Born & Raised - Joy Denalane

I was the first of three sisters

My older brothers would treat me like a princess

Sporting flattops and hightop sneakers

My feet too small for my brand-new adidas

7 in the evening when my mama calls

Were playing dodge ball up against the berlin wall

That’s how I was born and raised

Now mama, look at where I am today

It’s alright

Even though we had to struggle

Sometimes

Even if we stumbled

It’s all good

Cause I learned how to stay on my feet

It’s alright

Even though we had to struggle

Sometimes

Even if we stumbled

It’s all good

Cause I learned how to do for me

If my life’s like your life, then I want for you to know

There’s not a thing in the world you can’t achieve

If your life’s like my life, you got to keep on keeping on

Cause there’s so much more you can be

16 when I first left home

Already hard headed thinking I was grown

Berlin girl, half african, half caucasian

Imagine conflicts I’m facing

Skipped school, went clubbin with them black GI’s

Arguments on the phone would make my mama cry

I fell in love with this thug, daddy threw a fit

Only took one year, that nigga’s doing a bid

This is back when P.E.

gave us identity

A young girl in the streets of west germany

That’s how I was born and raised

Now mama, look at where I am today

Hip Hop Soul was the brand new rage

Became my real love with Mary J

I took my first steps on a spot lit stage

It was clear I was here to stay

See it wasn’t always easy on this path I chose

When it starts getting sleazy don’t know friend from foe

That’s when I learned to discern and stand up for me

And took control of my own destiny