Reprobate Mind

(Written in 2005 for a performance at Purchase College)

My mind ain't here right now
As time goes by the minds of time wrestle with the sign of the times
What's on your mind?

Well, where is it?
My mind ain't here right
Can you read into my mind, have you seen it?
You don't know me!

It's a sign of the minds of time
When to learn is a struggle
Don't wanna go to class today
No I don't have three-thousand dollars for room and board
Thank you George Pataki and friends

Three-thousand dollars for room and board?!?!

My mom's fine, yeah family's good
No, but I made the waiting list!

You know education is the only thing that really keeps you from learning
Everything you need to learn in life you learned in Kindergarten
What was I gonna say?
Jesus was perfect. I'm not. Sue me!
Where's your head at?

School's fine Huh? Yeah I know, I'ma be 20 tomorrow.
They throwin' me a party lata' tonight at South.

I would like to announce that the problem with society is not my Bush
but yours?
And why do we worship youth in this country anyway?
Yes, why is it cute to have your nana look like it did when you were 6?

She's not 28, you know damn well she like 40!
I can't stand when people be frontin' yo!

This just in: Gangster rappers are a necessary evil
To deceive the minds of this time,
SssExploit women,
And live up to the stereotype of a youth misunderstood,
So, please, I urge you to get your mind right.

Elevating the minds of the times we fail to do.
Deceptions, oppressions, victims of a slave mentality,
Is this my reality?

My mind's tellin' me... (sung) My mind's tellin' me...
My mind's tellin' me... hmm what is my mind tellin' me?
Where's your head at?!

No you can't, save the world but you can, change the world one by one
Yes it starts with one
Each one teach one
Teach my mind
What have I learned?
Keep the toilet seat up, there's tissue in there and you got hands right?
Talk to strangers, why not?
That's how you meet people, it's called networking.
And sometimes please and thank you is implied by the tone of your voice.

Voice, voice, choice.
Yes you have a choice to have your voice be heard.
Life is like 4 (or 5 or 6 or 7 for some of you) years at Purchase:
It's really what you make of it.

It's a sign of the times to have a reprobate mind,
But this time I changed my mind.
No victim to society.
Climb that hierarchical chain,
Yes, I will play their game
'Cause in order to beat the system you gotta use the system.

I believe we need to step off this falsified ladder up,
And lead us not into stagnation.
A stagnant nation due to the youth of a stagnant nation;
Underdeveloped nations
One nation under God?
Leading to a life of eternal damnation. 

Aww do you need a hug? So what if you don't like hugs?
No I know they don't fix things but I like giving them!
JUST HUG ME!

What was I saying?
Yo where was my mind today?
It ain't even here right now...
Don't mind me I'm just an undergraduate.