McKay Class Anthology volume 1 | Page 40

Tennessee

Rap/Hip-Hop

38

Written by: Speech

Lord I've really been real stressed¹

Down and out, losin ground

Although I am black and proud

Problems got me pessimistic

Brothers and sisters keep messin up

Why does it have to be so damn tough?²

I don't know where I can go

To let these ghosts out of my skull³

My grandmas past, my brothers gone

I never at once felt so alone

I know you're supposed to be my steering wheel

Not just my spare tire (home) ⁴

But lord I ask you (home)

To be my guiding force and truth (home)

For some strange reason it had to be (home)

He guided me to Tennessee (home) ⁵

Take me to another place

Take me to another land

Make me forget all that hurts me

Let me understand your plan

Lord it's obvious we got a relationship

Talkin to each other every night and day

Although you're superior over me

We talk to each other in a friendship way

Then outta nowhere you tell me to break

Outta the country and into more country ⁶

Past Dyersburg into Ripley⁷

Where the ghost of childhood haunts me

Walk the roads my forefathers walked

Climbed the trees my forefathers hung from

Ask those trees for all their wisdom

They tell me my ears are so young (home)

Go back to from whence you came (home)

My family tree my family name (home)

For some strange reason it had to be (home)

He guided me to Tennessee (home)

Take me to another place

Take me to another land

Make me forget all that hurts me

Glossed by: Kai Fowler

1.Prayer style makes song more personal and believable.

2.“It” refers to life.

3.Memories of lost ones in speakers past

4.Regretful of only praying when in need

5.Chants of home represent longing for comfort.

6.Leaves Atlanta for Tennessee for family funeral

7.Different towns in Tennessee

8. Drugs and crime still enslave the youth

Year: 1992

Let me understand your plan

Eshe?

She went down to Holly Springs

Rasadon and Baba?

They went down to peach tree

Headliner?

I challenged him to a game of horseshoes⁸

A game of horseshoes!