Kirk Franklin: A whole nation

(feat. Donovan Owens)Ladies and GentlemenI wanna introduce to you right nowYoung Donovan... He's eleven (mmmmm)The problem we're facing right nowIs we're losing our children (ooooooo)Father's we need you (mmmmmm)Can you feel me?[Chorus:]It takes a whole nationTo help me raise this generationWhen you look out of your windowTell me what do you seeIf it's a world without a fatherThen you're looking at meIt takes a whole nationTo help me raise this generationMy respect to the mother's that be holdin it downBut it sure would be nice to have my daddy around.[Verse 1:]All I need is one mic(one mic)I know you can seeI'm not a rapperBut there's some dudes that are just like meEverytime you took a picture with you and your familyIt was only two people and it's supposed to be 3It's supposed to be me asking(Why's the sky blue when I grow up I wanna be like you)Yo daddy can you teach me how to(Tie my shoes can I go with you to work so I can see what you do?)Lemme see what you doSo I can love my kids tooBut you didn't stick around was that too much to ask of you?Too much to get a blueprint(No)Too much to show your way (No)That's the reason why this building is not finished still today(We're lost boys)So you wanna believe that (My daddy's coming back he didn't forget about me)Only child after schoolWe just sit there and wait (I know he's gonna come)Your dad is 78[Chorus:]It takes a whole nation (It takes a whole nation)To help me raise this generationWhen you look out of your window (Look out this evening)Tell me what do you seeIf it's a world without a fatherThen you're looking at me (Come on)It takes a whole nation (Nation)To help me raise this generation (uh uh)My respect to the mother's that be holdin it downBut it'd sure be nice to have my daddy around. (Daddy around)[Verse 2:]Check this outThey say raising kids is the parents responsibility (mmmmm)But there's a million of Y'all and only one of me(hey)What happened to the village as far as I can seeIt's been burned down by this modern day slavery[Donovan:]For 11 years I've been living hereI've seen mamma cry more than 11 tearsWatchin mamma see daddy while he slips awayDoes Jesus really hear kids when they pray?[Kirk:]She's working to jobsShe can't do it aloneShe shouldn't have to she didn't get knocked up on her ownBoth: And I know that baby's mamma dramaBrothas it's realBut before you close the doorDon't forget how it feelsRemember[Donovan:]Daddy missed my game and I made a touchdownI won the talent show but you weren't aroundIf a girl breaks my heart what do I do with this pain (and one more thing daddy)Can you tell me my name?[Chorus:]It takes a whole nationTo help me raise this generation (I need my daddy)When you look out of your windowTell me what do you seeIf it's a world without a fatherThen you're looking at me (Yay)It takes a whole nation (It's a million of us)To help me raise this generation (Oh... uh... Oh Lord)My respect to the mother's that be holdin it downBut it'd sure be nice to have my daddy around.(Everybody that didn't have a father in your life... I want you to stand up and sing this part right here)(Hey)Tell em![Bridge:]Ain't nothing gonna break me down (Yes sir)Can't let nobody take me downCan't let nobody break me downMe down (Sing it)Say it with me nowAin't nothing gonna break me downCan't let nobody take me downCan't let nobody break me down... Me down (Take me down no)(Sing it!)[Bridge]Ain't nothing gonna break me down (Hey)Can't let nobody take me down (Nobody taught me)Can't let nobody break me down... Me down (Break me down)(I had to figure this thing out by myself)(Heaven can you hear me?)Ain't nothing gonna break me downCan't let nobody take me down (can't you here we're lonely?)(Come on)Can't let nobody break me down... Me down (I'll be their father... I'll be their man! Come on)(Yay)[Chorus:](If you feel me say yeah!)It takes a whole nation(Ain't nothing gonna break me down)To help me raise this generation(If you feel me say yeah(Can't let nobody take me down)(I hear you people)When you look out of your window(Can't let nobody break me down... me down)(If you feel me say yeah)Tell me what do you seeIf it's a world without a father (Oh)Then you're looking at meIt takes a whole nation (I know)(Please Lord)(You can't take my joy devil)(Ain't nothing gonna break me down)To help me raise this generation(Can't let nobody take me down)(Daddy could be there?) (Sing it boy!)My respect to the mother's that be holdin it down(Can't let nobody break me down... me down)(Daddy could be there?... oh yea)But it'd sure be nice to have my daddy around. (Oh)Young Donovan (Hey)To be continued (ooooo)Let's go (ohhh)Taking care of your kids is cool (mmmmm)But if you ain't seen em since Christmas[song drifts off]