Diedra Cobb

My hair is o’ natural, and sometimes I feel I just gotta break outta this country to connect with those roots that are not so tied to capitalism

Mom was born in the deep south
No birth certificate – guess she wasn’t worthy
Got one when she went to college – those high and mighty bastards!
Damn this system is dirty!

My daddy has five kids and momma only has me
The remnants of 300 yrs of chattel slavery.

I told that officer “None of you pigs are cute to me!”
I know who made this system
Mr. Officer, I know what you think of me

I ain’t goin through college with dreams of one day working for America’s corporate pigs
So I can work all my life and perpetuate your dominance over my kids?!
Oh yeah, I was supposed to buy into those lies
Watch too much TV, play sports and not read any of my history

I joined the military cause at first your schools really had me thinking that the word freedom applied to me
But then my uncle had a serious conversation with me
He told me about Vietnam and how they left him to suffer the effects of Agent Orange and PTSD
He told me that my fight for righteousness was not compatible with the war machine, and to be careful because next they would come for me

And they did, but my 96 year old grandmother taught me to be strong
She showed me the strength in singin a song
It didn’t take me long to realize that all along she had been singing dark, eloquent survival songs

She inspired me to want to know more about my family tree
I found out that in a 30 yr period, the power elite lynched 3 of me!
Some of my ancestors walked the trail of tears
And now I’m starting to understand the white man’s fears
Keep em ignorant, lock em up and throw away the key
Whatever you do, don’t teach em too much about their history

But my history is illustrious . . .
Greatness bountiful,
especially in the fertile bosom of Timbuktu.

70,000 plus manuscripts buried in the sand
Buried in the earth in my sweet motherland
Arab and African scholars went there to study and to exchange global treasures
But today this history is largely covered using deceitful, systemic measures

This is my history, this is my story
My people, my land, my culture
Full of pain, love and glory

Searching

The car crashes into the river
Where to turn next in a forest full of dreams
The word love gets lost in the world`s largest maze
An inferno of fire drinks the tears of my soul quenching its thirst
A nun in a convent looks me in the eye
I want to know what she sees
Can you handle that my blood is colored and full of pride
The chattering teeth of a scared fool
The hemoraging brain of an outcast
Tell me what your significance would be if the world were to collapse this very second
KABOOM!!! -- start talking

Ode To A Man

Baby girl! Baby girl! Queen for whom I pray
Know your seven steps, don’t let them lead you astray.
Eatin’ good, matin’ good, and for all my dawgs you know yo brotha C was always what?!
Smokin’ good . . .
Tryin to outdo man
Trust me brotha, it’ll leave you dead as you stand.
Water, dirt, sun and seeds,
These are the colors that this Tiger’s heart bleeds.
The only book I read comes with the words in red
Cause wealth, health and happiness are all in ya head.

Cliffdiving

On top of the world I look all around
Capitalism survives . . . and so must I;
Stakes: I could lose an eye and no one would lose one back
I feel that rewarding throb of having climbed uphill
I know no other way within my means
How’d I get up here? How will I get back down?
Liquid vibrance staring up at me
Both feet at a time
Catch the wave just right
Else slam into rock!

Still Dreamin'

America the beautiful
The land of spacious skies and . . .
Opportunity for me and you

What you talking ‘bout Willis! That suit don’t even match! LOL

I came here because my land was torn
Or I was torn from my land
But either way . . . it’s a different story now
Just put the effort in and I’ll end up proud in the end

Turn on the soaps, it’s a good episode today!
Hiawatha kisses the man that erased her motherland

America the beautiful, home of the brave
Land of freedom! . . .

So why you still a slave?

I have free elections, free press, free speech,
Man there’s so much for free I can barely keep track!
Tell me in what other land can you get all that?

Keep on talkin’ and let me know when you're done
. . . while you’re at it, you might want to ask that officer to put down his gun

I’m sorry, I mean I’m really sorry for you
You just don’t see it, it was such a vivid Dream that brought me here

So keep on dreamin’ man
I’m sure Uncle Sam dreams of you too

Vodka

I'll warm your chest and rub your back
I know it's been hard, but I'm a top-notch friend
I've got references . . . oh yeah, I know what I'm doin
Come let me wet your tongue and blur your tomorrows

I can even teach you the 1-2 step, the merengue, shoot! Let's dance the Bachata!
Just keep me near, just wait — trust me, you'll see
You musn't think of such things — you'll drive yourself mad!
You know I care about you — come on, just one more chance . . .
All I need is a few minutes,
Come let me blur your tomorrows

Searching for Juan

John, I forgot to write this note
but I'm writing it anyway, cause I've been
looking for you
If by chance you happen to find this
I just wanted to say, thank you and I love you
The way you treated me means more than words can say