Propaganda, Odd Thomas - The City Lyrics

They tell me the city sings a song
And you can't help but sing along
And I be looking in their eyes like
"I'm sorry, you dead wrong"
Like we came from birth sinning and very meager beginnings
Where all we had was spam, and an interceding grandma
And I tried to read the Word but didn't understand the grammar
'Till His grace came and gave me a new brain
But you cannot tell me that poverty is bigger than sovereignty
We lived in the same projects as you
Lived right next to you
Dodged the same bullets, I've even spent time in the burbs
That's my word
And when you born off Alondra with drugs and money launderers
Now a husband and father, that's proof that God loves you
See we chose not to slang
And that gave me much more bravery then them OG's would ever give me credit for
Cause the road was so lonely, we had God only
And fools would creep by slowly like "What up homie"
And steady wins the race, open your ears
These fools been hustling for years, it sound like they grinding gears!
Stripping up their clutches, and ironically it's automatic
Imma literally drive by your drive by's

You are NOT your hood, homie, it did not make you
Look, we are proof you don't have to conform
That road is so lonely but you cannot tell me it's
Impossible to exit this city's mosh pit scarless

You ain't gotta sing along

She came from birth sinning and very meager beginnings
Where shared a bed with her sister 'till 18
First out of high school, first out of college
Childhood a nightmare, now she's up outta there
A simple girl, beautiful, complex
Her complexion is quite similar to Incan or Mayan
And her speaking reminds me of my time is east Los
A reformed Chola Loca
Working on her PhD, like "You think I'm plain?
Man I'm from HP homie, by way of Acapulco!"
Could crush someone lesser, elementary school
Off of Fir and Manchester, thank God He blessed her

You are NOT your hood homie
You ain't gotta conform, we are proof
I know that road is so lonely
But you cannot tell me it's impossible to exit that mosh pit scarless

You ain't gotta sing along