Tight Rope by: Brother Ali

This track is an amazing narrative. I meet people with lives similar to this all the time. The way that Brother Ali has been able to illustrate different people's situations so vividly makes me cry out for those that this song reminds me of. I would say that the picture these lyrics paint is accurate. I agree with many of the morals in this song while others I don't fully agree with. Never the less, this is all very real.

The first verse reminds me a lot of how hard it is for people to immigrate into a country like the U.S. that needs them, but wants to ridicule them. It's hard when you and your family will die or be harmed if you stay in your home land- so you had to leave, and you can't go back. For those of you who have asked what it's like to live and minister in Pico Union, these are things that we all deal with in my neighborhood.

Below is a video with the song and the lyrics under that.

Frigid frozen Minnesota

Chip on his shoulder
Sick sleeping on a pissy sofa
Unwanted visitor in a different culture
Missing home but he can't go, they're civil warin'
Listen solider forget getting over
Prison state around the corner- homless is even closer
Kids with similar skin color still don't even wantcha
Spit and insult ya cause they have been here longer
He leaves his crib he's guaranteed the pigs approach ya
"Where ya going? Where ya from? Any weapons on ya?"
Your family is stressed out your getting older
You don't live the way they did back in Somalia
Its extra difficult to be a daughter
Trying to keep it modest with sinners all around ya
Wear the wrong garment- your parents get an ulcer
If you wrap it up the other children are pickin' on ya

Chorus ( x 2)
Live in two worlds with your eyes closed
Tip toeing on a tight rope
Holding on for survival
Nobody to blame this is just how it goes

Holidays and you know what the business is
You get two birthdays and two Christmases
Older you get you recognize how sick it is
They're trying to cover their guilt with the gifts they give
Bounce from his house to her house
Too bad that marriage didn't work out
Now you don't have a "your house"
Daddy fighting mommy they both tell me they love me
If I get to close to one the other one start acting funny
Ma went and had a baby with a different dad
You act happy to please 'em, but you are really sad
Seeing first hand that family that you will never have
Plus you ain't no real brother, you're just a half
Got to pick up the pieces and move on
Bed time stories and greet them on the phone
Live in two houses and neither one is home
Wishing you were grown have the freedom to get gone

Chorus ( x 2)
Live in two worlds with your eyes closed
Tip toeing on a tight rope
Holding on for survival
Nobody to blame this is just how it goes

Daddy was a preacher momma was a Sunday school teacher
Big brother a football squad leader
Now far be it for you to disappoint or displease them
Your just being what you feel you see in
That mirror every time you peer in
Swallow the tears inside that empty feelin'
Her boy terrified to let the world in
He has girlfriends but doesn't want a girlfriend
He retreats inside himself
Where he lives life itself in secret
Daddy says people go to hell for being
What he is and he certainly believes him
Cause there aint no flame that can blaze enough
To trump being hated for the way you love
And cry yourself to sleep and hate waking up
It's a cold world ya'll shame on us

Chorus ( x 2)
Live in two worlds with your eyes closed
Tip toeing on a tight rope
Holding on for survival
Nobody to blame this is just how it goes