We are at war
With the universe
The sky is falling
And the only thing that can save us now
Is sensitivity and compassion

But I know one thing's for sure
I'm gonna get my kicks before it all burns down

Some say tragedy is hard to get over
But some time that tragedy means its over, soldier
From the academy, league of rollers
I deny being down though they seem to hold us
My shoulders are strong, I prove them wrong
I ain't doing nothin' but movin' on, let the truth be known
But they talk that freedom matters, and didn't even leave a ladder, damn

I work at the corner store
We all got problems problems
Who was gon' fight alone
No one's gon' save us now
How you feel, you're not alone
We're all just jealous jealous
We don't reach the sky no more
We just can't overcome no

[Chorus]
Tie my hands
What am I gonna be
What have I done so bad
What is my destiny
Tie my hands
What am I supposed to see
What have I done so bad
What am I gonna be

I, knock on the door, hope isn't home,
Fates not around, the lucks all gone
Don't ask me whats wrong, ask me whats right
And I'm a tell you whats life
And did you know?
I lost everything, but I ain't the only one
First came the hurricane, then the morning sun
Excuse me if I'm on one, and don't trip if I light one,
I walk a tight one
They try to tell me keep my eyes open
My whole city under water, some people still floatin'
Then they wonder why black people still voting,
Cause your presidents still chokin'
Take away the football team, the basketball team
Now all we got is me to represent New Orleans
No governor, no help from the mayor
Just a steady beatin' heart, and a wish and a prayer

These friends they come and go
But I got family family
These kids so fast they grow
They learn so quickly now
That there's no way to go,
That there's no future future
Don't make this seem so low
That we can't overcome

[Chorus]

And if you come from under the water then there's fresh air
Just breathe baby, gods got a blessing to spare
Yes, I know the process has so much stress
But its the progress that fills the best
Cause I came from the projects straight to success
And your next, so try they can't steal your pride its inside
Then find it and keep on grinding
Cause in every dark cloud there's a silver lining
I know

Right now we just riding on love
A shot in the dark,
We ain't try'na do nothing be at the heart
We need love, that's all now

You tie my hands, what am I gonna be
What have I done so bad, what is my destiny
You tie my hands, what am I going to see
What have I done so bad, what am I gonna be

Born right here in the U.S.A.
But due to tragedy, looked on by the whole world as a refugee
So, accept my emotion, do not take it as an offensive gesture
It's just the epitome of my soul
And I must be me
We got spirit y'all
We go spirit
We got soul y'all
We got soul
They don't want us to see,
But we already know

Writer : CARTER, DWAYNE / THICKE, ROBIN
Copyright : Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.