It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
When you look out of the window, tell me what do you see?
If its a world without a father then youre looking at me
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
My respect to the mothers that be holding it down
But it sho would be nice to have my daddy around
All I need is one mike, I know you can see
Im not a rapper but there are some dudes that are just like me
Every time you took a picture with you and your family
It was only two people when its supposed to be three
It was supposed to be me asking why is the sky blue?
When I grow up I wanna be like you
Yo daddy, can you teach me how to tie my shoes
Can I go with you to work so I can see what you do?
Let me see what you do, so I can love my kid too
But you didnt stick around, was that too much to ask of you?
Too much to get a blueprint, no, too much to show the way, no
Thats the reason why this building is not finished today
Were lost boys, still we wanna believe that
My daddys coming back, he didnt forget about me
Like a child after school we sit and we wait
I know that you gon come, but that was 78
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
When you look out of the window, tell me what do you see?
If its a world without a father then youre looking at me
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
My respect to the mothers that be holding it down
But it sho would be nice to have my daddy around
They say raising kids, its the parents responsibility
But its a million of yall and only one of me
What happened to the village? As far as I can see
Its been burned down by this modern day slavery
For eleven years Ive been living here
Ive seen momma cry more than eleven tears
Watching momma be daddy while he slips away
Does Jesus really hear kids when they pray?
Momma working two jobs, she cant do it alone
She shouldnt have to, she didnt get knocked up on her own
And I know that, baby, mommas drama brothers is real
But before you close the door dont forget how it feels, remember
And daddy missed my game, and I made a touchdown
I won the talent show, but you werent around
If a girl breaks my heart, what I do with the pain?
And one more thing, daddy, can you tell me my name?
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
When you look out of the window, tell me what do you see?
If its a world without a father then youre looking at me
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
My respect to the mothers that be holding it down
But it sho would be nice to have my daddy around
Aint nothing gonna break me down
Can there nobody take me down
Can there nobody break me down, me down
Aint nothing gonna break me down
Can there nobody take me down
Aint nothing gonna break me down, me down
Aint nothing gonna break me down
Can there nobody take me down
Can there nobody break me down, me down
Aint nothing gonna break me down
Can there nobody take me down
Aint nothing gonna break me down, me down
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
When you look out of the window, tell me what do you see?
If its a world without a father then youre looking at me
It takes a whole nation to help me raise this generation
My respect to the mothers that be holding it down
But it sho would be nice to have my daddy around