Ever since day one
Somebody probably say you wouldn't be nothin'
I bet they told you this over and over again on repeat like a re-run
Nobody ever told you you could live up
To anything you want, don't give up
They rather tell you, you're destined for failure
That's what they tell you
But you just say
What about Martin?
What about Garvey?
What about Rosa?
What about Malcolm?
What if somebody told them they would never be nothin'
And they believed this, think about the outcome
Would we even be the way we are today?
Even if it weren't, could have been a harder way
Even though we lost a lot of people on the way
Had to sacrifice to get us in a better place
I hope you listen to these wizzords
All they want us thinking about is sipping on some sizzurp
And they got us thinking something better we don't deserve
And that you shouldn't try, it's no use
But that couldn't be further from the truth
Don't believe it, that's what they told me too
When I was growing up (They told me)
They told me (That I wouldn't make it too far)
And when I battle it'll hold up
(They told me) They told me, yeah
(That I wouldn't be anything)
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
When we were little ones
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
They supposed to be kings and queens
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
When we don't believe them
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
Trying to live the American Dream
They say the ballers is celebrities
As a reminder of the people they would never be
Jealousy got 'em sick without a remedy
Thinking when I die nobody's gonna remember me
I was told that nobody care
So the dreams that I had turned to nightmares
Is this thing called life really fair
Need help but it ain't there
So you know it's really hard to stay dedicated
When the ballers screaming they was never educated
On the corner getting high just to medicate it
'Cause the teachers just told him he would never make it
Now he feeling like he made it 'cause he stackin' paper
But probably won't let him spend the money later
Nobody ever told us we could be greater
To everybody on the grind and the paper chasers
I hope you listen to these wizzords
All they want us thinking about is sipping on some sizzurp
And they got us thinking something better we don't deserve
And that you shouldn't try, it's no use
But that couldn't be further from the truth
Don't believe it, that's what they told me too
When I was growing up (They told me)
They told me (That I wouldn't make it too far)
And when I battle it'll hold up
(They told me) They told me, yeah
(That I wouldn't be anything)
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
When we were little ones
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
We're supposed to be kings and queens
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
When we don't believe them
That's what they tell, what they tell, what they tell
Trying to live the American Dream
(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)
They'd rather see me dead, never gone make it
(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)
They'd rather see me fail, never gonna be anything
(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)
They'd rather see me in jail, you're never gonna be shit
(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)
Everybody die, you ain't shit
(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)
But not everybody lives (I told you)
But I know that somehow
We can make it out of this
You just gotta tell yourself
That somehow, I'mma make it
---
American Dream - August Alsina
