Umbilical Cord to the Future

(Intro): (Man says): We're gonna slow it down at this time And sing a soulful number This song is a song that, y' know, we all wanna sing sometime Y' know what I mean? This is the love crowd right? We all love each other, don't we? Ai-ight? "All right!" Let me hear you say yea!!!! "Yeah!!!!!" (Verse 1) I needed love from somewhere. Somebody to interpret My mother was supposed to, but she's far from perfect My body was young. Feeling n' thoughts were so sexual No one to explain, so my body had no schedule And when it was right, or if the time was wrong My nursery rhyme turned to a passionate song So we tossed n' turned. Burning in heated sweat No one ever explained. There's nothing to forget An explosion of rain like there is in a storm: Body wet. Heart beating. Body burning and warm No mama never said to say no, not even how to Tell one from another, or what to expect to Go for or demand, except or reject Or when to say yes. And also to protect So I had no choice. I imitated what I saw My mother had one man, plus three, equals four: One for his car, one for his job, and one for spite And one did her right as I listened in the night (Chorus) (In background a lady sings): "Souljah, Souljah, Souljah, Souljah!" (Man say's): The children cannot raise themselves! The television, the baby sitter, the radio cannot raise your children! Anything you want the children to know, you must teach them! You must teach them! If you do not teach the children, they will not know They will not know! (Verse 2) Now she yelled and hollered, and sometimes even screamed And never explained quite what she would mean Mad at the world for the way she never understood And if she couldn't explain, what makes you think I could So there's life in my belly-or say, "A biscuit in the oven"- Kicking and hitting, and pushing and shovin' And my biggest fear is that it'll ask me those questions All I'm qualified to give are mistakes and confessions (Interlude) "I never thought that this would cause so many problems I wish I had somebody to talk to God, I'm so confused..." Now a cycle repeats over and over again Make it topsy turvy: the lives of women and men Bringing life into the world should be considered a blessin' But it isn't When you haven't been taught the lessons Of motherhood... Now, adoptions not an option. Not even abortion Won't make the baby pay for societies distortion Got to go for self, despite societies abuses Schools built to destroy minds. Upset and confused Met a friend the other day. She said her name was Souljah She said, "I'm here to tell ya what your mama never told ya." "Raise your child" she said. "Raise your head like a warrior If you don't, the world will destroy ya We need your baby: mind body and soul To reestablish the laws of the old Wise, life-giving ways of our people." (Chorus) (In background a lady sings): "Souljah, Souljah, Souljah, Souljah!" (Man say's): The children cannot raise themselves! The television, the baby sitter, the radio cannot raise your children! Anything you want your children to know, you must teach them! You must teach them! If you do not teach the children, they will not know They will not know! (Verse 3) She said, "Girl, you're original. And that's definite You're first. Your wisdom is infinite Ex-plore your mind. You have so much to give If you seek knowledge, you'll have reason to live! In a war There can be no excuses Two camps: The used and the users Your mind: You've got to read and nourish Your talent Then unfolds and flourish We can't blame your mom. We know she did what she could But girl, you've got to be twice as good! (Chorus) (In background a lady sings): "Souljah, Souljah, Souljah, Souljah!" (Man say's): The children cannot raise themselves! The television, the baby sitter, the radio cannot raise your children! Anything you want the children to know, you must teach them! You must teach them! If you do not teach, they will not know They will not know!