Mr Lif Phantom lyrics

f/ El-P



[LIF]

Check it out

I been waitin`, playin`, for a long time

X amount of thoughts carried out in my mind

I turn on the TV, I see crime

Script written diligently and aired on time

Push the power button, now I`m to the tower somethin

Opened up my fridge and found nothin

Tipped to my room with an aura of gloom

Wishin` I could write another tune

But my hands are paralyzed, plus my eyes

Wanna shed tears, but it`s not possible, there`s

The burden of things I couldn`t bear

Feelings weren`t dealt with properly

Remorse follows me

With his good friend, the threat of poverty

Here`s where I am, versus where I think I oughtta be

There`s a certain chance I`m a victim of circumstance

I take a look at myself and at first glance

I see who I recently thought to be me

Based on identities public and private

Behold the radio pirate, ya nigga

A felon, chillin` with a gun to your melon

A pimp with his pockets swellin`, a jester

A slave with wounds that fester, the wanna-be

Pre-med 3-D dread an academic reject

Hopin` to detect life, erect what god gave

Human laws are laid, we go to war, come back

And come up with more

I`m kind, friendly, your worst enemy

Charming, crass, and potentially

Dangerous, have you ever heard of such?

I`m invisible and impossible to touch



[EL-P]

This is not my beautiful melting identity

The thoughts that I can`t manipulate for the safe line

Is personal, one amongst many is the macro,

Made from the pain of the fragile

(repeat 3x)



[LIF]

I still say fresh dope and things of that sort

I don`t shoot up, smoke crack, or take shorts

Your thoughts are always welcome, I seldom

Won`t enter another`s perspective, corrective lenses

Are somethin` that I wear, so I can see the globe real clear

Look, there`s famine over there, plus the families in fear

Of disease and distress that lingers in the air

These are the words of a man in purgatory

Words of a simpleton living in oblivion

Is this the model for life you will envisionin

free as can be in a world of imprisonment?

I dare you to check new territory

American dream?Time for another story

One where I don`t choke to keep afloat

I`m sick of livin` on false visions of hope

With a knife to my own throat

Stick of dynamite inside my overcoat

Because I know the ropes

Reality in this world is bought and sold

A very limited scope of life is shown

And I`m just one of the mold, fully controlled

Left to erode in my humble abode

You won`t hear me because I got no loot

You don`t hear me because you don`t compute

I`m docile, psycho, have you heard of such?

I`m invisible and impossible to touch



Single mother, who are you?(I phantom)

Office worker, who are you?(I phantom)

Caught up in the system, who are you? (I phantom)

Tryin` to earn a living, who are you? (I phantom)

Depressed and uninspired, who are you? (I phantom)

Hard-workin`, broke and tired, who are you? (I phantom)

Seekin` education, who are you? (I phantom)

Can`t get ahead no matter what you do? (I phantom)