Apple Tree Me
Courage Unleashed: Brother Ali's Resilient Anthem 'Apple Tree Me'
Lyrics
Apple tree me
Expressing identity as rooted and strong like an apple tree.
They throw rocks, I throw 'em apples back
Responding to hostility with positive actions, turning negativity into something constructive.
If you're ruffling my people's leaves
Ready to defend and protect one's community from disturbances.
I guarantee that I'ma stab yo ass
Asserting a willingness to take drastic measures if necessary for protection.
I say it once so you can leave
Clearly stating boundaries and asserting self-respect.
Then we're both gonna have to choose
Emphasizing the need for both parties to make choices and face consequences.
You wake up in emergency
Highlighting potential consequences of conflicts.
I wake up in the custody
Contrasting personal experiences, indicating a life impacted by law enforcement.
We both'll wake up on the news
Pointing to the shared consequence of negative actions being exposed in the media.
I'm always on my post til they release me
Commitment to responsibility and duty until freedom is granted.
To do the least or the most, whatever need be
Willingness to do whatever is necessary, showcasing resilience.
Can't decrease me or DB even briefly
Asserting invincibility against attempts to diminish or harm.
A champion
Self-identification as a champion, a leader.
Stand as a chief until we breathe free
Commitment to leadership until freedom is achieved.
They either honor me or
Facing either honor or cruelty, detached from personal influence.
Shower me with cruelty
Expressing a stoic attitude towards external judgment.
Neither one has anything to do with me
Rejecting the impact of judgment on personal identity.
But if you do judge, do it according
Encouraging fair judgment based on reality rather than preconceived notions.
To the reality that this is
Asserting authenticity in the face of adversity.
Me while being tortured
Reflecting on enduring hardship and maintaining selfhood.
I often think of myself as lost, and
Acknowledging a sense of disorientation and searching for identity.
Only thing for certain is a
Highlighting the certainty of mortality.
Curtain and a coffin
Emphasizing the inevitability of death.
Learned my first song from my
Recalling early exposure to music, likely from a parental figure.
Mama then I watched 'em
Witnessing a traumatic event involving a loved one.
Zip her face up in the bag
Describing the aftermath of a tragic incident.
And drag her off and i'm not being dramatic
Rejecting exaggeration, presenting memories matter-of-factly.
I'm just playing back the highlights
Reviewing impactful moments, suggesting trauma replaying in memory.
Things I remember more vivid than my eyesight
Recalling vivid memories, possibly traumatic, more impactful than vision.
Forgive me
Requesting understanding and patience to regain composure.
Give me just a minute get my mind right
Expressing the need for a brief pause to regain mental stability.
Don't expect me spit 'em in a straight line
Acknowledging non-linear expression of thoughts and experiences.
Man i ain't scared, I ain't scared no more
Declaring a lack of fear, possibly due to overcoming past challenges.
Done seen the worst of the worst
Claiming resilience after experiencing extreme adversity.
I ain't scared, I ain't scared no more
Reiterating fearlessness and determination to persist.
Gonna have to kill me first
Asserting an unwavering commitment to one's principles even in the face of death.
The bottom so real
Highlighting the harsh reality of life at the bottom.
When you move away it don't mean I forgot
Affirming remembrance despite physical distance.
I ain't scared, I ain't scared
Reiterating fearlessness and determination, facing challenges head-on.
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