[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
[Interlude: Lupe Fiasco]
"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted
The indifference of those who should have known better
The silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most
This, has made it possible for evil to triumph."
- Selassie, uhh
[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
Man's limitation, transfiguration
Haka dance done at the welcome to the demo
Modern man comes to the weddin' in the limo
Mixin' doves with the rice rain
Uncle Ben's off the rails on the night train
And that storm took us to the platform, pushas
Back to the bachelor's backdoor, unhook us
Hope this track take you back to where the fat girl pushed us
And that's very old
Like Blackberry Bold but the juice
Sweeter than where the party at, or
Releasing these niggas from the roofs, and
Leavin' these niggas on the loose, or
Keepin' these niggas in the coops, and
Leavin' these niggas on the noose, free!
Shamu fan got a world to see!
[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
[Interlude: Lupe Fiasco]
"Then until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
That until there no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes."
- Selassie
[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
To the limit, the limit in the Methadone clinic
Ridin' with the pack like a Peloton
Flyin' with the sack in the trap like the pregnant
As it breaks in the backs from the cracks that we step upon
If I triple my worth, will it cripple my mom?
If I simple my search, will it mental my calm?
Will it hurt if I give you my palm?
To tell in it, don't put a nail in it
How you gonna see the world if you a whale in it
And readin' my palms like there's braille in it (braille in it)
Is it the trail or the forest? (forest)
Or the forest with the trail in it?
That's a sail with a 12 in it
Water coming through from impalin' it (water come through for me now)
Nothin' left of the boat but my holes
Still I fill up the world and I float like Haile
[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
[Interlude: Lupe Fiasco]
"A qualified man with vision, unmoved by daily selfish interests
Led to right decisions by his conscience
In general, a man who knows from whence he comes
And where he's going will cooperate with his fellow human beings
He will not be satisfied with merely doing his ordinary duties
But will inspire others by his good example
You are being watched by the nation
And you should realize, that you will satisfy it if you do good
But on the contrary, you do evil
It will lose its hope and confidence in you."
- Selassie
[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
Hydrant open wide, on the side of the colonized
Swimmin' in the street, fell asleep on my mama thighs
Blockin' out the noise that destroys little boys
Live enjoy, ships ahoy, get deployed by the rock-a-byes
D-d-d-deep into the sea of my dreams
Lyin' fall asleep at the feet of my queen
Hawk, I'ma write to the beat of your wings
Song for the Ethiopian King, Haile
[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
[Interlude: Lupe Fiasco]
"Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted
The indifference of those who should have known better
The silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most
This, has made it possible for evil to triumph."
- Selassie, uhh
[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco]
Man's limitation, transfiguration
Haka dance done at the welcome to the demo
Modern man comes to the weddin' in the limo
Mixin' doves with the rice rain
Uncle Ben's off the rails on the night train
And that storm took us to the platform, pushas
Back to the bachelor's backdoor, unhook us
Hope this track take you back to where the fat girl pushed us
And that's very old
Like Blackberry Bold but the juice
Sweeter than where the party at, or
Releasing these niggas from the roofs, and
Leavin' these niggas on the loose, or
Keepin' these niggas in the coops, and
Leavin' these niggas on the noose, free!
Shamu fan got a world to see!
[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
[Interlude: Lupe Fiasco]
"Then until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior
Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
That until there no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation
Until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes."
- Selassie
[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
To the limit, the limit in the Methadone clinic
Ridin' with the pack like a Peloton
Flyin' with the sack in the trap like the pregnant
As it breaks in the backs from the cracks that we step upon
If I triple my worth, will it cripple my mom?
If I simple my search, will it mental my calm?
Will it hurt if I give you my palm?
To tell in it, don't put a nail in it
How you gonna see the world if you a whale in it
And readin' my palms like there's braille in it (braille in it)
Is it the trail or the forest? (forest)
Or the forest with the trail in it?
That's a sail with a 12 in it
Water coming through from impalin' it (water come through for me now)
Nothin' left of the boat but my holes
Still I fill up the world and I float like Haile
[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
[Interlude: Lupe Fiasco]
"A qualified man with vision, unmoved by daily selfish interests
Led to right decisions by his conscience
In general, a man who knows from whence he comes
And where he's going will cooperate with his fellow human beings
He will not be satisfied with merely doing his ordinary duties
But will inspire others by his good example
You are being watched by the nation
And you should realize, that you will satisfy it if you do good
But on the contrary, you do evil
It will lose its hope and confidence in you."
- Selassie
[Verse 3: Lupe Fiasco]
Hydrant open wide, on the side of the colonized
Swimmin' in the street, fell asleep on my mama thighs
Blockin' out the noise that destroys little boys
Live enjoy, ships ahoy, get deployed by the rock-a-byes
D-d-d-deep into the sea of my dreams
Lyin' fall asleep at the feet of my queen
Hawk, I'ma write to the beat of your wings
Song for the Ethiopian King, Haile
[Chorus: Nikki Jean & Lupe Fiasco]
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
Haile Selassie, high as the eyelids of osprey, I'm thriving
Poseidon, your trident can't stop me, from diving
I'm looking for my, looking for my, looking for my, as I float
Brand new shell for my ghost, tattoos all on my coast
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Featuring Nikki Jean
Haile Selassie, imperatore d'Etiopia, deposto durante l'occupazione italiana e poi tornato al potere, non fu certo un esempio di sovrano illuminato, ma il suo governo - nonostante molte ombre - si distinse anche per un impegno autentico per la pace e i diritti umani. Il discorso riportato in una delle strofe di questa canzone รจ alla base della famosissima War di Bob Marley.