Eli Arbor - Son of Slaves Lyrics

I've seen the farthest rivers
I've seen the skies so Blue
I have seen the greenest valleys
And I still come home to you

The city sings so differently
He pulls his collar close against the chill of the autumn breeze
The falling leaves
Shed the sins of the summer
Hold the secrets of lovers
Told from under the covers
One is all for the others
These buildings hold court for us
Tattered battles scars
Looking like they fought for us
Standing tall against the chill of the winter
These the children of many men and women
Who left the south for new beginnings
I am the son of slaves

I'm the son of slaves
The son of man
Been that way for a long time
Son of a daughter of single moms
Who had waited there in that long line
For that DSS for them 8 kids
A proud women don't mistake it
So it makes sense
Had a daughter
No mistakes when
She was Summa cum in a place built by slaves
How you survive in a place built on graves?
But she found a way
Had to take it all
Cause a glass ceiling never break a fall
Feeling of flying or reeling
I swear my momma she one in a million

I am the son of slaves the son of man
Son of a son of a church
Who's father fought for a country that couldn't even see his worth
Who's nephew served a nation that couldn't even see his worth
Who rose up from the red clay of the South Carolina dirt
Talkin bout Ms Mabel you been a saint
Hope you can see what your son has done
Took two boys into two men
And he made sure never wanted none
Numbers was good
Work was right math tight
Business mind sparked the fire that made sure the path was alight

I am the son of slaves I'm the son of man
Son of a city I always loved
Tattooed the flower up on my chest
So I never forget where I'm coming from
Came from the mud
But towers grow in the dirt
Power grow in the hurt
Passion grow in the work
Flowers gift and a curse
Here people die everyday
City full of ghosts like I'm Schwayze
It's a shame
Corner cemetery obituary to the slain
Call you from the highest peaks
Let it ring out in the valley low
Sorry that I had to leave but I had to see what was on the other shore
Had to see what meant more
See what I was meant for
Squeeze all they pockets free
Just to get the keys for my own soul
Memories of my old home
Tend to be what I have left
Let it be where birthed me
Be the place let it finally come to rest
So bury me at Mount Hope
Let Lattimer's handle my funeral
Face me to the Genesee
See the West side so beautiful
Beef patty on my tombstone
Oxtail on my grave
And pour out in my memory every time I get a plate

And don't mention my city's name
Roc city didn't raise you
I don't wanna see the flower on you if the flower on you didn't raise you
Said don't mention my city's name
Roc city didn't raise you
I don't wanna see the flower on you if the flower on you didn't raise you
Don't mention my city's name
Roc city didn't raise you
I don't wanna see the flower on you if the flower on you didn't raise you
Don't mention my city's name
Don't mention my city's name
Don't mention my city's name
Don't mention my city's name