Hope - Pete Philly, Perquisite

Sometimes my hope slips away, I go through the day

Without a way to surpass the decay

To say a better day is coming got me running my mind

Wondering if i’m cunning enough to find

A new pattern of thought, design

So I can deal with this land of concrete

Cause them, facts is ill yo, we facing defeat

From the trees to the seas, to the seeds of the ghetto

The fleas on the dog’s back have already settled, in

On a lot I don’t meddle in cause they shoot (shoot, shoot)

Do anything for the loot (loot, loot)

We got politicians making wicked decisions

Straight lying to the public so

They can make begin another mission of war

And my eyes are sore, shits hardcore

We can all make a change, what we waiting for

There’s a million other people who feel like I feel

Too many cats is ending up with a raw deal, for real

But, I read a book, take a look

Put it all in perspective, ignore the crooks

We be rocking they politricks, while running for president

If we want their asses kicked, then let’s set a precedent

Cause it’s not you versus me

But it’s you and me versus the war industry

If you asking of me

What it is we can do against idiots like G. W

It’s follow through

It’s what makes you cope

It’s what makes you grow

It’s what makes you go

Against the grain

When they tell you no, but you got to show

Your friends and foes it’s time for change

It’s what makes you cope

It’s what makes you grow

It’s what makes you go

Against the grain

But they can’t tell you no, because now you know

The healing when you get hope

Yeah, I’m holding on like someone pushed me over the edge

So sometimes when I rhyme, it just go over ya head

I try to bring it down to earth without sounding berserk

It’s for the people high and mighty and them down in the dirt

Put in work like a nickle or diamond

Standing on the corner religious like a shaman

I ain’t fickle with rhymin'

The punchlines why they tickle your spine and picking the line

And I’m never fuck with you

You can’t get a consignment

People hope to get signed, but today’s a surprise

The industry falling down right in front of their eye

On my block brothers don’t live, brother survive

Mothers pray through the night and hope they son is alive

Check the stoop then the corner then the hospital

Our city mourn, matter a fact shit I got to go

To my son’s school, where they call me brother Kweli

No time for crime, waiting and hoping like Buddy Holly

It’s what makes you cope

It’s what makes you grow

It’s what makes you go

Against the grain

When they tell you no, but you got to show

Your friends and foes it’s time for change

It’s what makes you cope

It’s what makes you grow

It’s what makes you go

Against the grain

But they can’t tell you no, because now you know

The healing when you get hope

I’m hoping for better days and better ways to express

I’m hoping for spiritual growth as a mental progress

Hoping I won’t be choking, when it’s time to take the test

Tough time as i’m standing in the limelight and rhyme

Will I shine will I be remembered as a person who took the time

And opportunity to find the goodness of his own kind

The kindness of the mankind

The kind that mixes in the images, relax and rewind

Yo it’s a state of mind you can find me in

When i’m kicking back and i’m chilling

Looking now playing children impressive buildings

And i’m feeling that we more than the money hungry idiots

As marketing cats claim we be, man they can’t get with us

It’s the fuss of living

Looking for a balance between taking and giving and making a living

Without, making a preemptive killing, This shit is got to stop

I hope we find a revolution back in Hip Hop (back in Hip Hop)

It’s what makes you cope

It’s what makes you grow

It’s what makes you go

Against the grain

When they tell you no, but you got to show

Your friends and foes it’s time for change

It’s what makes you cope

It’s what makes you grow

It’s what makes you go

Against the grain

But they can’t tell you no, because now you know

The healing when you get hope