Hello America, break your backs for dollars, they don't carry ya
7, 000 miles away from home with language barriers
Land of opportunity, tell me is good to ya?
But 6 feet deep on stolen land is where they bury ya
November 1991, papa came here with a wife
2 daughters, no money, but they wanted them a better life
Piso to their name, so they piecing up the pain
Ain't no peace in a position as an immigrant that's prayin
For a piece of that Americana pie or for the C.R.E.A.M.
To appease the dream they sold you, but it only was a dream
For a piece of mind to thinking that my mama could be seen
As an equal not a foreign immigrant, or in between
I was a kid in the sky nothing but dreams in her eyes
Hopin that we would survive, but mama those were the times
They tellin us compromise, they always feeding us lies
Made to believe I don't exist unless I wear a disguise
'Cuz I been constantly lied to, broken down til I cry
Til I no longer recognize the person that was inside
Until we fade like the sun, and we forget where we from
Then we self hate til it's done, and never question it once
So mama tell me won, the person that I become
I have a sword for a tongue and a skin that shines in the sun
And because the place that I'm from it still lingers deep on my tongue
And so every word that's from my lungs can hold the weight of a ton
If I'm ever slippin', I'm never looking down
I do it for myself, til the end I hold it down
And even when I'm sinkin, I'm never looking' down
I do this for myself, til the end I hold it down
Feeling homesick as we go, mama's never really home
Cuz she workin all alone, livin broke, we need a loan
Papa threatened mamas life, papa left with no goodbye
Promised to myself inside no man will ever make me cry
Now I'm thinking that I'm grown, all I wanna do is roam
Runnin far away from home, in a crowd I feel alone
Mama she be workin late, lines are showing on her face
Too much pressure on her plate, I'm too selfish to relate
Auntie said stay in your home, might get darker cuz you prone
Look into the mirror, oh, Filipino blood and bones
Questioning my skin and tone like I should I be embarrassed though
Whiter skin is seen as gold, this is what we're always told
Mama said to learn their way, every day I emulate
'Til identity erased, overcome by inner hate
Teacher said to hide my tongue, they don't understand me none
Hold my breath these foreign lungs too powerful they like a gun!
I'm correcting mamas words, I'm embarrassed when she slurs
What makes me better than her? this language wasn't her first
Ruby can you get a grip? Find a balance, you might slip
Mom and Donna need you quick, stop thinkin' that you the shit
7, 000 miles from home, but a million more to go
Gotta make it on my own, I can feel I'm gettin' close
7, 000 miles from home, but a million more to go
Gotta make it on my own, I can feel I'm gettin' close