Maktub
I’ve been leaving behind one girl at a time
Because it seems they always see a future in my eyes
I get it; these musical ears have been trained to really listen
And though they really never know me, I’m always what they’re missing
Two kids, one dog, and a house is no home
Like several references set to a rhyme is no poem
Twenty stories is no mansion, that’s a corporation
Relations institutionalized is mass deportation
Big Brother pushing lovers back into old borders
While dreaming brothers are sitting out executive orders
I guess I’ll learn to care better when I’m older
But ‘til then I’ll soldier on, happily pushing up my boulder
I’m not perfect but one with the process, I’m Joel
I’m not one with God, but one with good; I’m free post-hell
And if you can wait ‘til I’m Bruce waning, see out my visions
I can be just like Robin, will you to your wishes
You can’t hurt me if I don’t speak
You can’t hurt me if I don’t fight
You can’t hurt me if I’m always gone at night
But you can hurt me if I don’t write
I heard the parables of my fallen brothers
Shouts to you Campbell, you really pedaled undercover
When your wheels came off, I threw you on my back
And the rest of Miami; now I run without a pack
You said, “A lone wolf must strive to hone his howl”
I said, “The game’s changed; every touch is called a foul”
All these whistle-happy whiners crying wolf from safe spaces
You stopped me right there, said “They cry for you! Retrace your paces.”
Now I keep a journal to look inside myself
To cultivate a come-up, create a record I could sell
And I could hardly tell just how far I had fell
Trying to play house, forfeit my balls to the belle
But I was just a college kid, doubtful in my word choice
The cynics scrutinized the power in my voice
‘Til I started to believe in them and live as “it is written”
Promised in my Jordan year to give what I’ve been given
Needed to spit lines with more purpose
Force them to listen past the surface
And at the end of the night, if they still don’t think that I deserve this
It’s their loss, my gain, best believe I’ll still be earnest
You can’t hurt me if I don’t speak
You can’t hurt me if I don’t fight
You can’t hurt me if I’m always gone at night
But you can hurt me if I don’t write