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The Line in the Rain 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
They looking at me like I got the answer in my hand But the line keep moving every time the rain land
Verse 1
Rain hit seven ninth like it know what we been through Corner store bell ring, "what you need baby" but the eyes say "you" Cousin gone, chalk on the ground, rain already starting to smear System say wait, but the block say the time is here I been the one they call when the badge don't show they face Now the same eyes asking if I got what it take To draw the line myself or let the rain wash it clean Hero or villain, the concrete don't care what it mean
Chorus
The line in the rain where the chalk used to lay Hero when the badge do it, villain when the block do it the same way Rebel with a cause or trouble just to see it break The rain keep falling, it don't care what name we gave They only call it justice when the hands hurt where the hurts from The difference is the story that the rain don't let us keep
Verse 2
Rain on the car hood the night they let the shooter walk Courtroom AC too cold, wooden bench, bailiff radio crackle, talk Mama still got the picture on the fridge, little cousin name still hurt I got two choices and both of them cost more than the dirt One make me the hero they been waiting for Other make me the one they been afraid I was all along Hands still shake when I think about the chalk outline Rain don't stop, it just keep washing what was mine
Verse 3
Rain on the window, I see my face in the glass Or maybe I'm the one who been waiting for the pass To do what they all been asking without saying the words Or maybe I'm just tired of being the one they call when it hurt The line in the mirror don't move when I do It just stare back and ask "who you really trying to prove"
Chorus
The line in the rain where the chalk used to lay Hero when the badge do it, villain when the block do it the same way Rebel with a cause or trouble just to see it break The rain keep falling, it don't care what name we gave They only call it justice when the hands hurt where the hurts from The difference is the story that the rain don't let us keep
Verse 4
Rain on the tin roof of the spot where we used to plan Now the plan is whether I become the monster or the man System failed the block again, they looking for a name I could be the hero or the one who finally brought the flame But the flame don't care who lit it, it just burn what it touch And the hands that light it never come back the same from the rush If I don't... never mind, the rain already know The enemy ain't just out there, it's the part of me that want to go
Verse 5
Rain slowing now, or maybe it's just me getting used to the sound Porch light still on, mama still praying, the block still around If I cross the line, the young ones see the hero fall If I don't, they see the system win again and answer the call The difference between rebel and troublemaker is the why One break the rule to fix what broke us, the other just to watch it die I want them to know the line move when the rain hit But the hands that draw it still got to live with it
Outro
Rain on the concrete And the line keep moving But the hands don't forget
Inside the recording
They looking at me like I got the answer in my hand But the line keep moving every time the rain land
The line in the rain where the chalk used to lay Hero when the badge do it, villain when the block do it the same way
Rain on the concrete And the line keep moving
Excerpts from artist-supplied lyric files matched by title. Lyric sheets may differ from the released performance.