Listen Gentle

He said: Baby boy, just come here, never fear
Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear
If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right
You can use these tricks to help ya ass take flight
Wow, I guess I never knew how
But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud
Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'
But I can't control the fire, everybody get down

I believe I'm as brilliant as I am stupid
I'll show you a boy wit' wings who love shooting like he is Cupid
We shouldn't have, running in the dark, I loved the movement
But I came back home too late, saw his plate and watched her move it
A grown man and his former self dance in kitchen
One suited, the other wondering when the former went missing
Now both sitting on the floor on his back gripping
Saying sorry, losing twinkle in eye, wasn't my decision
I learned how to call the dead from the reverend
And the South made me realize that it's really hot in heaven
I'm sure every nigga in this room can attest
I'm fickle wit' the way that I expel pain from my chest
Look at hands, wonder why it ain't working, trying my best
Kneel to concrete, guess the magic moved when you left
Tears smeared, returning moisture to my face
Not gon' lie, l'on think I can say: It shoulda been me up in his place

He said: Baby boy, just come here, never fear
Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear
If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right
You can use these tricks to help ya ass take flight
Wow, I guess I never knew how
But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud
Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'
But I can't control the fire, everybody get down

I tuck my chain into my shirt, you niggas never finna catch me
'Cause he juking and jiving, don't mean that lil' boy is happy
He fell in love with exactly what's gon' keep him caged
Dead presidents with a promise that he's gon' be saved
To resurrect a few homies who wouldn't know who he was
Though he made a career of them once showing him love It's tragic, trying to keep my kindness in my steps
With lighting in my eyes, gramps ain't got much thunder in him left
Reminiscing on the days you put ya knuckles to boys cleft
Then we laughed so hard, hands on our knees, that we wept
Those the memories I try to preserve
And because that's what I think that child deserved
Ring filled hand trace along the ridges of earth
I watch closely, lucky seeing her magic work
I've found the answer to be so damn contrived
I'd kill myself to bring you back, how's that magic alive?

He said: Baby boy, just come here, never fear
Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear
If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right
You can use these tricks to help ya ass take flight
Wow, I guess I never knew how
But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud
Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'
But I can't control the fire, everybody get, yeah
He said: Baby boy, just come here, never fear
Lemme pull a quarter from behind yo' ear
If I show you how to do it, and you get the magic right
You can use these tricks to help ya ass take–
Yeah
Wow, I guess I never knew how
But it really comes alive when you say it out aloud
Take these pennies from my thoughts, turn it to a hundred thou'
But I can't control the fire, everybody get–
Everybody get down
Everybody get