The Free Design - To a Black Boy (Danger Mouse Remix) lyrics

[Verse: Murs] Dear Marcus, I know it's been hard times Since they made you the victim of your so called crime Kinda snatched you out the game of life, in your prime They already took one, we won't let them take nine Since birth it seems the deck was stacked against you to fail With your father not there, mom's in and out of jail But you saw through it all and you chose to excel I can't see why they chose to lock you in a cell Well I'm prayin' that you're free by the time you get this Never known a convict with a 3.96 GPA, but in Rome, GA Black boys havin' s** with white girls, no way In any other state? It would have been okay For two high school teens to have s**ual relations But at age 15, pffft, that's molestation In the great state of Georgia and I really feel for ya She was only three months away from being sixteen You a few months away from achievin' your dreams All American, played on the football team Accepted into Vanderbilt, a scholar in the making And the jury saw fit to acquit you of the raping After only fifteen minutes of deliberation What's the state of our nation when the laws ain't in check? Got you servin' ten years for consensual s** I'm perplexed and ashamed at the games that playin' Tryin' to keep a young man from his life and education Not to mention a family, you've been with since age ten Regardless of your race, they loved you and took you in So let your struggle make you great, don't let it make you hate Know we won't stop workin' till you free from them gates Much love and respect, hold your head God bless From the bottom of my heart, M-U-R-S