Joy
feat. Mos Def Lyrics

Wooaahh! yeah
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm

On top of the world
Feeling extremely happy and successful

Yeah, that's how my seeds got me feeling' right now
My children make me feel on top of the world

Yeah, you ever felt like you could do anything, (Yeah)
Have you ever felt invincible, like nothing can stop you?

I'ma hold y'all down for real, (Gotcha!)
I will always be there for my family, no matter what

It was 1996, fourth of July, looking off in the sky
Referring to a specific moment in time

Dealing with thoughts inside, when something caught my eye
Reflecting on his internal thoughts

It was a silhouette of a beautiful woman, bright with life
Describing the mother of his child

Carrying my first seed, looking like she gone bear fruit tonight
The mother of his child is pregnant and about to give birth

We at the African street festival, and she walking around
Describing the setting of the festival

Talking about the midwife said, that bring the baby down
Discussing advice received from a midwife

I'm about to be a father, the sights and sounds,
Realizing he is about to become a father and reflecting on the moment

Seem brighter around me
Everything around him seems more vivid and lively

And for starters, I know I'ma work harder, word
Determined to work hard for his family

We got home at three in the morning, I was beat
Tired after the festival and the journey back home

Them contractions started coming as soon as I fell asleep
The mother of his child began having contractions soon after they reached home

Three oh five, like every five minutes, then the water broke
Describing the progression of labor

We on the go, yelling at the cabbie, cause he's sort of slow
Rushing to get to the hospital

You know them hospitals all trying to get paid, no questions
Commenting on the healthcare industry

Hear come the doctor's with they drugs, trying to do see-sections
Describing the medical procedure that was suggested

But my baby stay's strong, in labor for yay long
The baby was strong and the labor lasted a while

Eight-pound baby boy, to carry my name on, joy!
Celebrating the birth of his son

Huh, yeah
One word expression of agreement or affirmation

I know how you feel, Kweli I know how you feel
Empathizing with his friend Kweli

(That's the sound of joy)
Referring to the joy of having children

See my brother, I know how you feel, Kweli, I know how you feel
Reinforcing his empathy for his friend

So when you, have a seed, come in the world, say dog that shit's real
Encouraging his friend to appreciate the reality of becoming a parent

(That's the sound of joy, y'all)
Reiterating the theme of having children bringing joy

Huh, Kweli, yo I know how you feel, Kweli, yo I know how you feel
Repeating his empathy for Kweli

My baby girl
Changes the subject to the birth of his daughter

June 10th, 1999, I been on the grind
Another specific moment in time

Since the birth of my son, it's been about, way more then rhymes
His focus has shifted since becoming a father

Baby on the way, my lady glowing today, at least
Preparing for the birth of his daughter

That's what the midwife said, on the phone
Sharing advice given by the midwife over the phone

Anyway, the music got me going away
Music helped him cope with the stress of waiting

Like everyday, but it's a blessing, so I gotta have patience
Acknowledging the blessing of having children and the need for patience

And she got pregnant on a Jamaican vacation
Sharing how he and his partner conceived

So it's all good, this time well have the baby in a house
Choosing to have his daughter at home

I went the hospital route, I know what they all about (Never again)
Preferring not to go to the hospital again

So I'm out on tour, in Baltimore
Describing his current touring situation

Get the call around four, when the water hit the floor (Damn!)
Receiving the call that his daughter is coming while on tour

I gotta rock my show, but I gotta go
Balancing the need to perform and the need to be there for the birth

Got second thoughts about her not going, to the hospital
Worrying about the decision to have his daughter at home

I left the show early, Mos held me down, good looking (No doubt)
Thanking his friend Mos Def for supporting him

Call the car service, like, take me straight to Brooklyn (Uh huh)
Organizing transportation back home in a hurry

Got the news in the car, stayed sorta calm
Receiving the news of his daughter's birth while in the car

But I cried tears of joy,
Expressing his emotional response to meeting his daughter

When they put my daughter in my arms, how precious!
Describing the moment he first held his daughter

I do it for the seeds y'all,
Stating his reason for working hard and striving to make a difference

In they formative years when they need y'all
Recognizing the importance of being there for his children during their developmental years

We gotta believe, in what we conceive y'all, it's deep y'all
Emphasizing the importance of believing in their parenting decisions

I give them the truth,
Teaching his children honesty and integrity

So they approach the situation, with ammunition
Equipping his children with the tools they need to navigate challenges

I keep nothing away,
Being open and transparent with his children

They hear everything, cause they know how to listen
Teaching his children to be good listeners

Teach them the game, so they know they position, so they can grow
Preparing his children for their future and their place in the world

And make decisions, that change the world, and break old tradition
Encouraging his children to be leaders and innovators

They put kids in jail, for a life they ain't even get to start
Commenting on the broken criminal justice system

That's murder too, and it's breaking my heart,
Feeling the pain and sorrow of injustice

It's breaking our nation apart
Recognizing the systemic issues at play and their impact on society

We gave the youth all the anger, it's just
Acknowledging the anger and frustration of the younger generation

We ain't taught them, how to express it, and so it's dangerous
Realizing the dangers of unexpressed anger and frustration

You can't talk to them
Highlighting a communication breakdown between generations

Unless your language is relating to what they going through
Recognizing the importance of empathy and understanding

So busy ignoring them, you can't see what they showing you
Noticing a generational disconnect and lack of awareness

And you wonder, why we called baby-daddy's and baby-momma's
Reflecting on societal labels and stereotypes

When we grow up, we can't act like adult mothers and fathers, yo
Encouraging people to be responsible and mature parents

I'm so blessed to have a boy and a girl,
Expressing gratitude for his children

Everyday they bring joy to my world
Celebrating the joy that his children bring him

I do it for the seeds y'all
Reiterating his reason for working hard and striving to make a difference