BORN IN BABYLON

Release Date: 9/29/2009

LYRICS

+ 1. Born In Babylon

Written by Jacob Hemphill

I came from nothing but not nothing like “nothing” “Nothing,” like “nobody thought I was something”… “Nothing,” like “called every name in the book,” But for every second guess, I Never gave a second look Look, I tell myself “Don’t let it get to me.” ‘Cuz if the best they got is not impressing me, then there’s no reason they should get the best of me, while they were aiming at my words they missed the rest of me

How can I stop all these critics from their talking The more I do, the more they say But there’s no way I’m stopping so they just keep on talking, who do you think I think I am?

I got the feeling that there’s more like me Born in Babylon but you just got to be free Shackles on your feet that you and me can’t see, but you can feel them and they’re heavy, so you need that key And now you’re looking at your hands, saying “Man, if I ditch the system, these could be mine.” But then you hear a voice come up from behind, “Don’t even think about stepping out of line…”

My friends are deep and they’re all I got, and they stand up behind me if you like it or not And I’m telling you that the Fire’s Hot, did you see that smoke and did you hear that shot… ‘cuz it’s a war and in the middle I AM So judge now with your pen in hand cuz I’m too busy to judge another man, I’m trying to write the blueprint for all the world to understand They won’t stop talk, and I regret me giving you any little voice at all But saving this world just comes with a cost,… …maybe they were right from the start… “Maybe I should not be myself, ‘cuz I’m just giving these critics help…” And it makes me twist my stomach in half, that My Pen and His pen are put into the same breath. If I never tried to do this at all, then I think he’d be out of a job. “…and maybe I just should’ve stayed in bed, stay out of the booth and put all these guitars in the closet…” “…maybe I should go back to school, but any more education just makes me feel like a fool…” So I guess I gotta let critics talk, ‘cuz I WON’T STOP

+ 2. Losing My Mind

Written by Jacob Hemphill

There’s no pictures on the wall there’s no rise and there’s no fall, and in the morning, I’m all right, alone without you. There’s no phones and there’s no calls There’s no talking to you at all And I don’t care, late at night when it’s not you But when I look out in the rain I think about the past I want it again I think about the way you feel inside, I start losing my mind I’m losing my mind

There’s no formulated plans there’s no way and there’s no chance – it’s been too long – and it’s all back behind me There’s no going down that road and I know right where it goes If I keep walking away, nothing reminds me

There’s no fights and there’s no tears there’s no need if you’re not here And I’m not the same anyway, anymore There’s no need to write this song ‘cuz there’s no changing what’s been done, And there’s no changing what’s inside And it looks like it’s gonna storm

+ 3. Used To Matter

Written by Jacob Hemphill

See, these days it’s different, It’s all new. The old is gone and I am too. Wishing I was closer to back when it used to matter All my coins are gone, it’s plastic now My iPad’s got me asking “how could all my albums take me down To Back When It Used To Matter?”

[Chorus] Now it seems that we are all wrapped up so tight, light just can’t get in And I feel that we can’t see and I feel, it’s not “maybe” See, my watch is worthless, so is my pen And it seems nothing is greater than something that takes me way back when, to back when it used to matter All the words I write are on a screen, And the friends I have have “added” me And there’s no record of anything, and now we all cease to matter

So you die when you turn 22 but they gonna wait to bury you ‘cuz you got a 9 to 5 to do And that’s supposed to matter So you replace your time in between with other peoples’ hopes and dreams And they live their lives on your TV And now you don’t even matter I just want us to be who we’re supposed to be and who we are Doesn’t it seem like we’re kinda far from the original plan From the start Back When It used To Matter The one thing I can’t have is what I want… who decided it’s gonna end up this way? Who decided that you could not stay? You won’t be here by the end of my day, cuz I can’t even listen to the words I say. And they live their lives on your TV And now you don’t even matter I just want us to be who were supposed to be and who we are Doesn’t it seem like we’re kinda far from the original plan from the start Back When It Used To Matter

+ 4. Bleed Through

Written by Jacob Hemphill and Black Boo

Every time I pick up a pen, it’s all you And there beside me in my mirror, all I can see is us two, the pages turn so fast, and like all old pages do, the words, they bleed through

Get back in my arms, they’re just hanging by my side Losing hold of you has left me dry Tell me where you run to – where do you hide? You know you never once left my mind Tell yourself I’m sorry for the things that I’ve done Tell yourself you’ve never seen the barrel of that gun Tell yourself it’s over now and not to run And tell yourself I’m sorry for what I’ve done

Listen while I’m talking, I don’t do it too much I can’t help feeling that came between us What ever happened to the way that it was? The one thing I can’t have is what I want… Who decided it’s gonna end up this way? Who decided that you could not stay? You won’t be here by the end of my day, ‘cuz I can’t even listen to the words I say

I swear you never really miss it till it’s half gone and you tighten up your grip trying to hold on didn’t really appreciate it when it’s in your arms and you can relate to every word in your song like was I wrong? But I know I’m right but in hindsight, I blame the limelight maybe I just needed time to get my mind right maybe we’ll recon- nect when the times right trying to think about the causes – was I too bossy – exactly what the cause is I was told to step in love with some caution ‘cuz love and shit is no difference in the darkness but love is where the heart is and you can see the blood as it’s dripping through the gauzes so I guess I fell out of love with her smile and more in love with applauses

It’s quiet in my house, your silence is my home, and everything reminds me that I am all alone It’s quiet where you used to be, and now that you’re gone it’s not a sound, not a word, but a dial tone It’s quiet when I’m drinking It’s quiet when I smoke, It’s … when I’m eating, oh and I sleep all alone It’s quiet now, it was louder then, I stand still like a stone Only from my dreams you won’t go

How did I get in this predicament was I influenced by the benefits ‘cuz I was hitting on so many chicks, loving you and leaving you was the only sentiment but I guess I wasn’t ready for you ‘cuz I’m rubbing your feet, cooking spaghetti for you taking you to parka, winning teddies for you but in my heart I’m thinking there’s someone better for you but my heart’s like “No, not this again cut it out Black, you know how this’ll end.” And I swear that I really was listening but my ___ was yelling and my heart was just whispering so you know who I listened to now my heart’s bitching ‘cuz he’s missing you got my eyes staring at some old flicks of you and my nose swear that he still smells the scent of you and my soul’s saying “Damn, she was meant for you.”

Why won’t you come back I’m losing part of myself I’ve been wondering, watching, waiting so long I’ve been talking I been listening I’ve been writing my songs I’ve been hoping you’ve been hearing on this radio now, that I’m not with you but I MISS YOU.

+ 5. You and Me

Written by Jacob Hemphill with inspiration from Boomer

It’s You and Me and it’s always been and how I feel about you, there’s no end. But you made me chase you around And then you need me again when you fall down.

And when this dance is done, you and me are still the only ones. Yeah, since Time begun and I’m still with you even when you’re gone. So I start it, and you stop it So I want it knowing that you’re walking away.

It’s you and me and we’re back again… Don’t introduce me to all your “new friends,” man… Why do you make me chase you around? Why do your words make me not make a sound…

+ 6. Don’t Forget

Written by Jacob Hemphill

It wasn’t you, it’s just the way we Roll the dice, if these cards would fall right It wasn’t you, it’s just the timing and the place that’s wrong and something is gone, but Don’t You Forget about the Life that we talked about you cruise and you’re forgetting: Table’s got a leg to stand on, A life to hang on, it’s you that you Deceive

It wasn’t you who put yourself in all these games, these neverending ways, yeah… I know it’s not you – ‘cuz I can feel the Fire blaze those same Light Rays, yeah

It wasn’t you ‘cuz noone sees themselves At all the same as Anybody else and It wasn’t you ‘cuz every little thing has changed, but I know it’s never too late we all need some legs to stand on

+ 7. Decide You’re Gone

Written by Jacob Hemphill

I used to think that I could go this all alone, I used to think I could do it by myself But I found another one like me walking alone, I don’t think she stands a chance with no one else But anyway,

[Chorus] I’ll be here, and you’ll be there, and we’ll be by the phone I’ll be sitting, watching you waiting for you to decide you’re gone

When I’m calling, if I’m calling someone else, it don’t feel the same as when I’m calling you. I mean it. And in a world I more and more can’t understand it would be hard to lose something that I do So watch the days, ‘cuz they all turn into the night. And watch the sun ‘cuz it turns into the moon And in a world that won’t stop turning us around At least we know who we can turn to

Is it too much, Is it too far, Is it too long, And now you’re gone And I’ll be here, And you’ll be there, and you will decide that you’re gone

+ 8. I Don’t Wanna Wait

Written by Jacob Hemphill

They say “way back when knew how” but there’s nothing telling you now just to Do your right and not your wrong, when wrong is easy, and right is hard, and we’ve all got our weaknesses and only you know what yours is But your “tomorrows” are all that seem to escape from your lips…

[Chorus] But I don’t wanna wait today for something that might never ever show it’s face again A promise that I’ve heard too much already, to me, it seems ridiculous to trust in all of your games you play. It’s 1 life, 1 world, 1 chance And I don’t wanna wait

Moving forward to right now – A government that let us down – A racist leader noone trusted – An army that’s bigger than us and – A poverty on a global scale – A fragile world with fragile air and fragile water I’m sure they’’ll put off till tomorrow…

I’m skipping forward to the ending, to that point all too impending, to that moment that all this stops, that one day when that bottom drops and WE remember our voices, we had our chance, and we had our choices, but TIME is a luxury WE AS A PEOPLE might not no longer afford …there’s not enough time… …you know I’ve got a lot on my mind… …I could reach the end of the line… …no, I’m not fine… It’s not for me, I’m done with all your games, I realize now that I don’t wanna wait

+ 9. I Tried

Written by Jacob Hemphill and Gentleman

I can’t forget that day I got you there’s something about you, I just watched you Like something I tried but I forgot to… It’s not that I want to It’s just that I lost you Thoughts of you run over in my mind and I Try so hard to just press rewind. Something I held maybe one time and I… All I do is think But thinking about you never brought you back, so far from you in my mind I go. But my heart hurts and brings me back before I know And all I do is think I tried to change, I tried to stay, I tried to stay the same I tried to work I tried for her, I tried

All I know, the more that I think about it is the deeper the doubt it is unsure what this emotion prom- ises, what kind of pain and strain it is so many times I’ve done that before, told myself that I should know more seek and get past it, now that I lost it, there is no bridge so how can I cross it down so low in the valley of decision, clouded mind disturb- ing my vision bleeding heart af- fecting my vision, compromising on this love mission and no matter how me try, still she can’t just satisfy, how could the truth be a lie water drop out of me eye ‘cuz me see the well run dry.

Memories of you keep flashing through my mind can’t keep it up and me can’t resign, desolation street and me nah see no sign. Got to rise above, to cross borderline

+ 10. Never Ever

Written by Jacob Hemphill

She’s looking like she might’ve felt all this before yeah like she’s seen all of these signs I’ll understand if she can’t do this anymore She’ll understand if I stay blind, you know

[Chorus] Because I never ever wanna look around Out of my sight and I’ll be out of town…

She asks me “Look how could this all be so simple?” “Simplicity is in your mind.” I’ll understand if she just walks right out that door, I keep my love on the inside

Because I never ever want to slow down I’ve got no moss and she’s got no hope now Sometimes I wonder what is all this running for she knows the thought’s crossed my mind But then I put my feet right back down on earth and this world spins one more time

+ 11. Summer Breeze

Written by Jacob Hemphill and Bobby Lee

You can feel it in the summer breeze, there’s something in the trees, some kind of long lost feeling It kinda feels like there’s something wrong, something that we’re doing, or not doing, it’s far gone…

Another way that maybe we forgot, but maybe we still need… …what am I not remembering… ‘cuz I can feel it in the summer breeze, and it keeps calling me…

So I’m singing out so birds start singing again And I’m playing just so bells start ringing again… And I’m yelling, hoping I’ll start thinking again, and chasing after your in-born concept I catch a flicker in the mirror ‘cuz I’m looking for you but all I see is me but I know that’s hardly true. The T.V. lies to Me red, green and blue (rgb) turn it to black and stare and I can still see you…

I try to search inside myself to find the right and the wrong But it’s so complicated; knowing what to keep anymore It’s even harder to put into words or write in a song, But for some reason I can’t move along ‘cuz karma happens, doesn’t matter ’bout which bible I got and I can feel it in the air whether I read it or not, so I’m continuing to search and watch this road that I walk, it’s on the tip of my tongue so I talk

I can remember in my mind way back before my time a memory lived through my DNA line And… I can see it in Jah signs that we could be just fine let history reveal the truth we need to find but… The memory’s are long gone forgotten truths hid from the youths through many years by babylon so… So we sing it in this song with hopes to resurrect consciousness back through our daughters and our sons yeah

I got this feeling that I’ve had in me before I could speak And when I could, I couldn’t tell people how it felt to me It’s like there’s something in my heart that lets me know that I’m free, but I don’t ever know when that will be that’s if I name it. Also, if it even happens at all, ‘cuz I’m related to a place I’ve never been to or saw… …until that day I’m watching, waiting on this road that I walk, it’s in the back of my mind all day long

+ 12. Waking Up

Written by Jacob Hemphill

I’m just now waking up to what life is facing us and to what we’ve all become Some people call your name, but it’s not the same… I’m just now waking up

We think we know good, we think we know the bad, we think we know just what this world is spinning for We think we move up, while we’re stepping back increasing till this world, it just can’t take no more And I’ve got myself to blame, my acid rain is my tears My church is blue and green, from space, I mean, it’s clear… We’re supposed to watch over this world, ‘cuz we’re the ones with all the guns and all the cars. But all we do is increase the load, ‘cuz we’re the ones with all the guns and all the cars And we’ve got our shoes to fill, and we won’t until we drop ‘cuz this race can’t be endured if we don’t know where to stop we’re visiting here, we’re just passing here, can’t settle down we’re like the wind here, yeah we blow in here and we blow out But I’ve got myself to blame, and I want be here for too long But I’ll leave my footprints here before we’re all gone.

+ 13. Thunderstorms

Written by Jacob Hemphill

I don’t know one thing about you not knowing a thing about me ‘cuz we drop down into all your thunderstorms, and claim it’s not your lightning So now the fire’s gone in my eyes they grow cold for a while and I don’t feel your heat These words have been said over and around it, but I don’t hear no talking, you’re talking I’ll be stopping, I’ll be starting, I’ll be wondering why we don’t know what we do… I’m a be the same, even if I’m walking by my self I’m just wondering why… I never ever saw us clearly, and clearly we’re both to blame But silence and progress were my thing and your thing was calling my name Now you can see your whole life without me I’m quietly in mine without you The distances of continents and the phone calls offsetting them, there’s some things that I guess I can’t do, too… So my name remains Prisoner, trapped in my world that’s gone. And I’m the only one who still lives here, and I’ve got all the lights off Now you can stop and visit me in my cell and we can talk if we’ve got the time then you can start to go on your way ‘cuz I believe I’ve found mine…

+ 14. Here I Am

Written by Jacob Hemphill with inspiration from Marley

She calls me when I’m in town, I pretend I’m not around but she sees on her screen I am, so here I am, here I am.

She don’t call me one and only, no, she just calls me when she gets lonely something I do gets her there, so feel better + get well… There’s no love without this pain there’s no one time without again And there’s no way that I am what she needs now – I’m just a passing glance not a for sure, but a chance and there’s no way that I am what she sees now…

Backwards now and we’re back again sideways just to find our friends on this road is changing every thing I know upside down inside my head, let’s just talk about something else The sun gets brighter and takes me along… Oh these curtains never close – – there’s only one way that this goes – we turn in circles and we lose our places new faces around, but no replacements I’ve found… Can we just find a way to go back home…

+ 15. Rest of My Life (Bonus Track)

Written by Jacob Hemphill

[Chorus] If I could spend the rest of my life with my people I would do it over and over again Leave it up to them to fill up their steeple Leave it up to us to fill up on our friends If I could spend the rest of my life with my people I would do it over and over again I’m within my mind and I know there’s no equal When I’m falling out yo they pull me back in, yeah

[Verse 1] It was long ago and we were younger so And our lives we part wrote Feel it, the feeling yeah And I remember everyday Sometimes it’s too much to take I break down, without no heartache And I mean it, and I mean it

[Verse 2] They say we’ve had fun but let this go This music don’t go deep but no We think we could help this world if only we try But we grow up, at least that’s what they say We can’t do this when we pray But I tell myself everyday that none of that applies

[Verse 3] All I really need, is all I ever seen Only thing works for me is to feel it, the feeling And when we turn to leave And others turn to be It’s always on my sleeve And I mean it, and I mean it