Poetic, prophetic lyrics from Chelsea Forbrook + Steffon Ware, Redeemer staff and artists-in-residence. Chelsea debuted her piece at PUSH 2008, and Steffon has offered this particular poem at the 2008 Redeemer Showcase, The Word, The Next 150, and PUSH 2008. Steffon, Chelsea, and other young adults at Redeemer continue to inspire a growing network of youth and children towards critical thinking + creative expression…and ongoing recording projects. Next up – Redeemer Records? We’ll see…
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Chelsea Forbrook
Though this is a hard race, it has to be run
And all us people together are powerful, so don’t stop till it’s done
We’ll follow Jesus, Buddha, and Gandhi until this battle is won
Because we know by now that nothing’s ever been solved with a gun
We gotta mix a little new revolution in with the old
One that treats all bodies, minds and souls like they’re the purest gold
But revolutions can’t be bought, you see, they’ve got to be sold
So don’t sit back, get on your feet, and help this unfold
Because with your Push and mine and his we’ll build something new
And like JD Steele we’ll find strength in singing notes that are blue
And if we sing it together than we can never come unglued
Take comfort in hearing harmony, because that’s the only hope that’s true
Our song is about salvation manifesting here on earth
And it will spread around this world length, height, depth, and girth
And when people hear it, they’ll realize the Push and pull is really worth
All your sweat, blood, and tears if it brings about unity’s second birth
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Steffon Ware
This is a soulspadition a soulspirament
More than just a song more like an experience
Allow yourself to dive deep into my mental wonderland
Lily pads and ponder ponds in the palm of my hand
Magnificent mental mountains intellectual light
Burning bright in the sky for crystal clear insight
Reach up and pick from the tree that sprouted from the bitter roots
That was watered by the clouds that only rained with the truth
Get a cup and quench your thirst in the stream of consciousness
There is no purer stream in the whole continent
Run wild with my thoughts on plush passionate plains
Explore the deep valleys of pain down memory lane
Breathe in hope swim in the sea of dreams
Promises sprinkled on the night sky watch ’em gleam
Visit the largest promise that reflects intellect
Become enlightened and levitate if you ever make the quest
Soulspadition.
We dodge bullets from close range we cope with most pain
Heavy coats in the winter and umbrellas for when it rains
Got the blood of a warrior born with scriptures in my brain
But the skin of a sinner with desires I can’t explain
Poetic Picasso painting a picture of my pain
With these abstract patterns of sunshine and rain
I was born deep within the belly of the beast
When my heart beats my veins fill with concrete
I’m a product of the street and a lot of oppression
But instead of getting a glock I use my brain as a weapon
Hoping I can make an impression on the soul of the youth
Those who grew up out of control ’cause no one told them the truth
And their parents confused living in stupidity too
The yelling do as I say but don’t do as I do
So them parents ain’t really true cause a parent is a leader
It don’t make you a parent just cause you whoopin ’em and feedin ’em
I am the grenade my dimensions don’t matter
If you see me pull the pen you people better scatter
I’m what happens when hunger turns into starvation
When oppressed neighborhoods turn into a whole nation
When running after hope turns to running out of patience
Running drugs on the block chopping rocks like a mason
Stressed smoking sess looking like a black Asian
Plus selling dope to cope with low wages
Raging against systematic poverty and pain
I wish I could be your umbrella when it rains
Young Nelson Mandela’s trapped inside your own brain
Born a felon ’cause your melanin is like a ball and chain
Said to have a speech impediment ’cause they don’t get your slang
In reality they’re scared of it so they want it to change
Hands reaching out for freedom but it never seems close enough
Before I touch it police tell me take my hands and hold ’em up
Guns out the holster that’s how they say hello to us
If you’re a young black male it’s hard to find hope for us
Hands through the clouds and reaching for the stars
If you close your eyes and listen to these sixteen bars
You might find out why the caged bird cries
’Cause they clipped my wings before I had a chance to fly
I look in the sky the only thing that I can do is dream
I figured I’d flip the script so I started to sing
About how good the wind felt under my wings
How beautiful I looked when the sun shined on me
You can put shackles on my hands but my mind is free
Your definition of freedom wasn’t designed for me
But I don’t know what freedom is ’cause I’ve never been free
So I just sing a song about what freedom means to me.
Join us Sunday, March 7th, 2-5 PM for the 1st Annual Matinee at the Capri fundraiser for Redeemer Center for Life!
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