Take A Minute lyrics - K'naan

How did Mandela get the will to surpass the everyday

when injustice had him caged and trapped in every way?

How did Gandhi ever withstand the hunger-strikes at all?

Didn't do it to gain power or money if I recall. It's the gift,

I guess I'll pass it on, mother thinks it'll lift the stress of Babylon

my mother knows, my mother she suffered blows

I don't know how we survived such violent episodes

I was so worried, it hurt to see you bleed,

but as soons as you came out the hospital you gave me sweets yea,

they tried to take you from me, but you still only gave 'em some prayers and sympathy

Dear Mama, you helped me write this

by showing me to give is priceless

[chorus:]

And any man who knows a thing

knows he knows not a damn, damn thing at all

And every time I felt the hurtin'

I felt the givin' gettin' me up off the wall

I'm just gonna take a minute to let it ride

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe

I'm just gonna take a minute to let it ride

I'm just gonna take a minute and let it breathe

All I can say is, the worst is over now

we can serve the hard times, divorce is over now

They try to keep us out, but they doors is open now

my nigga Akon is gettin' awards and covers now

This K'naan, and still reppin' the S

Comin' out of Muqdisho and still draped in the mess

And no matter how we strong homie

It ain't easy comin' out of where we from homie

and it's the reason why I can never play phony

"Tell 'em the truth" is what my dead homies told me, ooh yeah

I take inspiration from the most heinous of situations

Creatin' medication out my own tribulations

Dear Africa, you helped me write this

by showin' me to give is pricless

[chorus]

Nothin' is perfect man, that's what the world is

all I know is

I'm enjoyin' today, you know

'cause it ain't every day that you get to give

[chorus]