Hand On My Chest

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Mama said, keep your head up Granddaddy prayed over rent I was a boy in a hard town Learning what the color meant Cash low, heart heavy Big bills on the table again But I wore praise like armor When the night tried to get in [Pre-Chorus] Seen that stare in the store Seen that door close fast Seen them eyes say a lie Like I don’t belong in back Still I breathe, still I stand Still I let my soul lead If the world get cold on me God stay close to me [Chorus] I keep my hand on my chest I keep my eyes on God They tried to break my name But He knew who I was I keep my hand on my chest When the whole thing gets rough Black man, still here And I’m held up by love [Verse 2] Sister called with the drama Brother came in with smoke Old wounds in the hallway Same pain at the dinner table Mama crying in the bedroom Daddy mad at what he lost Everybody wants to be right But peace is paying the cost I got cousins in the system Friends that never made it home So I pour out my anger Then I let the mercy flow They can judge my skin They can test my name But they can’t touch the fire That my Father placed [Pre-Chorus] Seen that stare in the store Seen that door close fast Seen them eyes say a lie Like I don’t belong in back Still I breathe, still I stand Still I let my soul lead If the world get cold on me God stay close to me [Chorus] I keep my hand on my chest I keep my eyes on God They tried to break my name But He knew who I was I keep my hand on my chest When the whole thing gets rough Black man, still here And I’m held up by love [Bridge] I’ve been angry, I’ve been hurt I’ve been bent by the weight But I learned forgiveness Don’t mean I let it stay I can love my kin While I tell the truth I can lift my voice And still stay rooted [Chorus] I keep my hand on my chest I keep my eyes on God They tried to break my name But He knew who I was I keep my hand on my chest When the whole thing gets rough Black man, still here And I’m held up by love