This week’s track of the week is K’naan’s Smile – one of my favorite tracks from his album “The Dusty Foot Philosopher.” Although the album dropped back in 2005, the “Dusty Foot Philosopher Deluxe Edition” was released last week, containing new versions of many songs and a couple never-heard-before tracks. A review for the new album will be coming soon, so in the meantime click below to listen to Smile:

And follow along with the lyrics after the break.

[Verse 1]
My tragedy’s different/
My life’s deep listen/
Gotta bail I’m limpin’/
Walk out of hell’s kitchen/
Why bother cherishin’?/
My past is everything/
Wrong and my arrogance/
Walk down the stairs pissin’/
Cop us ‘cause they’re bitchin’/
Life isn’t fair singin’/
Blues and my wrap drippin’/
Ooze out the blood sinkin’/
Deep down to earth thinkin’/
Leave out a nerp chicken/
I should run forfitin’/
Everything I know listen/

I was the misdirected/
I was the least expected/
Hop on and get rejected/
Walk on and feel neglected/
I feel like I’m the message/
Unheard but I’m the message/
I’m the last prolific remaining author from the gutter/

Shot was my girlfriend/
When we were younger/
Her I was scarred yo/
Bullets I survived though/
Death it came easy/
Truth the game needs me/
Never let them see me down, smile while I’m bleeding/

[Chorus]
Smile – when you’re strugglin’/
Smile – when you’re in jail/
Smile – when you’re dead broke/
Smile – and the rent’s due/
Smile – you ain’t got friends now/
Smile – no one knows you/
Never let them see you down, smile while you’re bleeding/
Smile – when he leaves you/
Smile – ‘cause girl he needs you/
Smile – plenty single mothers cry the tears you do/
Smile – despite the war/
Smile – despite the pain yo/
Never let them see you down, smile while you’re bleeding/

[Verse 2]
To my man currently in prison – I can’t speak your name/
It hurt me that you never listened – it can’t be the same/
I had to grow my intuition – had me deep in pain/
‘Cause I knew my options were either broke or the prison chains/
I can’t do it, I can’t see it – look dammit I can’t blow it/
I got judges telling me my life’s key they will throw it/
Uh-uh, no sir, I plan to have a chauffeur/
And it seems to me this chopping crack is really going nowhere/

Therefore I’m resurrected/
The call me the poor injection/
I infect you with the real/
The dusty foot philosa-hecta-guy/
I spit so sick I skid out/
I’m falling, I’m shit out of luck, and I’m trapped – but I’ll get out/

Can you help me?/
I’m going crazy/
My mom plays tricks/
And I beat on floors like Bushwick/
My fists bloody and blistered/
A pair like I’m ballistic/
I just stare at the red and smile while I’m bleeding

[Chorus #2]

[Verse 3]
There are a few things you gotta take into account/
I’m not an entertainer, I’ve never been a clown/
I was born where the mothers give birth while they frown/
I would walk with the kids that would bbbrrraaa a sound ah/
Never really thought I’d make it to fourteen/
And anybody wanted to fight I was most keen/
Plus I had a little temper it was often forseen/
Say something about my mama, I’s shoot you dead out clean/
But you gotta keep in mind that I grew up in Mogadishu/
The only law was gun law and when you don’t walk with a pistol/
You get laughed at for being so insensitive to the environment/
‘Cause how will you be heard when those big boys is firin’?/
War is no place for a child/
Especially if he’s rolling with an AK and a smile/
He had witnesses – own mother bloody in a towel/
But please, please, please, please/
Never let them see you down, smile while you bleeding/

[Chorus #3]