About the song
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Words from the artist’s archive
Mother Tongue lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
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Intro
Mother tongue. The first language you learn love in. Liberty City. Microwave still warm.
Verse 1
Liberty City don't say love, it say you eat yet Grandma prayin in Creole, ain't sleep, ain't rest yet Porch heat heavy like it pay a piece of rent Ninety-five out the window hummin where the night went Never heard I love you, heard be careful 'fore I'm gone Heard call me when you land, heard keep your jacket on That was the affirmation, that was all the words they had Whole block speakin fluent in a love you can't say back
Chorus
She ain't say it with her mouth, she said it with the plate Left it in the microwave, told me don't be out too late That's the only language that my whole block could afford Love don't talk down here, love just walk through the door
Verse 2
Acts of service got a price tag nobody read out loud Momma double shift at Publix, still came home and stayed proud Gas light on but she drove me to the interview Said don't tell me about it, son, just go and see it through Packed a lunch she ain't touch so my plate ain't come up light That's a love that leave a mark and still tuck you in at night Lauderhill apartment, AC broke the whole July She fanned me with a court date, never let me see her cry
Chorus
She ain't say it with her mouth, she said it with the plate Left it in the microwave, told me don't be out too late That's the only language that my whole block could afford Love don't talk down here, love just bleed through the door
Verse 3
Now look at me, I speak it back the only way I learned Hand you everything but the three words you deserve Buy the gift, fix the car, show up when it rain Still can't open up my mouth and tell you 'bout the pain Quality time but my eyes keep driftin to the door Receivin all this love and don't know what it's for The mirror said you momma son, you do the same You give 'em service when they really want your name
Verse 4
Now I'm fightin how I'm wired, hand to hand with my own blood Physical touch a foreign tongue, I flinch up from a hug Opa-Locka raised a soldier, soldiers don't hold soft But my daughter reach for me and all the armor fall off Palmetto in the mornin, I be practicin the line I love you in the mirror till the red light say it's mine Tired of payin love in errands, layaway, and rides Wanna say it with my chest 'fore somebody else dies Overtown done buried men who fixed a engine blindfolded Took the I love you to the grave, casket closed, throat swollen
Chorus
She ain't say it with her mouth, she said it with the plate Left it in the microwave, told me don't be out too late That's the only language that my whole block could afford Love don't talk down here, love just walk through the door Now I say it both ways, 'fore it gettin too late
Verse 5
So I tell my daughter words, I say 'em till they common Say 'em in the Publix line, say 'em in the mornin Still leave the plate, still fix the bike, still show in the storm But now the gift come with a sentence keepin both of us warm Carol City to my seed, I'ma teach the whole dialect Say it with your mouth and hands, that's a love they can't forget
Outro
She ain't say it with her mouth, she said it with the plate Now I say it both, before it get too late Microwave still on. Door still open. You eat yet?
Inside the recording
Mother tongue. The first language you learn love in. Liberty City. Microwave still warm.
She ain't say it with her mouth, she said it with the plate Left it in the microwave, told me don't be out too late
She ain't say it with her mouth, she said it with the plate Now I say it both, before it get too late
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.