What's Goin' On In The World Today?
Us3 Lyrics

I had my eyes on the prize, since I was five
From a young age, I set my sights on achieving my goals

Said, "Look world, I've arrived"
I was confident in my ability to succeed and make an impact in the world

I had the drive to make it out alive
I was determined to overcome any obstacle in order to succeed

But no matter how I tried to fake it
I couldn't pretend that everything was okay when it wasn't

Realised that I couldn't escape it
I came to the realization that I couldn't run away from my problems

Put my foot to the pavement then I got to steppin'
I took action to try and better my situation

Ended up in the opposite direction from where I was headin'
My efforts to improve my situation didn't always have the intended result

Regressin', the path I was led in had me guessin', askin' questions
I found myself going backwards and doubting the direction I was headed in

But the answers I'm gettin' only led into more questions
My quest for answers only left me with more questions and uncertainty

What lessons am I learnin'?
I questioned what I was learning from my experiences

The seconds keep on turnin' back, reversin' the hands of time
Time moves forward, but I felt like I was going backwards

But I can't rewind or change the past
I realized that dwelling on the past wouldn't change anything

People I asked laugh and said, "Stand in line"
Others didn't take my concerns seriously and dismissed them as unimportant

We all wish we could, you should get out the hood
Many people want to improve their situation, but it's often easier said than done

'Cos stayin' would do you more harm than good
Staying in a bad situation can often make things worse

Unless you look past the stars you'll never get that far
Having a long-term vision and goal is necessary to achieve success

Facts are you'll never make it in your own backyard
Sometimes you need to venture outside of your comfort zone in order to succeed

Now what you gonna do when it comes to your last breath
I questioned what I would have accomplished by the end of my life

And when it's all over and you're down in your casket
When life is over and you've passed away

Lookin' back I know you might've saw it comin'
Reflecting on life, you may realize that certain outcomes were predictable

But maybe not as quick as everybody still runnin'
You may not have realized the outcome as quickly as others did

The race to find a cure for the universe sufferin'
There is a desperate search for solutions to the world's problems

With a real fix not a poem or a Bufferin
We need real, effective solutions rather than temporary fixes

I wanna cuss 'cos it makes me disgusted
The state of the world and its problems makes me very angry and upset

To see the fucked up way we struggle for justice
It's frustrating to see how difficult it is to achieve justice and equality

My great, great grandfathers grew up in bondage
My ancestors were enslaved and oppressed

My great, grandfather died beaten unconscious
My grandfather suffered violence and abuse

Both my grandfathers were dead when I came forth to this earth
Both of my grandfathers had passed away before I was born

And everybody livin' here's hurt
Everyone in the world has experienced pain and suffering

And so I search for a deeper purpose beneath the surface
I look for a deeper meaning and purpose in life

Sometimes I wonder if it's even worth it
I sometimes question whether the efforts to improve the world are worth the struggle

All I got is this pen at my side
All I can do is use my writing to try and make a difference

My enemies lied, tryin' to hide genocide
People who oppose me try to cover up and deny acts of genocide and other atrocities

Well, I finally made it out, got a bank account
I was able to achieve financial stability and success

New car, new house, new spouse and a few doubts
Despite my success, I still have doubts and uncertainties

'Cos every time I depart and I start steppin' forward
Whenever I try to move forward, I encounter new obstacles

I take two steps back and things get outta order
I often face setbacks and feel like I'm moving backwards

It's like I'm trying to keep my head above water
I frequently feel overwhelmed and like I'm barely staying afloat

Due to cutbacks hours kept gettin' shorter
I face challenges in my career due to cutbacks and reduced hours

Now it's my old house old wife and a new daughter
My life has changed and evolved, but still has its challenges

But I can't support her 'cos I'm back on the corner
I struggle to support my family and make ends meet

That's life it's gonna run out like a flashlight
Life is fleeting and will eventually end

And use you to make new people to clap right
Even after we're gone, our legacy and impact lives on

You wanna know what the meanin' of life is?
I ponder the meaning and purpose of life

You might live to find out and die when you find it
It's possible to spend your whole life searching for meaning and never find it

But either way when you're livin' today
Regardless of whether or not we understand the meaning of life, we must live in the present moment

You better behave as if it's all withered away
We should live as if every moment is precious and not to be wasted

'Cos it's all a small ripple in the ocean of time
Our lives are just a small part of the grand scheme of history

But it shapes the size of a generation of coastlines
Our actions and impact can have a ripple effect that shapes future generations

What's goin' on in the world today?
There are many problems and challenges facing the world

Can't find the words 'cos it's hard to say
It can be difficult to articulate the depth and complexity of these issues

Just makes me wanna holler like Marvin Gaye
The problems facing the world can make me feel frustrated and upset

Got my eyes on the prize but it's far away
Despite the challenges and difficulties, I remain focused on my goals and ambitions