Pictures (Stem Cells) Songtext
von Bronze Nazareth

Here, at this final hour, in this quiet place
Come to bid farewell to one of its brightest hopes
Extinguished now and gone from us forever (this goes out to)
(This goes out to a old rapper, yeah)


I took the hammer, went home like a modern Capone
I keep my hat low
Rollin′ up my dreams and then blow
Scoped by the feds, now I'm edgy like the balance pole
Stretchin′ with the calico, saw a face, it was my nigga though
Damn, what's in this city air?
Sitting there next to a picture, at me, it quietly stared
Delusional off the smoke fixture, that shit'll get ya
My granddaddy glared back like me in the mirror
Died of cancer, I never saw death′s face much clearer
Watched him in the Commons, spitting up minutes
He had a cup, loved the Pistons, writing this, my heart′s skippin
Went from Earth to Heaven, sure as the moon'll glisten
Smoke arises from my lungs in this present prison
It′s like his picture sending me message to balance living
He got a grimace like he ashamed in ways
His soul rose out the smoke clouds, I'm calm but amazed
Told him, for one, I feel responsible for Illah Dayz
Shouldn′t have let him leave, he trying to walk and breathe
Tears stream like the end of my Nile, never achieved
He said, "With stem cells, we'll rock live with 14 feet"
My children black royalty, Obama new King
Until that day, my frame′ll hurt, I'm walking for two
It's my honor, only God knows what follows monsoons
Opened my eyes, smoke gone, blunt in the tray
Heard his voice one time, told me to iron my wings
But when danger come, like World War II, pop them thangs

And it is, therefore, most fitting (pictures in the box)
That we meet once again (they′re looking at us, man)
To share these last moments with him


I stash the heat when I move, ′cause the sun don't shine
I keep my eyes low, natural sunglass, pass the wine
I woke by flashing lights in my mind, so clear
That one shot produced a million-piece broken mirror
What′s in the Florida air?
A cold stare from a photograph, looked back as if he could hear
Outlandish off the green lanterns
Anger set in, as we declared out loud "we heat handlers!"
Romancin' plans of blowing trees in deep mansions
My cousin glared back like he ain′t understand
Died a young king, Aunt Deb with her face in her hands
Saw the moon set and dark clouds cryin' on withered plants
Blow tar through my lungs while in my white owl trance
I swear I hear him talking while the clouds dance
Saw his reflection in my chrome and his mouth was movin′
So I ain't turn around like it was Malcolm, I just listened
And then I said I miss him
I feel guilty down here enjoying life while you beyond the solar system
Tears stream and turn into steam on my Smith and Wesson
Said when I rock the crown, he'll shine on me from heaven
My cousin blessed chemistry, a soldier′s salute
′Til then, my lungs'll both hurt, I′m breathing for two
Awoke to sun down, flashin' lights, the wings of a plane
Heard his voice one time, he told me "Walk like a king"
Sometime I′ll stop by and we can talk in a dream

We shoulda kicked it, shoulda had more visits
We shoulda kicked it, now you're gone
The prophet Joshua Stone, martyr to youth who left the glock home
We shoulda kicked it, now you′re gone
The prophet Joshua Stone, martyr to youth who left the glock
We shoulda kicked it, shoulda had more visits

This beleaguered, unfortunate but nonetheless proud community
Has found a braver, more gallant young champion than this Afro-American who lies before us
Unconquered still