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1.
Verse 1 when I woke up the other day I thought I saw a stranger sleeping next to me and I got scared isn't this where you're supposed lay? but when I opened up my eyes to my surprise you were not there no, you gotta let him go I don't wanna hear your lame excuses the same I heard before I said no, you gotta let him go how can we be together when I know Hook somebody's sleeping in my bed sleeping in my bed x 8 Verse 2 I thought you're supposed to be asleep but then I saw you crawling all up out the bed when it got dark weren't we all just counting sheep? I think you let another shepherd crawl his way into your heart no, you gotta let him go I don't wanna hear your lame excuses the same I heard before I said no, please let him go and I'm a tell you why Bridge girl you can't deny we used to hold each other tight lalalala - lalalalalala kissing, squeezing, touching all late into the night lalalala - lalalalalala lalalala - lalalalalala x4 Verse 3 oh, you gotta let him go I don't wanna hear your lame excuses the same I heard before I said no, you got to let him go how can we get together when I know Hook somebody's sleeping in my bed sleeping in my bed x 16 (with a "get the hell up out my bed" in there somewhere)
2.
Verse 1 (Pierce) this is for my people the creators of The Blues let the pain be their muse to express their views long before songs were chopped and screwed thumbs were screwed and arms were chopped and bruised but my people somehow we had the pride and the strength to provide my grandma always told me to lift as you climb to pull those behind you can rise like the moon pulls the tides yeah - this is for her Queen Mother - she existed on a mythical earth where her grandchildren didn't have a typical birth every achievement was magnificent nothing was to little for her when segregation was law she found the flaw and hit the streets until her knuckles was raw this is for my people who want to take it to a whole 'nother level that they ain't never been to before Hook 1 (Pierce) I said this is for my people who held me on their backs for so long ignorance is lethal to my people so we keeping you strong Verse 2 (Median) close to my heart, pitter pitter so strong though they gone no I won't forget ‘em unsung heroes soul sacrificial too many to rename though the flame’s rekindled the sequel the symbol is my people we're the kindred of the vision where it leads to ends to the means future yesterday's tomorrow is now we're the proof - the dream's proven new struggle we the theme music the oppressor, the shepard and the sheep too truth - it gets deep, dig deeper through it how opposition regroups to deceive a movement systemic mulling the weak because they need tool the prison's a cell keeping machines moving complex, yes, but industry is booming privatized and coming to a scene near you Hook 2 (Pierce and Median) this is for my people who held me on their backs for so long and ignorance is lethal to my people so we keeping you strong I said this is for my people who held me on their backs for so long everything I do is for my people let's celebrate the beauty of our people and ignorance is lethal to my people so we keeping you strong that's why I stay strong for my people until I'm dead and gone for my people my people Bridge (Pierce and Median) keep it moving, stay strong x 8 listen all my people can you hear? we just tryna send you a little prayer we tryna let you know that we care I said we trying let you know that we here (yo) this goes out to all my people recognize y'all I know that we just trying to survive (yeah) my people we just tryna get by (uh) come together together we thrive, we thrive (yo) Verse 3 (Pierce) I adore my people open up a door for my people like I lion I will roar for my people cause the more of my people listen when I speak will take the vision 'til the mission complete ancestors - I consider you investors seeds that you planted in me have manifested we're The Beast four young progressives connected to the block like Tetris Hook 3 (Pierce and Median) I said this is for my people who held me on their backs for so long everything I do is for my people let's celebrate the beauty of our people I said ignorance is lethal to my people so we keeping you strong that's why I stay strong for my people until I'm dead and gone for my people stay strong
3.
Verse 1 college tuition my intuition is this institution got to be bull shitting me get your hands out my pockets! my education wasn't meant to my my execution but this student loan it feels just like a guillotine get your hands out my pockets! I'm living in debt along with the nation no job or vocation whose dreams are we chasing? get your hands out my pockets! cause life is expensive but don't you resent it money, material can't take it with you but we gon keep rocking until we eventually fly lookey here might not make it through another year I can see the ending coming near make a little money from a check pay the bills - what's left? barely got enough to cover rent paper chase - get paid live in debt - every day wonder why I feel like slave laid off - ever since no job - benefits work like a dog ain't that a bitch? Hook 1 cause there is no telling where we will go the beautiful end is in sight, you should know that we going to make it through yes we going to make it through said we going to make it through gonna to make it through gonna to make it through Verse 2 college tuition my intuition is this institution got to be bull shitting me get your hands out my pockets! cause life is expensive but don't you resent it spend time with family go on adventures cause life is too short before we all eventually die listen here saying what they don't what you to hear seeing when they don't what you to peer things are often not what they appear coughing up smoke and gawking in mirror let your boy Pierce through your ear unemployment - through the roof CEOs - bullet proof floating in a golden parachute can you tell the lies from the truth? can you hear the cries from the youth? coming to you here live from the booth Hook 2 but there is no telling where we will go the beautiful end is in sight, you should know that we going to make it through yes we going to make it through said we going to make it through going to make it through going to make it through I said there is no telling where we will go the beautiful end is in sight, you should know that we we know what you going through yeah we know what you going through said we know what you going through gonna make it through what you going through Closing get your hands out my pockets out my pockets I said get your hands out my pockets get your hands out my pockets
4.
Brooklyn 05:17
Verse 1 your lips like red clay your smile looks moon lit damn girl, you're so thick growing up with Carolina barbecue pits get you hot, get you wet now you humid (ahh) I'm going deep like the blue ridge but I took a trip to the projects met Marcy a prospect - p could this be fate? kiss the concrete lips of miss BK skin like a brownstone up in Brownsville hips like a earthquake what a groundswell bags packed at the Amtrak on a journey didn't know where it will end at but I gotta see this is kinda hard for me to say- hey Hook 1 I'm going to Brooklyn I'm going to Brooklyn one day I'll do right by you and one day I'll take flight with you but I'm going to Brooklyn Verse 2 I think a lot about your cooking where my corn bread, catfish and collard greens at I can't find that in Brookyln from Bojangles to bodegas I'm so anguished can you explain why nobody looks me in the eye? Flatbush to Bed Stuy mad people push by but they never speak they seem stressed in the city like they never sleep our the relationship was hella deep because I grew up in your heart - piedmont always thought we'd never depart but eventually - I felt trapped in NC in Brooklyn I'm incredibly free I lose myself when I'm with her she's an identity thief I wouldn't have it any other way this is kinda hard for me to say - hey Hook 2 I'm going to Brooklyn I'm going to Brooklyn one day I'll do right by you and one day I'll take flight with you but I'm going to Brooklyn said I'm going I'm going to Brooklyn one day I'll do right by you and one day I'll take flight with you but I'm going Bridge girl, but every time I try Carolina's on my mind all the time Carolina's on my mind girl, when we're apart Carolina's on my heart girl, when we're apart Carolina's on my heart Verse 3 took a stroll through the park stayed out til it was real dark we caught fireflies in a jar poked holes in the top watched it glow like a lantern on and off like a strobe light smell the pollen in the summer breeze I look into your face and I don't wanna leave yeah I don't want to leave smell the pollen in the summer breeze I realized I don't wanna leave Carolina blue skies and the hurricanes real talk through it all girl you remind kitty hawk we flyer than we ever been bags packed at the Amtrak on a journey I didn't know where it would end at but I'm here to stay this is kinda hard for me to say - hey

credits

released October 22, 2013

The Beast is
Pierce Freelon, vox; Eric Hirsh, piano; Peter Kimosh, bass; Stephen Coffman, drums

the BIG BAND is
Al Strong, trumpet; Aaron Hill, alto sax/tenor sax/clarinet; Tim Smith, tenor sax/flute; Andy Kleindienst, trombone; Karen Galvin, violin; Jenavieve Varga, violin; Leah Gibson, cello; Keith Ganz, guitar; Brevan Hampden, percussion

All music written by Pierce Freelon, Eric Hirsh, Peter Kimosh, Stephen Coffman (BMI)
All lyrics written by Pierce Freelon
Orchestrations by Eric Hirsh

Produced by The Beast
Recorded by Jason Richmond at Sound Pure Studios
Mixed by Peter Kimosh and Eric Hirsh
Mastered by Brent Lambert at The Kitchen
Cover art by Gabe Eng-Goetz porkfriedart.com

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The Beast North Carolina

Now in its tenth year, The Beast is an innovative and electrifying hip hop and jazz ensemble, known for pushing creative boundaries and dynamic collaborations. Straight outta Durham, the cultural and entrepreneurial nexus of a new south, The Beast is a home-grown artistic force, mixing tap-dancers, puppeteers, and spoken word artists into its repertoire. ... more

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