Joy Denalane Follow

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

Pre-Chorus:
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

Chorus:
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

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

Pre-Chorus

Chorus

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

Chorus

I was the first of three sisters
My older brothers would treat me like a princess
Sporting flattops and hightop sneakers