How I Got Over
Walk alone, I walk alone, you know I walk it alone
I always been on my own, ever since the day I born
So I don’t mind walking alone
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to walk alone. You may have to make a tough decision. The conclusion that you reach may even be unpopular to some. It is hard to step out and walk alone in the face of skepticism, doubt and indecision. Yeah, in life often times we must rely on others.
In fact, I think that there is power in numbers when trying to complete a worthy task. You know the sayings…there is no I in team; teamwork makes the dream work.
I Agree.
However there may come a time when the team needs you to step up and step out and make something happen on your own.
The Chicago Bulls were a great team but in the clutch, 4th quarter 1 second to go, it was MJ isolated with the ball in his hands…Alone.
So I don’t mind walking alone.
Dear God, I’m trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes, it’s so hard to believe it…
But God, I know you have your reasons
We live in a cold cold world. I watch the news sometimes and wonder how anyone can watch this daily and keep their sanity.
Everybody all in everybody’s dirty laundry
Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricane, tsunamis
Terrorist, crime sprees, assaults, and robberies
Wars and atrocities
Look at all the poverty
Ignoring the prophecies
More beef than broccoli
Corporate monopoly
Weak world economy
Stock market topplin’
Mad marijuana oxycotton and klonopin
Everybody out of it?
I can honestly understand why someone would ask, “God why?”
When the cruel realities of life hit home everyone’s faith is tested.
We are taught from an early age that God has a plan. If you are honest though, you will admit that at times you question why his plan must include so much pain and suffering.
Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?
And why is livin’ life such a fight to the finish?
I don’t have the answer. I just know that I see God’s face in all that I do.
I feel like there is a path that I’m on and that the destination is already predetermined. Just not by me.
When I look back on all my experiences especially the ones that I perceived as negative at the time, I see how those experiences serve me and have added value and wisdom to my life.
Dear God, sometimes its so hard to believe it…but I do.
Everything’s changing around me
and I want to change too
It’s one thing I know
It ain’t cool being no fool
I feel different today
I don’t know what else to say
But imma get my sh** together
It’s now or never
I often hear people say, “I’ll never change.”
I personally see change as a part of the growth process. If you are not growing you are dying. Think about it.
We live in a world of constant change. If you are not evolving you will get left behind. I always find it interesting that people fear change. Me, I see change as progress. I like shaking things up. I always take a historical perspective on change.
If the great inventors of the past were afraid of change we would still be riding around on a horse and carriage. If the great social activist of the past were afraid of change, would we have laws against various types of discrimination?
I’m sick, sick of waiting in vain, tired of playing the game
Thinking of making a change, finally breaking the chains
I cannot be afraid of changing because of what other people will think. I can’t wait until everything is perfect in my life before I take action. I must start living life to its fullest…right now. I can’t be afraid to make mistakes. I will go after the things I am passionate about. Even if it means I’ll have to change.
We only live once.
It’s now or never.
Out on the streets
Where I grew up
First thing they teach us:
Not to give a f***
That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.
I grew up attending school (K-8) in the middle of the Mill Creek projects in West Philly. I learned the code of the streets at an early age. I’ll never forget it, I was in the second grade and a kid named Samuel stole my hat one day while we were outside. Another time I was standing outside watching a fight, which was a daily occurrence at my school, and Samuel came by and punched me in the face and took the change I had in my pocket. I made a decision soon thereafter that I wasn’t going to let that happen again. The next year Samuel approached me in the schoolyard and told me to give him my money. I defiantly looked him in the face and told him he’d have to fight me for it. He left me alone from that day forward…but I ended up fighting many times over the next few years to prove myself in the streets. I had to prove that I didn’t give a f***.
How I got over
Where the people come apart
Don’t nobody care about cha
Only thing you got is God.
Out here in these streets
If you get down on your luck
You can stand up
With a hand down
But nobody give a f***.
Out here in these streets
Every man is for himself
They Ain’t helpin’ noone else
It’s a hazard to your health.
Livin’ life in these cold streets.
By the time I got to high school I was conditioned to fight at the drop of a dime. I was an angry kid. My parents even had me evaluated by a psychologist because of my anger problems. It’s hard not to be angry when you see violence, crime, and hopelessness all around you. When you see family and friends struggling financially and you see loving relationships failing all the time. It’s easy not to care about anything.
That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.
How I got over? I had people around me who continued to love me and care for me. No one more so than my mother. My mother continued to pray for me and continued to be there for me and continued to trust me and encourage me. Her love was unconditional and it was there when I was finally mature enough to understand what it all meant.
I care.
I care about every child who is growing up under similar circumstances to the ones that I did. Many times people in our society do not understand why some low -income teens are floundering in life. Many people look upon them in disgust. I look upon them and I understand that they need guidance.
Someone has to care. I choose too.
When I wake up, I look into the mirror
I can see a clearer, vision
I should start living today
Cause today is gonna be the day, is gonna be the day
Today is going to be the day! Everyday I wake up with a feeling of anticipation. A feeling of expectation. An expectation that I am one day closer to accomplishing something great. You see, I just can’t cope if I am not up to something.
I got to try different things in these trying times
Twenty-ten is different than it was in nine-five
It’s come alive time, I picked a fine time
for getting open off life like a fine wine
No matter what setbacks or failures I may encounter in my pursuit of accomplishing something great I continue to wake up with a renewed vision each day.
Cause today is gonna be the day…one day soon!
I keep it doin’ it again
Oh, I’m doin’ it again
Yes, I’m doin’ it again
Persistence. You got to have it. It’s the key ingredient that leads to a fulfilling life.
Uh, remix, rising up out of the flames like a Phoenix
Straining to carry the weight of my brain like a genius
Knowing I’m sowing seeds, let’s see whose thumb is the greenest
If I said I mean it, I did it because I need it
I realized a long time ago that this game called life was going to be challenging. I also noticed that the people who were winning at the game weren’t necessarily better than everyone else. More often than not they just didn’t give up or give in when most other people would. So why should I.
I’ve got to keep goin…I’ve got to keep doin it.
Again and again and again.
There’s something in your heart
and it’s in your eyes
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn
It’s the passion to compete. It’s a strong resolve to get things done. It’s the desire to reach my full potential. It’s the fire!
I love it!
You don’t say good luck
You say don’t give up
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn
Sometimes I think to myself that life would be so much easier if I could just go to work and then come home and live for the weekends. Watch lots of TV and chill out.
But I can’t.
There’s something in my heart and it’s in my eyes.
It’s the fire… So I let it burn!
That’s HOW I GOT OVER.
This Blog post is an ode to, and includes lyrics in italics from, the best Hip Hop Album that I have heard in a long long time.
“How I Got Over” by The Roots
Posted Up on The Corner,
Scott Speed
www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com
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