Song Description

A song about the pitfalls of not staying true to yourself.

Lyrics

Be Yourself (M. Taylor Pace)

J J was a kid I
knew in elementary
Became my best friend
'cause in class he sat right next to me
His mama drove a Mercedes
'cause they was middle class you see
But J J wanted to be hard
Like the rappers on TV
J J used to make good grades on test he'd let me cheat
But for some reason J J was ashamed
Like what will people think of me
If I'm not down, sticking out
Living just to please the crowd
Never could be myself
Think I'll be somebody else
By 7th grade J J had changed
Smoking weed and acting strange
He ditched his personality
For one he thought was more pleasing
To people he didn't even like
Just trying not to act white
Pissed on opportunity
To get street credibility
The saddest thing about all this
He just wanted significance
No one had ever told him
if he stayed true to himself he'd win
Never will, be happy, without your integrity
Had his sight, now was blind
Can somebody tell me why

Chorus
Why-o, why-o
be so in denial?
Don't live like you wanna
Living life trapped in the corner
Hustle to keep your head above water
Harder, tryin' tryin' harder
but never getting ahead
C'mon just be yourself

Kathy's life was different
She always had a will to win
She turned smoking weed
To keep her body from impurities
But for one thing she had that itch
Be a success meant to be rich
So she did everything she could
To live in the rich neighborhood

For painting she was passionate
But painters didn't make no ends
She thought that it would be more wise
If on her dreams she'd compromise
Not with her heart but with her head
Listened to what people said
Never could be myself guess I'll be somebody else

Got her degree in marketing
She though that it would bring her bling
To see her crib you'd call her blessed
But in her heart felt emptiness
Kathy never mentioned it
But her good life had her depressed
The stress and the anxiety
Would wear on Kathy's self esteem
Always regretted the day
When she threw her dream away
If she would've knelt down to pray
Before she gave her life away
Educated, thought she made
But her life had dissipated
Had her sight now was blind
Can somebody tell me why?

Chorus
Bridge

Sometime life can get the best of you
You just don't know what to do
Trying to make it through
Here's what you gotta do
Never stop loving you
Trust in you
Through it all
You do you

Here's the lesson you should learn
There's a voice you must discern
Time will come to test your strength
But on yourself you must depend
One day this life you have will end
Today's the day you must begin
Living like you know you should
Life can be tough but also good
Don't chase after money
Chase after your heart
Don't try to gain acceptance
Just try to reach the stars
And you will get what you should have
If you seek His Righteousness
Never give up on yourself
Or try to be somebody else