American Hypnosis
akEnya Lyrics

Ah, American hypnotize
Being an American has a hypnotic effect on people's minds

Been sad since about '09
Has been feeling sad for a long time since the economic recession of 2009

Was scared of shit in my mind, now I smile in my pic's online
I used to be scared of my thoughts, but now I am more confident and happy

Isolation taught me patience 'bout the way to go
Being alone has taught me to be patient and think about my decisions

Had to learn my mama depression wasn't my own
Realized that my mother's depression wasn't my fault and I shouldn't blame myself for it

Had to feel the pressures of the pessimism
Felt pressure from others who were negative and pessimistic about my future

Trying to convince me that realism was a better vision
People tried to persuade me that being realistic was the better way to live

Never been accepted in the ghetto, but I'm on Division
I have never been accepted in the poor neighborhoods, but I am making my own way in life

And I'm livin', inability to be myself in a room full of niggas
Despite feeling like I can't be myself around people, I am still alive and doing well

Focused on hittin stains and gettin' bitches
I have been focused on making money and getting girls

I don't speak, I'm silent as a mouse by my own house
I don't talk much and keep quiet around my own home

With a bit of bitterness, worried about fittin' in
I feel a little bitter and worried about fitting in with others

And my uncle in the pen taught me how to be a man
My uncle who is in prison taught me how to be a responsible adult

But he failed to mention why he did what he did
He didn't explain why he committed the crime that landed him in jail

Why my dad had to dip 'fore I learned how to tie my sneakers?
Why did my dad abandon me before I even learned how to tie my shoes?

While my mama boyfriend think he hiding the fact he sell reefer
My mother's boyfriend tries to hide the fact that he sells drugs

We was kids, that ain't mean we was stupid
Just because we were kids, didn't mean we were ignorant and unaware

First time I'd seen a gun, thinking if he'd shoot it
The first time I saw a gun, I wondered if he would actually use it

Shotgun in my mama mouth, please don't do it
Someone put a shotgun in my mother's mouth, and I pleaded with them not to harm her

She ran home naked and came right to us
My mother ran home naked and came to her children for help

And I go to school the next day like ain't shit happen
The next day, I went to school as if nothing had happened the night before

Excelled in great grades and they ain't matter
I achieved great grades in school, but they didn't make much of a difference

Standardized tests educate data
Standardized tests only provide information and data, but not a good education

You love the hype shit, but they ain't Saba
You may love popular things, but it doesn't mean it's good music like Saba's

You ain't seen addicts until my family
My family has experienced addiction more than you could imagine

Granny lost her brother, her other brother, her daddy
My grandmother lost multiple family members, including her father and two brothers

You wonder why I don't drink
People question why I don't drink alcohol

Wonder why I don't smoke
People also wonder why I don't smoke cigarettes or weed

Wonder why I don't live
People may wonder why I seem reserved or quiet

Wonder why I'm so gray
People may wonder why I have a dull or somber personality

Wonder what's a fun night
People may not understand what I consider to be a fun night

Waiting for the punchlines
Waiting for humor or jokes to make things lighter

Want the beat quantized, you should play some other shit
If you want perfectly timed rhythm, listen to a different song

Nigga, we was traumatized, you talkin' 'bout the government?
We have gone through traumatic experiences, yet you want to talk about politics?

Had to get my ass whooped, fight's how we settle it
I had to fight someone to resolve a problem instead of talking it out

I wish I didn't have to be famous to be important
I wish that people didn't need fame to feel important or validated

I used to wish that my parents could keep it cordial
I used to wish that my parents could get along in a friendly way

I hated my life until I played the piano
Playing the piano helped me find meaning and happiness in life

They raided my best friend, he red-handed
The police raided my best friend's place and caught him committing a crime

Scene of this shit like a scene of a movie
The situation felt surreal, like a scene from a movie

Meanwhile, I'm the kid in the private schooling
While all this was happening, I was a student at a private school

Wearing my glasses, playing my computer
I would wear my glasses and play computer games in my spare time

Drawing cartoons, was a straight-A student
I enjoyed drawing cartoons and was an excellent student

On a scholarship and I hated that
I disliked being on a scholarship even though it helped me pay for school

Left the hood, somehow I made it back
I left my old neighborhood, but somehow ended up returning to it

Back to life, back to reality
Back to real life and its struggles

Will my life, ever belong to me?
Will I ever have control of my own life?

Hypothesize the definition of free
Consider what it means to be truly free

Realize this dream wasn't meant to be
Accept that some dreams are not meant to become reality

Hey, boss, how ya doin'? It's Pops, here's my bucket list; it's pretty short
Father talking to someone and sharing his bucket list

I want us to go see Vatican City, I wanna go see Mecca, I wanna visit Israel
Father expressing his desire to travel to various religious sites

I wanna visit Morocco, I wanna see the Egyptian pyramids
Father also wants to visit Morocco and see the pyramids of Egypt

But most importantly what I'm saying is that I want us to all do this together
Father's main desire is to travel and spend time with family

I'm proud of you, man. Peace
Father expressing pride in his child and wishing them peace

I too am an American dreamer
I am just like anyone else who has dreams of success in America

I too dream of American freedom
I desire to have the freedom that America promises

I too sing an American plea
I, too, hope for a better future in America

I too scream 'til liberty rings
I will continue to speak out for freedom and equality in America