The Birds Don’t Sing (Live at NPR’s Tiny Desk)

Lyrics

[Spoken Intro: Pusha T, Malice, Yoo Q!, Clipse] Haha, that's right, yeah-haha You good, yeah-haha You good, you good (Ayy-yo) You good Alright, alright Haha New shit New shit New shit New shit Ah, man, um, that joint is called "Chains & Whips" Um, this next joint is, um, called "Birds Don't Sing" This is a tribute to our parents who passed away four months apart Uh, so when you listen to the verse You're hearin' me have our last conversation- My last conversation with our mother And on my verse, it was, uh, the last conversation I had with my dad So, you know, we documented it Put it down and you're gettin' a accurate depiction of what we said Thank you, thank you Sis, Ali, on the background vocals Come help us out, y'all We need some help [Intro] (Birds don't, birds don't, birds don't, birds don't) [Verse 1: Pusha T, Clipse] Lost in emotion, mama's youngest Tryna navigate life without my compass Some experience death and feel numbness But not me, I felt it all and couldn't function Seein' you that day Tellin' you my plans but I was leavin' you that day It was in God's hands, Ye was at Elon's waiting to get with me On my way to Texas, that's when Virginia hit me And I realized in that instant Our last conversation, you was against it Told you I was going to Turks for Thanksgiving I heard what I wanted to hear but didn't listen You said you told Gene that Bup needed forgiveness I see you went to DD's and stuffed both her fridges You even told Dad you wished y'all never splitted See, you were checkin' boxes, I was checkin' my mentions Sayin' you was tired but not ready to go Basically was dyin' without letting me know I loved you met Nige, hate that he won't remember you Two things that break my heart is what Novembers do And T follows you, now mind you DD calls you, Gene finds you, was that your vision? Precision, while I'm reminiscin' It all hits different, Ma, listen [Chorus: King Sis & Tariq Ali, King Sis, Tariq Ali] The birds don't sing The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (Yeah), pain The birds don't sing The birds don't sing, they screech in pain, pain Birds don't sing The birds don't sing, they screech in pain, oh-ooh [Verse 2: Malice, King Sis & Tariq Ali] Your car was in the driveway, I knew you were home By the third knock, a chill ran through my bones The way you missed Mama, I guess I should've known Chivalry ain't dead, you ain't let her go alone Found you in the kitchen, scriptures in the den Half-written texts that you never got to send Combin' through your dresser drawer, where do I begin? Postin' noted Bible quotes, were you preparin' then? I can hear your voice now, I can feel your presence Askin' "Should I rap again?", you gave me your blessing The way you spelled it out, there's an L in every lesson "Boy, you owe it to the world, let your mess become your message" Shared you with my friends, the Pops they never had You lived for our fishin' trips, damn, I had a dad Mine taught discipline, mine taught structure Mine didn't mind when he had to pull a double (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) Mine worked overtime, smiled through the struggle (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) 'Cause mine wouldn't let us feel what he had to suffer (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) See, mine made sure he had every base covered (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) So imagine his pain findin' base in the cupboard (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) Birds don't sing if the words don't sting (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) Your last few words in my ear still ring (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) You told me that you loved me, it was all in your tone (Oh-ooh, whoa-oh) "I love my two sons" was the code to your phone, now you're gone (Oh-ooh) [Chorus: King Sis & Tariq Ali, King Sis, Tariq Ali, Malice] The birds don't sing (Come on) The birds don't sing, they screech in pain (Whoa), pain The birds don't sing The birds don't sing, they screech in pain, pain [Interlude: Yoo Q!] We're gonna get our clap on to this, alright? Y'all ready? [Chorus: King Sis & Tariq Ali, King Sis, Tariq Ali, Yoo Q!] Birds don't sing (Come on), the birds don't sing Birds don't sing, they screech in pain Oh, the birds, they screech in pain, pain The birds don't sing The birds don't sing, they screech in pain, pain I'm never gonna forget (Oh-oh) [Outro: Stevie Wonder] Remember those who lost their mothers and fathers And make sure that every single moment that you have with them You show them love You show them love You'll see