A Fathers Lament

[Intro ]
         Cmaj7                   D 
(Hey snoosh, it's your dad, just checkin' on you) 
                Cmaj7                               D 
(Give me a call whenever you can or have some time) 


[Verso 1]
 
Cmaj7                 D 
  When I was no taller  than four ol' feet 
Em              Dsus2 
  Wise ol' Daddy   said to me 
Cmaj7                D 
  "Don't be too much, but don't be too little 
Em                     Dsus2 
  If you wanna get out,   live right in the middle" 
 


[Pré-Refrão]
 
  Cmaj7                          Dsus2 
I can't always save you, little girl 
  Cmaj7                     Dsus2 
I can only pray this filthy world 
        Cmaj7 
Doesn't break you down piece by piece 
     Dsus2 
Like all those people did to me 
        Cmaj7 
They'll comment, prod, and poke your skin 
            Dsus2 
'Cause they just can't stand the sight of it 
      Cmaj7 
And I hope that's not your future 
                    Dsus2 
But just in case it is... 
 


[Refrão]
 
             Cmaj7 
Don't be too loud, our loud isn't their loud 
             Em 
Don't be too proud, girls like you can't be proud 
G                                D 
Humble, smart, and patient, live those words like they're sacred 
       Cmaj7 
You're Black, baby girl 
   Em              G 
Oh-oh, don't waste it 
 

Interlude 
|(G)| G | D | D | 


[Verso 2]
 
Cmaj7                          D6(2) 
  When the dresses got smaller, smaller than me 
Em               D6(2) 
  Dear ol' Daddy   cleared up some things 
Cmaj7                   D6(2) 
  "Now that you're older, you've got to be smart 
Em 
  Don't give 'em one reason to hate you 
D6(2) 
  Don't give 'em one reason to start" 
 


[Pré-Refrão]
 
  Cmaj7                          Dsus2 
I can't always save you, little girl 
  Cmaj7                      Dsus2 
I can only pray this filthy world 
     Cmaj7 
Will lift you up and keep you safe 
    Dsus2 
And you come home every day 
     Cmaj7 
They don't assume the worst in you 
Dsus2 
Just 'cause they don't match your hue 
  Cmaj7                                            Dsus2 
I hope that's not your future, but just in case it is... 
 


[Refrão]
 
             Cmaj7 
Don't be too loud, our loud isn't their loud 
             Em 
Don't be too proud, girls like you can't be proud 
G                                D 
Humble, smart, and patient, live those words like they're sacred 
       Cmaj7 
You're Black, baby girl 
                    G               D 
Uh-huh, don't waste it, don't waste it 
 

Outro 
Cmaj7                     D 
  And in fifteen years, I hope I don't give the same speech 
Em                        Dsus2 
  To my little boy, Tommy,  he likes race cars and Nikes 
Cmaj7                          D 
I hope I can save that little boy 
   Em                       Dsus2 
He is just a kid, and so am I 
     Cmaj7                       D 
Like all the ones before him who hurt and begged to just fit in 
  Em 
I pray this world can find its penance 
  Dsus2 
I hope one day those kids can forgive it