Kirk Franklin Follow

It takes a whole nation
to help me raise this generation
when you look out of the window, tell me what do you see ?
it it’s a world without a father then you’re looking at me
it takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
my respect to the mothers that be holding it down,
but it sho’ would be nice to have my daddy around

All I need is one mike, I know you can see, I’m not a rapper,
but there are some dudes just like me.
Every time you took a picture of you and your family
it was only two people when it’s supposed to be three.
it was supposed to be me asking
[why is the sky blue? And when I grow up I wonna be like you].
Yo daddy, can you teach me how to [tie my shoes,
can I go with you to work so I can see what you do?].
Let me see what you do so I can love my kid too,
but you didn’t stick around,
was that too much to ask of you?
Too much to get a blueprint [no],
too much to show the way [no],
that’s the reason why this building is not finished today.
[We’re lost boys], still we wonna believe that
[me daddy’s coming back, he didn’t forget about me].
Like a child after school, we sit and we wait,
[I know that you gone come] but that was ’78.

They say raising kids the parent’s responsibility,
but it’s a million of y’all and only one of me.
What happened to the village ?
As far as I can see, it’s been burned down by this modern day slavery.
[For eleven years I been living here;
I’ve seen momma cry more than eleven tears.
Watching momma be daddy while he slips away
and does Jesus really hear kids when they pray?]
Momma working two jobs, she, she can’t do it alone,
she shouldn’t have to, she didn’t get knocked up on her own.
And I know that baby mommas drama brothers is real,
but before you close the door don’t forget how it feels – remember
[daddy missed my game when I made a touchdown,
I won the talent show, but you weren’t around,
If a girl breaks my heart, what I do with the pain?]
and one more thing daddy,
[can you tell me my name ?]
Ain’t nothing gonna break me down…