"The Oath"
(Yazz)
Loyalty and honor, ride to the death
Learn from these struggles, then apply it to the test
Be like David and Goliath, to these giants, when they pressed
If livin' through your worst got you dyin' for the best
You a Lyon in the flesh
Yeah, you a Lyon in the flesh
Thank God, I'm a Lyon in the flesh (God, I'm a Lyon in the flesh)
No more hurt, no more cryin' when I'm stressed (Nah)
I took the oath to be a Lyon in the flesh (Yeah)
It started out in Philly when the cutie in the streets
Named Cookie met Lucious, it was Beauty and the Beast
Was it lust a first sight or was it love to the end?
Only thing we'll know for sure is they was more than just a friend (Nah)
He would look into her eyes to see the fire within
She looked back into his eyes and saw Messiah in him (Yeah, yeah)
This was destiny, fate, like it was higher than them
Then three boys later, let the Empire begin (Uh huh)
See Andre the oldest son, though, it ain't a surprise
Like his father, dedicated, educated and wise
But Jamal the middle child felt the greatest divide
A lifestyle that Lucious didn't hesitate to despise (Yeah)
Attention between the two, recipe for demise
'Cause everybody know a Lyon's legacy is its pride (Uh huh)
I arrived the youngest child, but I'm right in the zone
Last descendant of a king willin' to fight for the throne
I was bread for this, how could I have feared this point?
My own mama did seventeen years in the joint
I'm here for everything they owe me, I ain't makin' it close
Born ready, so I'm takin' the oath
It go—
Loyalty and honor, ride to the death
Learn from these struggles, then apply it to the test
Be like David and Goliath, to these giants, when they pressed
If livin' through your worst got you dyin' for the best
You a Lyon in the flesh
Yeah, you a Lyon in the flesh
Thank God, I'm a Lyon in the flesh (God, I'm a Lyon in the flesh)
No more hurt, no more cryin' when I'm stressed
I took the oath to be a Lyon in the flesh
Any type of success breed hate, don't it? (Hate, don't it?)
Holdin' the family name holdin' weight, don't it? (Weight, don't it?)
The grind is long, the victory show up late, don't it?
I can't fall, I know my enemies waitin' on it
See, life teach you lessons, can't nobody learn for you (Learn for you)
I watched my mother and father goin' through turmoil
The one's that stab you in your back was never fit for you
Imagine marryin' somebody so they won't snitch on you (Snitch on ya)
Yeah, my family fell out, had clashes (Right?)
But we 'rose like the phoenix from the ashes (Right?)
You ever had somebody ride for you
I mean, go out in a blaze, that'll die for you?
My father said, "Never borrow a beat"
'Cause tryna shine might cost you an arm and a leg (Arm or a leg)
Sometimes, I'm furious from the thought of that
Mama knows life gets serious as a heart attack
I love my brothers, no matter what (No matter what)
We just take the good with the ugly and add it up
Pop shined, 'Dre and Jamal went through it all and patched it up (Uh huh)
But found something great in it all
Now it's us
We took the oath
Family over everything (Family over everything)
Love (Love), Lyons (Lyons)
Yeah
