[00:00.77]Feels better if I tell em my story
[00:14.08]
[00:16.08]Yo' on November 24th' 1999
[00:21.38]I was in L.A.' and I was in the kitchen cookin
[00:26.38]And I got this page right
[00:29.19]And uh' I called back and I was informed that
[00:31.50]My father had passed away from a herion overdose
[00:34.06]About two hour's earlier
[00:35.05]So this song is for him' and to him
[00:36.74]And for all the fatherless children in the world
[00:40.98]The mother's who raised us' the people who love us
[00:43.60]
[00:46.35]It's a Monday' finally found the perfect beat
[00:49.22]To speak my peace on how I came to be
[00:51.59]The way I was raised' how I was born
[00:54.21]Why I smile so sad' and have the eyes of a storm
[00:57.14]Moms from Virginia' you from Rhode Island
[00:59.08]Met up in the state where the sun's always smilin
[01:01.70]Minds connected' physicals exchanged
[01:04.19]Y'all both believin that the world can be changed
[01:06.88]Time passed to 1973' and you begged my mom to create me
[01:11.69]First she said no but she loved you too much
[01:14.43]1974 had a child to touch
[01:15.74]We was into other things' that ripped life scenes
[01:17.49]Liqour' drugs' other women' destroyin dreams
[01:19.80]But you know how women be' she tried to hold on
[01:23.79]For the sake of your love and the beautiful bond
[01:26.72]I'ma fatherless child' it's all I ever been
[01:32.28]It's all I ever be' since your gone from me
[01:37.21]Still I hope you know' that I can never unlove you' love you
[01:47.81]1974 was a year things changed
[01:50.25]Too much alcholol makes people violent and strange
[01:52.74]You broke the window's with a baseball bat
[01:55.18]As my mother cried inside with me on her lap
[01:57.92]The dream destroyed' it was time to leave
[02:00.29]She didn't take much' just a few things of lovin me
[02:03.30]That was the birth of this fatherless child
[02:05.05]And a struggling mother with the world in her eyes
[02:08.29]She did it though' put herself in college
[02:10.48]Raisin me wit grace' givin me the knowledge
[02:13.23]And pops you' you never came by
[02:15.79]Never sent money never called to say hi
[02:18.36]I use to lie to the other kids' on the block
[02:20.92]Say I knew where you was at so the questions would stop
[02:23.54]I fronted to my friends that you didn't mean much
[02:25.97]But I use to cry alone' and lone for your touch
[02:28.87]I'ma fatherless child' it's all I ever been
[02:33.55]It's all I ever be' since your gone from me
[02:39.23]Still I hope you know' that I can never unlove you' love you
[02:49.03]Ninth grade I thought you were dead
[02:51.40]Call my mom about a paper' and that's what you said
[02:54.27]I was angry and confused' all because of you
[02:56.58]youWanted to ask you why' and just say ****
[02:59.14]But the feelings passed' what was my options?
[03:01.63]Studyin my face tryna find what was lost and
[03:04.38]I decided that you didn't mean shit
[03:06.62]That I was really worth lovin and you lossed a gift
[03:09.25]Before that' I grew breast and things
[03:11.74]Got raped in the bathroom' and the question sings
[03:14.37]What it have' could it have' should it have
[03:17.87]Been different if I had yo hand to grab?
[03:19.81]Would I be easier to love' not so torn inside
[03:22.05]If you would've beat that man' and stood by my side?
[03:24.81]Would I write sad songs' and call pain daily?
[03:27.18]How different would I be if you had raised me?
[03:29.86]I'ma fatherless child' it's all I ever been
[03:34.72]It's all I ever be' since your gone from me
[03:39.34]Still I hope you know' that I can never unlove you' love you
[03:50.21]1997' you called my home
[03:52.52]From Telegraph&43' for the child you never owned
[03:55.64]I told you come by' Adam came to help me
[03:58.63]You were homeless and drunk' but not lookin uhealthly
[04:01.44]We sat for hour's' I asked you every question
[04:03.19]We sang on my porch and discussed life lession's
[04:05.56]And I loved you' like you had always been they're
[04:08.30]You said you'd never leave again' so I released my fears
[04:10.67]1999' tryna to sign my deal
[04:12.86]Ten years of hard work' finally becomin real
[04:15.73]So I brush you off' writin songs for a movie
[04:18.35]That was the last time I saw you' forgive me truly
[04:21.54]The day my deal was done' you died
[04:24.04]Wit the needle in your arm' and angels by your side
[04:26.35]And I miss you' tattooed it on my back
[04:28.78]Fatherless child' fade to black
[04:31.21]I'ma fatherless child' it's all I ever been
[04:36.08]It's all I ever be' since your gone from me
[04:41.69]Still I hope you know' that I can never unlove you' love you
[04:51.15]I'ma fatherless child' it's all I ever been
[04:56.51]It's all I ever be' since your gone from me
[05:01.50]Still I hope you know' that I can never unlove you' love you