(Chorus:)
It takes a whole nation
To help me raise this generation
When you look out of your window
Tell me what do you see
If it's a world without a father
Then you're looking at me
It takes a whole nation
To help me raise this generation
My respect to the mothers that be holding it down
But it'd sure would be nice to have my daddy around.
(Verse 1)
All I need is one mic
I know you can see
I'm not a rapper
But there's some dudes that are just like me
Every time you took a picture with you and your family
It was only two people and it's supposed to be three
It's supposed to be me asking:
"Why's the sky blue? When I grow up I want to be like you"
Yo daddy can you teach me how to...
Tie my shoes can I go with you to work so I can see what you do?
Let me see what you do
So I can love my kids too
But you didn't stick around was that too much to ask of you?
Too much to get a blueprint (No)
Too much to show the way (No)
That's the reason why this building is not finished still today
(Pre-Chorus)
(We're lost boys)
Still want to believe that (My daddy's coming back he didn't forget about me)
Like a child left after school
We sit there and wait (I know he's gonna come)
but that was '78
Return to Chorus
(Verse 2)
They say raising kids is the parents responsibility But it's a million of y'all and only one of me
What happened to the village as far as I can see?
It's been burned down by this modern day slavery.
For eleven years I've been living here
I've seen momma cry more than eleven tears
Watching momma see daddy while he slips away
Does Jesus really hear kids when they pray?
Momma working two jobs
She can't do it alone
She shouldn't have to; she didn't get knocked up on her own
And I know that baby's momma drama
Brothers it's real
But before you close the door
Don't forget how it feels
Remember
(Bridge:)
Daddy missed my game when I made a touchdown.
I won the talent show but you weren't around.
If a girl breaks my heart; what do I do with this pain? (and one more thing daddy)
Can You tell me my name?
(Chorus)
[Approximate VAMP]
Ain't nothing gonna break me down
Can't let nobody take me down
Can't let nobody break me down, me down (repeat)
