penchant for brand-fashion
Arrogant individuals who haven't achieved much but have a strong desire for materialistic brand fashion

Little miss-know-it-all bitches, and bully-ass bastards with bad manners
Arrogant and rude individuals who think they know everything and bully others

So, if you can't stand it, let's demand action
If you are unhappy with the current state, let's take action to change it

You see, hindsight is 20/20 as motherfucker
Looking back, it's easy to see the mistakes and regrets, which were not clear at the time

Some people never learn from others, 'cause they love to suffer
Certain individuals refuse to learn from the experiences of others and prefer to make their own mistakes

I'm being real with y'all, I seldom bunch my tongue up
I'm honest and upfront, rarely holding back my words

Yet, to this day, I never had the balls to say 'fuck' in front my mother
Despite my honesty, I have never had the courage to use profanity in front of my mother

I've come to realize the world changes with every summer
I have noticed that the world and society constantly evolve over time

Sundown to sunup, the seasons run out asunder
From dusk to dawn, the passing seasons create noticeable differences

I've seen the power of drugs, of greed and the violence of guns
I have witnessed the destructive influence of drugs, greed, and gun violence

And the people somehow get numb, as evil devours the young
People become desensitized and indifferent as they witness the corruption and harm affecting the youth

With a feeble amount of love instilled in 'em
Lacking a sufficient amount of love and care in their lives

Meanwhile even teachers don't wanna build with 'em
Even educators are not willing to invest and connect with these individuals

But I realized that I can still hit 'em, and see inside where the chill bit 'em
I have realized that I can reach and impact these individuals, understanding the pain they have experienced

With heat provided by a lil' rhythm
Using the power and emotion of music to connect and make a difference

I seek to guide whoever's grippin for wisdom, I'll do what I can
I aim to support and guide those who are searching for knowledge and understanding, doing my best to help

'Cause I wished I received a bit of this, but I was doomed to withstand
Because I wished someone had provided me with guidance, but I had to endure and figure things out on my own

The unscrupulous manner in which I learned, with ruthless abandon
The unethical way in which I gained knowledge and experience, with little regard for the consequences

Now, due to demand, children behold the truth is at hand
Now, because of the need and urgency, children must face the truth that is before them

See, them cats you hanging with now, is who you are
The people you associate with currently are a reflection of your own identity

And they'll become their parents, so look at them and decide if that's who you wanna be
They will eventually become similar to their parents, so consider if that is the path you want to follow

Honestly, think about their qualities
Honestly assess the characteristics and behaviors of those around you

You're probably exhibiting parts of these people's behaviors chronically
You are likely mirroring and adopting certain aspects of their behavior on a consistent basis

Call me a saint to warn ya, see that bitch that thinks she's the shit
Consider me a saint for advising and cautioning you, notice that arrogant person who believes they are superior

At fifteen with the heaving tits, the type kids would just fiend to get
At the age of fifteen, possessing physical attributes that would attract others' attention and desire

Will end up pregnant before she hits community college, broke and soon to be jobless
She will become pregnant before completing community college, lacking financial stability and facing unemployment

Abused by the dude she gets high with
Subjected to mistreatment by the person she engages in drug use with

See, little girls believe every love is true and it's timeless
Young girls tend to believe that every romantic connection is genuine and everlasting

Till they get fucked by 'Mr. Cool' and guess who ends up crying?
Until they are betrayed or mistreated by someone who appeared attractive and popular, resulting in their own pain and tears

But guys ain't no stranger to the forces of nature
Guys are not unfamiliar with the temptations and pressures they face

We're only out for pussy, that's why we split with no good reason to break up
Men often pursue sexual conquests without having a valid reason to end a relationship

Now, Mr. Popularity, is just that
Nowadays, the person who is highly regarded and popular remains the same

In ten years, he'll be Mr. Popularity with a bad job and a moustache
In ten years, he will still be seen as popular, but his life may not meet societal expectations, working in a mediocre job and sporting a mustache

So, fuck that socialite bullshit that they force upon you
Reject the superficial and artificial expectations that are imposed on you by society

Believe me, this is the exact course I've gone through
Trust me, I have personally experienced and navigated through the same challenges and pressures

Fly your own way, do your own thing
Take control and follow your own unique path

Fuck what they say, follow your own swing
Ignore the opinions and judgments of others, and embrace your own individual style

Use your mind now, don't get swept up
Think critically and avoid getting caught up in trends or peer pressure

Use your time well, don't get kept up
Make the most of your time and don't get stuck or trapped in unproductive or negative situations

Live your own life, get your taste right
Live according to your own values and preferences, developing your own unique identity

Find your own vib, fuck what they like
Discover and embrace your own vibe and interests, disregarding the preferences of others

Don't get caught up, live in your own skin
Avoid getting entangled in the expectations and pressures of others, and embrace your true self

See, most motherfuckers are sheep, it was true then and it still is
The majority of people are followers and conformists, this was true in the past and remains true today

Take away the uniforms, y'all will dress the same way to fit in
If you remove societal expectations and norms, people would still dress similarly to fit in with others

Nowadays I see ya, doing whatever you see on TV
These days, I see you all imitating and replicating whatever you see on television

Media brainwashed, buying a new trend every three weeks
The media has brainwashed you, causing you to constantly buy and follow new trends every few weeks

And you're knee-deep in cheap weed, liquor, there's even STDs in pre-teens
Your involvement in using cheap drugs, alcohol, and even the presence of sexually transmitted diseases among young teens

It's different now, so, fuck whatever we think
The current situation has changed, so disregard our previous beliefs and opinions

Right, well, ya might be, things have only changed ever so slightly
You may be right, but things have only changed slightly

Like, same Jordans minus the swoosh from Nike
Similar to having the same sneakers but without the recognizable Nike logo

I see it's worse than ever, there's no respect and no thirst to endeavor
I recognize that the situation has worsened, with a lack of respect and motivation to strive for success

Just kids that want to be first in the center
Only children who desire to be the center of attention and be recognized as the best

With no work ethic, to earn their own personal shelter
Lacking a strong work ethic to achieve their own stability and success

Bursting with pent-up aggression, these are the things you observe as an elder
Witnessing young individuals filled with built-up anger and frustration, which is noticeable as someone older

'Cause when you grow it hurts to stay inside your shell
As you mature, it becomes painful to remain confined within your comfort zone and limited perspective

I'll prolly rewrite this song in twenty years, and dedicate it to myself
I will likely revisit and rework this song in twenty years, dedicating it to my future self

I guess the gist of it is, that when you're big, you'll just miss how you lived
The main point is that when you are older, you will long for the way you lived in the past

And when you're a kid, you'll just wish you were big
Conversely, when you are young, you will yearn to be older and more mature

So for now
So, in the present moment