Ta Moko

When I look back over the years
 At the things that brought tears to my eyes
 Papa said: "We have to be wise to live long lives"
 Now I recognize what my father said before he dies
 Vocalize things I've left unsaid
 Left my spirit unfed for too long
 I'm coming home to my family where I can be strong
 Be who I planned to be
 Within me, my ancestry
 Givin' me continuity
 Would it be remiss to continue in this way?
 Would you rather I quit
 Come with the other shit?
 Making people's hips sway
 Lip service I pay but I'm nervous
 I pray for all the mothers who get no sleep
 Like a lifeline I light lines 'cause my compassion is deep
 For the people who fashioned me my soul to keep
 And this is who I happen to be
 And if I don't see that I'm strong then I won't be
 This is what my daddy told me
 I wished he would hold me
 A little more than he did
 But he taught me my culture
 And how to live positive
 I never wanna shame
 The blood in my veins and bring pain
 To my sweet grandfather's face
 In his resting place
 I make haste to learn and not waste
 Everything my forefathers earned in tears
 For my culture
 Hello, dad, remember me?
 I'm the man you thought I'd never be
 I'm the boy who you reduced to tears
 Dad, I'd been lonely for 27 years
 Yeah, that's right, my name's Rob
 I'm the one who landed the pop stars job
 I'm the one who you told: "Look, don't touch"
 And the kid who wouldn't amount too much
 I believe in the senses out of sound
 I have always been too loud
 Won't you help me drown it out?
 I'm what I feel
 And what I'm feeling is surreal
 I'm a massive spinnin' wheel
 Always digging in my heels
 Now I got the faith
 Fall back again
 Crawl from the warm water
 Water to air
 You're on your feet again, your feet again
 Lace up your boots, we're going back to the roots
 Speaking to my ghetto youths freak freaking for loot
 And nice things, better check what your future brings
 It's now and your forefathers for the know-how
 Go now into the world without hatred
 Use your head if the needle is wise, be the thread
 And weave ancestral wisdom, yours by birth
 Spreading the Lord's word over this broad earth
 This is what my daddy told me
 I wished he would hold me
 A little more than he did
 But he taught me my culture
 And how to live positive
 I never wanna shame
 The blood in my veins and bring pain
 To my sweet grandfather's face
 In his resting place
 I make haste to learn and not waste
 Everything my forefathers earned in tears
 For my culture
 Fall back again
 Crawl from the warm water
 Water to air
 You're on your feet again, your feet again (For my culture)
 Fall back again
 Crawl from the warm water
 Water to air
 You're on your feet again, your feet again (For my culture)