Forgive Them Father

Y'all knew I couldn't do this blog on songs that have moved me without Lauryn Hill, right? Right?! Because ALL her music has moved me. So which song?  After much wrangling, I've settled on "Forgive them Father" from the epic album Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (even though MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 is no less potent in my books).

Recorded at the Bob Marley Museum in Jamaica, "Forgive them Father" has an unmistakable island feel to it. As far as I'm concerned, the chorus is ridiculously catchy and I can't help myself from warbling loudly along with it.

I also love the way it draws on the Bible, quoting Luke 23:34 and referencing the Lord's Prayer, John 3:30 and Matthew 7:15.

Lauryn also doles out some damn straight life advice:

A friend once said, and I found to be true //
That everyday people, they lie to God too //
So what makes you think, that they won't lie to you?


[Shelly Thunder]
Forgive us all trespassers as we forgive those that trespass against us
Although them again we will never, never, never trust
Hoo-oo-oo-oo-oo 
Dem noh know weh dem do, dig out yuh yei while dem sticking like glue,
Fling, skin, grin while dem plotting fah you,
True, Ah Who???

[Lauryn Hill]
Forgive them Father for they know not what they do
Forgive them Father for they know not what they do
Beware the false motives of others
Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers
And you never suppose it's those who are closest to you (to you)
They say all the right things to gain their position
Then use your kindness as their ammunition
To shoot you down in the name of ambition, they do
Forgive them Father for they know not what they do
Forgive them Father for they know not what they do

[Lauryn Hill - rapping]
Why every Indian wanna be the chief?
Feed a man 'til he full and he still want beef
Give me grief, try to tief off my piece
Why for you to increase, I must decrease?
If I treat you kindly does it mean that I'm weak?
You hear me speak and think I won't take it to the streets
I know enough cats that don't turn the other cheek
But I try to keep it civilized like Menelik
And other African czars observing stars with war scars
Get yours in this capitalistic system
So many caught or got bought you can't list them
How you gonna idolize the missing?
To survive is to stay alive in the face of opposition
Even when they comin' gunnin'
I stand position
L on the mission since conception
Let's free the people from deception
If you looking for the answers
Then you gotta ask the questions
And when I let go, my voice echoes through the ghetto
Sick of men trying to pull strings like Geppetto
Why black people always be the ones to settle
March through these streets like Soweto
Like Cain and Abel, Caesar and Brutus, Jesus and Judas,
Backstabbers do this
Forgive them father for they know not what they do
Forgive them father for they know not what they do
It took me a little while to discover
Wolves in sheep coats who pretend to be lovers
Men who lack conscience will even lie to themselves (to themselves)
A friend once said, and I found to be true
That everyday people, they lie to God too
So what makes you think, that they won't lie to you

[Shelly Thunder]
Gwan like dem love while dem rip yuh to shreds,
Trample pon yuh heart and lef yuh fi dead,
Dem a yuh fren who yuh depen pon from way back when,
But if yuh gi dem yuh back den yuh mus meet yuh end,
Dem noh know wey dem do,
Dem noh know wey dem do,
Dem no know, dem no know, dem no know,
Dem no know, dem no know wey dem do

#MonthfulOfMusic #HoodMom