What Will They Remember?

Lyrics

WHAT WILL I LEAVE BEHIND? Original African Rooster Song — Part 5: The Legacy [INTRO — SPOKEN, SOFT PIANO] One day... My children will be grown. They'll have their own homes. Their own families. Their own dreams. And maybe one day... They'll sit together and talk about me. I wonder what they'll say. Will they remember the things I bought them? Or the times I held their hands? Will they remember the money I made? Or the man I tried to become? And when I'm no longer sitting at the table... What will I leave behind? [VERSE 1 — QUIET, VULNERABLE] I've walked through storms nobody saw, I've lost some things I thought were sure. I've carried worries through the night, And prayed to see the morning light. I've watched the years go rolling by, With dreams I couldn't let them die. And now I look into their eyes, And see the reason I still try. [PRE-CHORUS — VOICE BREAKING] I cannot give them yesterday, I cannot promise skies of blue. But I can show them how to rise, When life is hard and dreams feel few. [CHORUS — EMOTIONAL] What will I leave behind? When I run out of time? Will they remember how I loved? Will they remember how I tried? I may not leave a mountain of gold, But I can leave a story told. A little courage, a little light, A dream that learned to fly. Oh, what will I leave behind? [VERSE 2 — THE FATHER'S PROMISE] I want to teach my children how, To build a better tomorrow now. Not just to wait for someone else, But learn to do some things themselves. To see a problem, lend a hand, To make a difference where they stand. To use their names, their hearts, their minds, To help the people they can find. I want to tell them, "Don't be scared, To start again when life's unfair. You may be tired, you may be slow, But there's still so much you can grow." [CHORUS — WITH GOSPEL HARMONIES] What will I leave behind? When I run out of time? Will they remember how I loved? Will they remember how I tried? I may not leave a mountain of gold, But I can leave a story told. A little courage, a little light, A dream that learned to fly. Oh, what will I leave behind? [VERSE 3 — BUILDING SOMETHING THAT LASTS] I found a little skill to learn, A talking website, a brand-new turn. I learned to help a business grow, And share the things I came to know. One little customer, one little start, A bigger purpose in my heart. Not just a service, not just a sale, But something useful beyond myself. And if my children want to learn, I'll show them every lesson earned. How to serve, how to create, How to build with love and faith. [BRIDGE — NEAR WHISPER, THEN RISING] My little ones... If you hear this song someday... I want you to know... I didn't always have the answers. Sometimes I was afraid. Sometimes I was tired. Sometimes I didn't know how we would make it. But I never stopped believing... That our story could become something beautiful. [CHILDREN'S CHOIR — SOFTLY] We will remember how you tried, How you kept your dreams alive. Not just the things you gave away, But all the love you showed each day. [FINAL CHORUS — FULL AFRICAN GOSPEL REGGAE] This is what I'll leave behind! Not just money, not just time! I'll leave a dream, I'll leave a name, I'll leave the courage to begin again! One little skill, one helping hand, One more dream across the land! And when my children ask me why, I'll say, "I wanted you to fly!" Oh, this is what I'll leave behind! [OUTRO — SPOKEN, WARM PIANO] My friend... You don't have to be wealthy to leave a legacy. You can teach somebody. You can encourage somebody. You can build something useful. You can show your children that it's never too late to learn. And maybe one day... The dream you woke up inside yourself... Will wake up a thousand more. There are millions of people like you. Find your people. Build with your people. Leave something beautiful behind. SILENT LIVES. LOUD DREAMS. One person. One laptop. One AI.