Latchkey

Lyrics

Guess it's all about perspective I grew up thinking we were good We were rich... Then I look back..like...wow It was really a struggle It's crazy Parents be like "do what I say, not what I do," That's the clearance to proceed and go and act a fool I used to sneak sips of brew Brag about it to the kids at school Pretending that my momma never cared about My well being or whereabouts Family arguments, no shame, I would air it out My intention was immersion But it was obvious that my acting out Was serving as diversions Think the year was maybe 9-1 Mom had two jobs when most couldn't find one And I got A's without effort While all the other homies would stray without shepherds They say the devil's playground is idle time So I would stay around the house, try to write a rhyme Mom got in round 6AM And if my homework wasn't out, it was mayhem Even if we had none I would tell her that I had some And go and get some math done No dad, cause he up and split We open up the oven door to heat up the crib Cold; wasn't an athlete Only time I ran was to avoid Getting my ass beat Trying to make friends with all the bad see 11 years old with acne They call me the Latchkey Kid And there it is CHORUS You better come straight home Anybody knocks on the door, just say Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove And don't let anybody tell you we broke You better come straight home Anybody knocks on the door, just say Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove And don't let anybody tell you we broke Cause we gon' be alright It was almost instant respect To see a shiny Kwikset key around a kid's neck That meant he had the house to himself Which almost meant he outgrew the belt And I was truly raised by a village Cause if they caught me slippin' I would get it Inexplicably so frickin hard headed Then when my mom came home she hit me harder Made the beating double Every day borrow sugar from the neighbor's house Watching TV over there because our cable's out My Game Boy it was my prized posession Everyday I learned quick how to dodge a question Like, "Y'all aight? I know your moms is stressing" She would say that every setback provides a less Gas bills in collection Supply Side Economics got us all regressing And I'm armed with nothing with my ambition We ain't poor, just in transition Up in church with my hands risen Praying lord can you hear my transmission Forgive my transgressions... Same story as last week It's kinda funny if you ask me How poverty can make you mad deep And in the corner that's me 12 year old with acne they called me the Latchkey Kid CHORUS You better come straight home Anybody knocks on the door, just say Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove And don't let anybody tell you we broke You better come straight home Anybody knocks on the door, just say Keep the living room straight, don't touch that stove And don't let anybody tell you we broke Cause we gon' be alright