About the song
A story for this song hasn’t been added yet.
Words from the artist’s archive
Raised Here Still lyrics
Artist-supplied lyric sheet, matched by title. The sheet may differ from this released performance. Production notes and alternate promotional cuts are omitted.
Read the lyric sheet
Intro
Four corner blocks feel different these days Quiet ghosts where we used to celebrate New signs shining where the old ones stayed Neighborhood heartbeat slipping out the frame
Pre-chorus
But I still hear echoes in these streets Old souls humming underneath the concrete
Verse 1
Used to hit the greasy spoon that knew my face by name Now it’s cafés selling drinks I can’t pronounce the same Milk-crate domino kings gone since rent turned cruel They renovating, code for clearing out the truth they rule Sidewalks cleaner now, but it feels like a warning note Like polish on a story someone’s trying hard to revoke Laugh lines fading from stoops where the kids once played Whole block feels staged, like culture slowly being unmade
Chorus
Who raised this block? We did, brick by brick Now they paint it new, like we never lived in it Still we stay loud, let the memories stick You can shift the streets but the soul won’t quit
Verse 2
Kids wander further since their hangout spots died Sneakers scraping pavement where their joy used to reside Elders get ignored by the dog-walk crowd Invisible in the place where they once stood proud Families weighing “stay cramped? or “start again? Packin’ memories in boxes they can’t afford to defend Learnin’ home ain’t promised just 'cause you gave it life A whole generation trained that roots can slip overnight
Bridge 1
Sometimes anger sounds like construction drills, Sometimes grief tastes like silence where laughter spilled But history ain’t disposable if we choose to feel If we speak our names loud enough, the loss turns real
Verse 3
Murals painted over but our colors still bleed through Sneakers on power lines waving “we were here to you Soul food swapped for salads but the scent won’t fade It lingers in the wind like the songs our block made Cars blast old anthems just to mark the claim Echoes bouncing off new windows that forgot our name We’re the pulse in the pavement they can’t redesign Neighborhood spirit locked in every power line
Chorus
Who raised this block? We did, brick by brick Now they paint it new, like we never lived in it Still we stay loud, let the memories stick You can shift the streets but the soul won’t quit
Bridge 2
We’re still here, louder than the drills and plans Culture don’t vanish just 'cause it changed hands Every story they erase, we rewrite in stands Home stays alive when the people take command
Chorus
Who raised this block? We did, brick by brick Now they paint it new, but we still live in it Hold the line strong, let the memories stick You can shift the streets but the soul won’t quit
Chorus
Who raised this block? We did, brick by brick Still we reclaim every inch they flipped Voices ring out till the truth uplifts You can shift the streets but the soul won’t quit
Outro
Neighborhood heartbeat still under these lights Past in our pockets, future in our rights Raised here still, and we won’t lose sight
Inside the recording
Four corner blocks feel different these days Quiet ghosts where we used to celebrate
But I still hear echoes in these streets Old souls humming underneath the concrete
Neighborhood heartbeat still under these lights Past in our pockets, future in our rights
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.