Odun De! Odun De! (Happy New Year!) - Babatunde Olatunji

Once,

Upon a time a stuttered disgusted me,

Muttered distrust at me,

Pity you couldn’t fly…

I’ve only ever taken what’s mine,

So what if I help you,

I’m helping myself, too?

Twice,

I got the wind knocked out of me,

Why?

Just to curl up and die?

No, I’ve got too much pride.

So I,

I breathe it in then let it out slow,

When I turn to go,

Find you trailing behind.

I fought for every last inch that I got.

Forgive me for leaving my spot.

Not standing in w8 while you finished the race,

With those two broken legs you’ve got.

One thing’s for sure…

If I were you I never would have let it stop me…

I never have before.

And if you knew what I went through while trying to get through to you,

You’d thank me!

You’d get down on one knee,

No matter how much it hurt,

And you would say «I'm sorry»,

But I would say it first…

Once, the two of us were eye for an eye,

Now I’ve given up trying,

How could I be so blind?

You’ll never let me settle the score,

To you I’m the scourge,

Not the the partner in crime.

I fought for every last one of you schmucks!

I might as well have saved my luck.

Not wasted it all on some shortsighted,

Know-it-all,

So-called friends,

You’re not.

One thing’s for sure…

If I were you I never would have let it stop me…

I never have before.

And if you knew what I went through while trying to get through to you,

You’d thank me!

You’d find me in a dream,

On some uncharted map,

And I would say I’m sorry,

And you would want me back…

Once,

The world was just a web and a spider,

And so was I.

A liar in a dress of white.