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TAO Pt 3

from TAO by Shad

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about

This is the wrap up. Kind of hits everything before in a sprawling, stream-of-consciousness way and lands ultimately on the main point of the album, which is again re-connection, remembering our humanity. Getting in touch. Produced by New Selph.

lyrics

-- Lyrics --

Thanks for listening
to these cyanide diatribes
In this strange zoo
Where the snakes
Become lionized
Then we can’t Identify the pride
When it’s giant-sized
Bright orange
And not even trying to hide
Trying times
Tyrants flying by
Tech is one big private eye
I just want some heat
Why’s my thermostat’s trying to spy?
Legalized weed but the water’s more privatized
Damn… they leavin us literally high and dry
I’m a quiet guy
But the pattern is clear
From today’s data extraction
Back to them dragging us here -
First man was extracted from the land
To clear the way for extractin from the planet
Now extraction’s just expanded since
They dug up most of the gold and the granite
Now they digging in our souls
and their goal
is extractin our humanity -
All while distracting from the plan
Using literal codes the ppl can’t
And aren’t allowed to understand
Just a handful of companies
Tracking our every movement
We becoming less human
And they call it an improvement
But this aint nothin new its the
Just same despotic
sick logic
That saw all black bodies
As just objects
Now it’s magnified
‘cause we artists all pacified
We supposed to lead
Supposed to be the masterminds
The catalysts
The capitalists have us tied
Now we satirize
The same things we advertise..

Yes it’s as depressing as it sounds!
Even countin all the blessings
Doesn’t lessen the amount
It’s a lot -
So I’m down for
ppl stretching the accounts
To get counselling sessions
Or yoga stretches to the ground
or taking treks into the mountains
quick exits from a town
full of stresses
If it gets us
to the lessons of the Tao
Check it out —
Like Catholics and baptists
That truly practice
Love for all those still
on the road to Damascus
Free meals and masses
Life at long last
Said love’s only in blood
And it cant be kept in caskets
Look we really need to believe
And keep gathering
To keep battling
And keep on the path
we travellin’
It’s hard
home used to be where the heart is
Now its just another market
And everything is a bargain
And everyone is a target
Every month the apartment
Rentals jump in charges
Food —
I always had
But I never once
Could harvest
So I’m still starved in part
From eating garbage
Fake carbs in cartons
Aye, more ppl just need a job
Few ppl can keep the laws
More ppl perceive a problem
Few ppl can see the cause
Few ppl with real family
More ppl just tweetin “Squad”
More ppl leavin their bodies
Their deepest peace has been robbed
We seek relief in the products
And keep receipts
Cuz when we need to eat
That’s when ppl cheat
Greed, deceit
And other evils
seen and treated as legal means
No guillotines
And that’s the elitists’ dream
No revolution
Just so accustomed to corruption
That we shrug it off
Unsurprised anytime that we uncover fraud…
Then Its subtle how it ramps up
From the shadows to a travel ban
Like all of Pakistan plus
Anybody named Khalid’s in the Taliban — what?!
You can almost laugh
Til an Alexandre Bisonnete in Quebec City
Gets a kalishnakov and walks in a mosque…

Now fear is the climate
The mood’s violent
Truth silenced
Since they made the news biased
By saying stations should be free to spew lies and
Not have to broadcast peer-reviewed science
And free to sell anything long as you’ll buy it
We give less youth guidance
And make more schools private
Here
In the land where
the richest dwell
Sickest wealth
Heaven
But we sick as hell
Sickest health
Emotional Sickle Cell’s
Now the new normal
So as far as who is and
Who isn’t well
Well everyone’s too sick to tell -
Let’s lift the veil
Let’s break the witches spell
Spell it out on
a different wheel of fortune:
I’m saying’ it’s just a “L”!
Don’t be afraid
take a risk and fail
Or else sit in jails
Too many minds in
prison cells
bell hooks on my book case
Kristen Bell: I’m in a good place
With what’s written amidst the shelves
Inspired speech
I’m just trying
to applying the teachings
I’ve acquired reading
tales of liars, cheats,
and admired leaders
The irony is
Being down in the mire, deep
Might actually help us
reach the higher peaks
Even while it all feels
Entirely
Tire screech—Dire
Bleak as a secret diary
By The Wire’s
Police or Fire Chief
I’m still believing
More than ever in forever
In together
In a better world
V for vendetta girl
In that cell with the letter
I remember the rush
Of seeing We as a body
And remembering us
From parts dismembered
To peace when we re-enter in touch
When we Re-member
Re-assemble
Re-centre in trust -
Thats whats up!
Low fashion, Canadian style
But I was blessed with radiant smile
So come and stay for a while
Pray for the child
With the soul in his sound
to stay devout
until that hole in the ground
Im no more holy than thou
Just want us to be whole
And holding it down
No controlling the future
But we could take hold of the now
If we dont throw in towel
Shoulder to shoulder in crowds
Let’s decide
Before we bow
Close the show
And be out
TAO

(from parts to dismembered to peace
Remember this
Body
Parts to dismembered to peace
Re-member
Re-member
Reassemble
As a body
Re-enter in touch)

credits

from TAO, released October 1, 2021
Shad - Vocals

Produced by New Selph

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all rights reserved

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about

Shad Toronto, Ontario

Shad is a Juno Award-winning rapper from London, Ontario and the host of Netflix’s Hip-Hop Evolution. His albums have been recognized for their sharp lyrics and soulful arrangements.

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