Surprise

Lyrics

[Intro: James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni] Well, why should a writer be free to write what he wants when a teacher is not free to teach what he wants or a postman- A teacher who is not free to teach is not a teacher ... If you're a writer you're forced to look behind the word into the meaning of the word Into the actions produced by the words Yes, you're responsible for what that word means, so you have to find the way to use that word to liberate the energy in that word, so it has a positive effect on the lives of people. There is such a thing as the living word ... No tyrant in history was able to read but every single one of them burned the books [Bridge] They nailed his feet Then they nailed his hands Just to prove he was a man Then they placed some thorns upon his head Then they laughed in his face As the poor man said, "I don't wanna die No, I don't wanna die" [Verse 1: Rhymefest] You never know the day Or time Nor I Death is always a surprise Death is always a surprise (Surprise!) Give me my flowers while I'm alive Don't wait until I'm clutching my side at 45 Talking 'bout "he left too soon", with tears in your eyes (Surprise!) Nigga, ya died Who get the house, who get the money Wait, can I have his ride? Is you surprised that your cousins wasn't shit to begin with They wanna cremate you because to bury your ass is too expensive (Surprise!) Nigga, ya died Ain't see it coming, doing a hunnid out on the I-95 Then realize that that woman you thought would take care of you and marry you Didn't even show up to the burial You playing with the time that you thought you had Before you step in that divorce, wait, let me walk you back We throw away the love of our lives Whose fault is that? Man, all I need is me in this world Who taught you that? [Refrain] I don't wanna die Can you revive me? No, I don't wanna die And let me see the sun? No [Verse 2: Rhymefest] (Suprise!) Nigga, ya died Making a post, doing the most Ain't even say your goodbyes Can I have his ride? (Let it go) Yesterday, I didn't know it would be my last day Writing rhymes with my cigar lit up in the ash tray Feeling good, finna watch the Bulls and the Cav's play Til I feel the ugh in my chest, and passed away I saw my last sunset, I wasn't done yet, Lord I ain't made up with my son yet I ain't even took my daughter to prom yet My wife is still living, I know she upset Rip off the wings, I don't wanna go up yet I saw that everything I ever ate was gluttonous I saw that everything I ever smoked was suspect I saw that every lie I ever told was fucked, shit For all the hearts that I broke, a heart attack was justice Then I woke up from that sleep With a new peace and new perspective on life With a renewed lease, know what I learned about being deceased? Life is brief, life is brief (Suprise!) Nigga, ya died Living in jail, what in the hell man, nobody cried Yeah, why? They'd rather fed us fed time and fentanyls Instead of fruits and vegetables And teach us death is inevitable Nah, life is truly incredible Don't let the Devil unsettle you How you chasing after revenue Push you off the stage at the festival Nat King sings unforgettable The Grim Reaper keeps a schedule While King sings unforgettable Surprise Surprise Surprise Surprise [Refrain] I don't wanna die No, I don't wanna die