Verse 1
My tragedy’s different
My life’s deep, listen,
Gotta bail, I’m limping
Walked outta hell’s kitchen
Why bother cherishing
My past is everything, wrong, and my arrogance
Walked down the stairs pissing
Cop us cuz they’re bitching
life isnt fair, singing
Blues and my rap dripping
Ooze out the blood sinking
Deep down to earth thinking
Leave out a nerp chicken
I should run, forfeit, and everything I know
Listen

I was
The misdirected
I was
The least expected
Hop on
And get rejected
Walk on
And feel neglected
I feel
Like I'm the message
Unheard
But I'm the message
I'm the last prolific remaining offer from the gutter

Shot!
was my girlfriend
when
We was younger
Her
I was scarred yo
I survived though
It came easy
The game needs me
Never let them see me down, smile while Im bleeding

Chorus
Smile
When you're struggling
Smile
When you're in jail
Smile
When you're dead broke
Smile
And the rent's due
Smile
You ain't got friends now
Smile
And no one knows you
Never let them see you down
Smile while you bleeding

Smile
When he leaves you
Smile
Cause girl he needs you
Smile
You’ll still be singing when you cry the tears you do
Smile
Despite the war
Smile
Despite the pain yo
Never let them see you down smile while you bleeding

Verse 2
To my man Kareem in prison
I can’t speak your name
It hurt me that you never listened
It can't be the same
I had to grow my intuition
Had me deep in pain
Cause I knew my options were either broke
Or the prison chains
I can’t do it
I can’t see it, look
Damn it, I can’t blow it
I got a judges tellin me my life's key
They will throw it
Nuh-uh, no sir
I plan to have a chauffeur
It seems to me this chopping crack is really going no where

Therefore
I’m resurrected
They call me
The poor Injection
I infect you with the real
The Dustyfeetphilosahectagos
I spit, so sick
I skid out
I'm falling
I’m shit, outta luck and I’m trapped but I'll get out

Can you help me
Im goin crazy
My mom plays trick and I beat on the floor like bush wick
My fists bloody and blistered
A pair like I'm balistic
I just stare at the red and smile while im bleedin

Repeat Chorus

Verse 3
There are a few things you gotta take into acount
I'm not an entertainer, I’ve never been a clown
I was born where the mothers give birth while they frown
I would walk with the kids that would bbbrrraaaa a sound ah
Never really thought i’d make it to fourteen
Anybody wanted to fight I was most keen
Plus i had a little temper it was often forseen
Yo, say somethin bout my momma
I'd shoot ya dead, out clean
But ya gotta keep in mind that I grew up Mogadishu
The only law was gun law
And we don't walk with a pistol
You get laughed at for being so insensitive to the environment
Cause how will you be heard when those big boys are firin’
War is no place for a child
Especially if he's rollin’ with an AK and a smile
He had witnesses on mother bloody in a towel
But please, please, please, please
But never let em see you down smile while you bleedin’

Repeat Chorus till fade

© K'Naan