Mommy said go play outside
but you can't play if you can't have fun
you can't have fun if you're always on the run
I didn't belong in my own neighborhood
I didn't belong anywhere
At least there's fireworks every night
Except they're not
And the smiles aren't friendly
And the laughter isn't kind
I still see the blood
I still hear the screams
Haunted by the shouting
and their playful little games
I could never run fast enough
They were always faster
I could never swing hard enough
They were always stronger
"White boy don't belong here!"
Didn't have to tell me twice
or a thousand
I didn't hate them, not at first
Just wanted a reason
Obviously they had none
I tried to fight back
so many times I tried
I didn't want to be a coward
or a *****, or loser
but six to one just ain't good odds
for anyone
I wanted to stay inside
but Mommy needs eggs and milk
so run, little boy, run
Else they catch you again
And it didn't age well
The words became knives
The fists became bullets
The reasons stayed the same
they're weren't any
The ends were never justified
No one was ever punished
Other than me.