Tight Rope

Frigid frozen Minnesota Chip on his shoulder Sick sleeping on a pissy sofa Unwanted visitor in a different culture Missing home and he cant go their civil warin' Listen solider forget getting over Prison state around the corner homeless is even closer Kids with similar skin color still don't even wantcha Spit and insult ya cause they have been here longer He leave his crib he guaranteed the pigs approach ya Where ya going where ya from any weapons on ya? Your family is stressed out your getting older You dont live the way they did back in Somalia Its extra difficult to be a daughter Trying to keep it modest with the sinners all around you Where the wrong garment your parents get an ulcer If you wrap it up the other children picking on you [Chorus: x2] Live in two worlds with your eyes closed Tip toeing on a tight rope Holding on for survival Nobody to blame this is just how it goes Holidays and you know what the business is You get two birthdays and two Christmases Older you get you present how sick it is They're trying to cover their guilt with the gifts they give Bounce from his house to her house Too bad that marriage didn't work out Now you don't have a your house Daddy fighting mommy they both tell me they love me If I get to close to one the other one start acting funny Ma went and had a baby with a different dad You act happy to please em but you are really sad Seeing first hand that family that you will never have Plus you ain't no real brother, you're just a half Got to pick up the pieces and move on Bed time stories and greet them on the phone Live in two houses and neither one is home Wishing you were grown have the freedom to get gone [Chorus: x2] Daddy was a preacher momma was a Sunday school teacher Big brother a football squad leader Now far be it for you to disappoint or displease them Your just being what you feel you see in That mirror every time you peer in Swallow the tears inside that empty feeling Her boy terrified to let the world in He has girlfriends but doesn't want a girlfriend He retreats inside himself Where he lives life itself in secret Daddy says people go to hell for being What he is and he certainly believes them Cause there ain't no flame that can blaze enough To trump being hated for the way you love And cry yourself to sleep and hate waking up Its a cold world ya'll shame on us [Chorus: x2] --- Tight Rope - Brother Ali