As I was growing up
You was always there when I scraped my knee

Even though I burnt the kitchen
Trying to make us something to eat you still loved me so much

remember the surprise salad
You never got mad as you picked out bread ties you was so encouraging

I'll never forget the way you laugh
Always being goofy at the right time you always had that craft

I'll never forget when I was scared of the movie earthquake
You took your time and explained how they made the movie after that I was able to sleep without heartache

Remember that story I wrote about why I loved my dad
It won tickets to worlds of fun you was so proud of me and it wasn't half bad

You always took pictures
Black and white was the best ones I always loved the mixture

I loved going camping
Especially with monkey jamming

We always had fun the best was when you started falling
Your shoes went in two different directions  great wobbling

As I grew up into a teenager
We didn't always see eye to eye you always keep me out of danger

Then I grew up had my own family
I always seemed to swim up the stream

You was always there
No matter where I was you would always pray

Just like Prince said
I never meant to cause you any sorrow, I never meant to cause you any pain

I only wanted you to be proud
Never to be ashamed of me

Thank you for being my dad
I love you forever and always

I don't understand why I feel so dead inside
Why would I set the key aside

If I hadn't lost that key
You wouldn't be in my head right now I just want to be set free

My body is starting to break down
My mind is going in circles being chased around

My head is stirring up dark deep thoughts
How can I make it stop I'm so out of sorts

Why did I let you beat me and choke me
You wouldn't stop until my body went limp I didn't know at the time I was just a trainee

All the while I thought you loved me
All I wanted was to make a family tree

You loved being in power and in control
I lost everything my body,heart, and soul

You was a con straight out of the hood
I was a fish straight out of school

I wasn't living no more just going through the motion day by day
Waiting mostly for the hits that you gave me when I disobeyed

Being careful of where I was hit
So no one could tell I was being extinguished

you didn't want bruised merchandise
You preyed on my mind as I declined

Following every rule you made
Taking every punishment you served

Was I gonna be sold to traffickers
Or was you afraid to let your money maker go to the panthers

Was this the bigger picture all along
You stole my key and sold it to the devil is that why my head was always bashed against the wall

I was under your spell
Only way out was through hell

People see you hitting and beating me
But they just walk around or keep going never saying word to help me get my master key

Why did you not stop and help me
Maybe I would've went back but what if you was the one who set me free

My life was in danger
I was told my family was too which was a game changer

I did as told and when I was told and what I was told
Somewhere in your f--ked up mind you thought I wasn't obeying you was always in control

That's when you used whatever weapon
You had in tow to beat me into submission I reckon

You thought you was a player
You was my soul taker