Bridgeland Road

Lyrics

I don't know about a dollar and a dream My old man, he had a pound and a promise Had to get the knowledge He didn't care about the profit He just didn't wanna struggle if we ever needed shopping Early doors, I got a job in a office 'Cause early on, I saw my parents take some losses Chipping in with rent really helped me find some solace Being honest, I gotta give respect where it's due They came a long way It's only by their sacrifice, I made it on stage Even on the long days They kept me on track when I went the wrong way It's all thanks to God's grace 'Cause even when we never had a penny Still had joy 'cause the blessings they were many Plenty I'm here courtesy of Bridgeland Road Yeah, we came from that block life Where guys make moves and they're not nice Lord knows how we got by My boy's dead but his killers still got life Wrong place wrong time Pain by the blade of a long knife It's a shame it was on sight He would had a convo on the long side But it's all complicated Can't lie, it's been a while since we congregated Some got out, but some are on the pavement Still wishing on the stars and the constellations, yeah And if you ain't from round here It's easy to judge, that's my observation And yeah, there's power in a conversation But you probably learn more if we swapped locations But we are who we are You can't see them all but this a life full of scars Every breath that I take is a chance to go again And remind myself I ain't defined by my past Back then, it was Saturday trials Now it's German keys in a faraday pouch I used to watch the raps in 8 Mile I've been battling for a while Go figure Tryna do my best, tryna keep my chin up Gotta stop myself from getting bitter To some people I'll always be a And they might avoid that name Cos nowadays I guess they know what not to say Doesn't change how they behave True colours will show their face The other day, I left a coffee shop on my way to Yard After the zebra crossing, took a stroll to my car Three white men in some stanley shorts and steel cap boots Were there blocking my path I said, "Excuse me, please" but they ignored And then I said it again, but then what for? I knew that they could hear me so I gently brushed past Then one of them spun around and started to talk He asked what I was doing and if I wanted a problem I told him chill out, he must have thought that I mocked him Coffee in his hand and he dashed it in my face Five seconds later, right hook to my socket It escalated in like fifteen seconds I know man that could have bought fifteen weapons But I ain't the type to invest in a fight So I did it right and called the police They said they had no witness, no CCTV Everyone that saw didn't wanna make a statement If I was an old lady, then maybe co-operation I guess I'm not their idea of a victim, call that gentrification I guess I'll do my own investigation I gave the police a plate they apparently traced To a company them guys was working for on the day But the owner of the place didn't give up their names Strange, imagine all of my rage Bro, imagine that Imagine closing a case with cuts on my face And nobody pays, it's mad 'Cause imagine if they wanted to, they could do it again You don't understand my pain This is decades, could write you essays On how the estate's relationship with feds ain't seen best days Even when I separate from poverty Get them chains up off of me, still not treated properly Class is a novelty, the colour of my skin is what sparks this anthology Still no apology, anyone could offer me So music is the escape for me, that's my policy Disrespectful Can't believe what transpired Asking if I got a criminal record I didn't say a word, I just stood there in silence But I've never shared a cell in HMP If they wanna check my record, better go to HMV and enquire Takes a village to raise a child But I wonder what we do when the village on fire