Learn the Weight

Lyrics

[Verse 1] I had a friend who wore a careless grin Said words like stones, never asked who they hit She said, “What does that word even mean?” Like history vanished if it stayed off-screen I told her names were carved in the schoolhouse wall Families split apart, told they were less than all She blinked at the facts, said, “That happened before” But the past leaves fingerprints under every door [Pre-Chorus] You can’t call it harmless just because you never learned Ignorance is a match when the lesson should’ve burned [Chorus] Learn the weight before you throw the word Listen to the lives you’ve never heard Slavery was real, and the wound runs deep Truth isn’t cruel just because it breaks your sleep If you don’t know, then ask, don’t defend A better heart begins where excuses end [Verse 2] She asked why a joke could make a room go cold Why some families carry stories handed down like gold I said, “Start with the people who survived the chain Then notice how the old rules still shape the lane” No, I won’t pretend that we’re having harmless fun Not when somebody’s dignity is traded for one You can change your mouth, you can widen your view But the first brave thing is admitting what you don’t know is true [Bridge] Put the book on the table Let the silence stay Say the names out loud Then choose a different way [Chorus] Learn the weight before you throw the word Listen to the lives you’ve never heard Slavery was real, and the wound runs deep Truth isn’t cruel just because it breaks your sleep If you don’t know, then ask, don’t defend A better heart begins where excuses end [Outro] I had a friend who didn’t know back then She could stay the same, or she could start again The door is open, but the truth comes first Unlearn the harm before you repeat the worst