American Dream - August Alsina

Ever since day one

Somebody probably say you wouldn’t be nothin'

I bet they told you this over and over again on repeat like a re-run

Nobody ever told you you could live up

To anything you want, don’t give up

They rather tell you, you’re destined for failure

That’s what they tell you

But you just say

What about Martin?

What about Garvey?

What about Rosa?

What about Malcolm?

What if somebody told they they wouldn’t be nothin'

And they believed this, think about the outcome

Would we even be the way we are today?

Even if it weren’t, could have been a harder way

Even though we lost a lot of people on the way

Had to sacrifice to get us in a better place

I hope you listen to these wizzords

All they want us thinking about is sipping on some sizzurp

And they got us thinking something better we don’t deserve

And that we shouldn’t try it’s no use

But that couldn’t be further from the truth

Don’t believe them that’s what they told me too

When I was growing up (they told me)

They told me (that I wouldn’t make it too far)

And when I got a little older

(They told me) they told me, yeah

(That I wouldn’t be anything)

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

But we are leaders

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

We’re supposed to be kings and queens

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

When we don’t believe them

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

Trying to live the American Dream

They see the baller’s and celebrities

As a reminder the people they would never be

Jealousy got them sick without a remedy

Thinking when I die nobody’s gonna remember me

I was told that nobody care

So the dreams that I had turned to nightmares

Cause this thing called life really ain’t fair

Need help but it ain’t there

So you know it’s really hard to stay dedicated

When the baller’s screaming they was never educated

On the corner getting high just to medicate it

Cause the teachers just told him he would never make it

Now he feeling like he made it cause he stuck in paper

But probably won’t let him spend the money later

Nobody ever told us we could be greater

Everybody on the ground in the paper chasers

I hope you listen to these wizzords

All they want us thinking about is sipping on some sizzurp

And they got us thinking something better we don’t deserve

And that you shouldn’t try it’s no use

But that couldn’t be further from the truth

Don’t believe them that’s what they told me too

When I was growing up (they told me)

They told me (that I wouldn’t make it too far)

And when I got a little older

(They told me) they told me, yeah

(That I wouldn’t be anything)

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

But we are leaders

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

We’re supposed to be kings and queens

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

When we don’t believe them

That’s what they told me, they told me, they told me

Trying to live the American Dream

(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)

They’d rather see me dead, never gone make it

(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)

They’d rather see me fail, never gonna be anything

(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)

They’d rather see me in jail, you’re never gonna be shit

(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)

Everybody die, (you ain’t shit, yo daddy ain’t shit)

(That's what they told me, they told me, they told me)

But not everybody lives, I told you

(I told you you was gonna make it) (nigga you ain’t tell me shit)

We gotta get out of this

You just gotta tell yourself

That somehow I’m a make it