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Heart of a Lion

by Satnam

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1.
Ladies and Gentlemen You are now in tune to the sounds of the legendary And I do mean legendary My name is Satnam and I’ll be your host this evening I wanna dedicate this one To every single girl that has ever broken my heart And let me tell you, there have been plenty [Chorus] If you change your mind, then we could be just fine If you change your mind, then we could be just fine If you change your mind, then we could be just fine If you don’t, girl, know that I will be just fine [Verse 1] Let me preface this verse And say this ain’t about the alphabet Or an alpha male, bragging on about how I could get With any chick, lady luck has always given me The Shaft I ain’t Richard Roundtree, so when I say my luck’s been bad I mean bad meaning bad, not bad meaning good Just a nerdy kid from the burbs, I don’t frequent the hood I don’t push fancy cars, brag about ice in my bars Don’t claim to be a rap star, I don’t claim to be hard Just a mild mannered, heartbroken Clark Kent But with a pen and paper, Superman, dynamic talent I am not a challenge, I put myself out for judgement That’s more than two cents, here's 50, hate it or love it This a job for the Underdog, in underalls rockin’ a cape Rakim on tape, Jay on disc, Kurtis Blow on beat breaks And by breaks I mean the kind that involve your heart Call me The Scientist, Chris Martin, going back to the start - [Verse 2] It was a cold day for Coldplay, Mumford and Sons "Winter Winds" Believing that at one point, you would end where I begin Now I’m a "Little Lion Man", in the city of Zion and I believe that I’m the ONE in this matrix of fake kids But in reality I’m an Avatar by the name of Jake And I’m here today to say I wish to right these mistakes So, I write these mistakes with some paper and a pen All I really ever wanted was to be more than just friends Baby, change your mind, you’re only fooling yourself If you think you’d find someone like me in somebody else I know the pieces fit and I’m not out for a piece of it So believe me, miss When I say that I’m not some piece of shit And I’m not to be dismissed, You'll find out "After The Storm" "I Gave You All," it wasn’t good enough for you anymore This is my "White Blank Page," now I can "Sigh No More" Cause I’ve got the kind of love that you can’t find no more If you change your mind, then I could wine and dine ya If you have my back, then I’ll be right behind ya If you change your mind, then I wouldn’t believe it See If I could show you, you would never leave it If you change your mind, then we could be just fine If you change your mind, then we could be just fine If you change your mind, then we could be just fine If you don’t girl, fuck it, I’ll be fine
2.
[Chorus x2] You know and I know I'm nice like that You know and I know I'm nice like that Because you know and I know I'm nice like that I'm nice like that, I'm nice like that [Verse 1] It's ironic that I was once told that I was psychotic Fought it, can't believe that half of these people bought it I might be neurotic, less so than an alcoholic Motor skills, balance - you could say that I lost it My medicine was the peach Optimos and the chronic I only smoked the bombest dub sacks, call it Jihadist My psych(iatrist) was pushing pills, all types of narcotics And if I signed off on it, those pills would turn me bionic I don't make a lot of cheddar, if I did, I wouldn't flaunt it 'Cause every chick that I know would probably want it But, they didn't want me when I was a starving artist Mo' Money, Mo' Problems - B.I.G. put me on it I'm not Zach Morris in a popularity contest I'm more like Screech with a Krusty The Clown complex In the game of life, I pinch hit - always on deck Plight of the nice guy, nice try, onto the next [Chorus x2] [Verse 2] Now batting, Number 11, on my way to 7th Heaven 7th inning, bases loaded, [I] got my lucky 7's By 7 I mean the ones that I sharpie'd on my sneakers 7 is the number - I'm aiming for the bleachers Dedicated to my teachers who said I would never feature To every non-believer trying to be my fucking preacher This is for all the ladies [that] didn't wanna have my baby Ended up with 7 babies, girl, how [have] you been lately? Life's a bitch, her name's Karma, I'm Satnam from the Dharma My initiative? Put a dent inside your armor Change what you believe in, but my name is not Obama Polarizing figure, though, that's word to my mama Save the Drama for your Entourage, that's word to Johnny And for life I'll be Shining - Here's Johnny! It's fitting me and my fellow nice guys finish last That's because the nice guy ALWAYS gets the last laugh [Chorus 2x] Because you know and I know I'm nice like that You know and I know I'm nice like that Because you know and I know I'm nice like that I'm nice like that, I'm nice like that And yo, I groove like that I'm smooth like that I jive like that I roll like that And I funk like that I'm phat like that I'm in like that Because I'm nice like that [Guru] And you know and I know I'm nice like that
3.
[Chorus] Now is the time to get off your back Now is the time to get on your feet Now is the time to get off your back First breath, first step, because you are free [Chorus x2] [Verse] A disease that plagues and takes millions of lives Each year, they fear, they can no longer survive (Through) Life's struggles, Welcome to the Jungle We see Guns N' Roses at the end of the tunnel Paradise City's found in another dimension Slit wrist, swift miss; cries for attention Ignored by the ignorant, deliberate Belief that the tears we shed are far from legitimate If you've never had to live it, how could you be a cynic? Depression is real, it's not something to diminish Oppression is real, it's not some type of gimmick Compassion is real, it's time to end this division Stop the harassment of those who are different We are all brothers and sisters, Gays and Christians Cut from the same cloth, we live, love and die Matt (Fox) said, "My blood is fire and I bleed life" Your blood is fire, and you bleed life My blood is fire, and I bleed life Your blood is fire, and you bleed life Well our blood is fire, and we bleed life [Chorus 2x] Put a finger in the air, if you don't really care Two fingers in the air, if you've known despair Put a hand on your chest, If you know someone who's left This earth too soon One finger in the air, if you don't really care Two fingers in the air, if you've known despair Put a hand on your chest, If you know someone who's left This earth too soon [Outro - Tablas and Bansuri]
4.
Wishing Doll 02:55
[Verse 1] Love-your-life, cause I love mine Despite the fact that I have yet to find Someone to spend my nights with, spend my life with Reach new heights with, I don’t mean get high with My ideal chick? 5'4", 5'6" Nice lips, hips, nerdy glasses - both thick A romantic; hopeless, ladies make me lose focus Fear’s my opponent, that’s why I don’t approach this Life is too short, baby, but I’m not from Oakland So I eat, sleep and repeat like the band Copeland Fuck a headliner, I’ll be the one that opens Spend the rest of my night lookin’ for skins, (Rex) Grossman I’m hollow like a bottle, spirit’s not broken ‘Cause life’s is an arcade, kid you need more tokens I stay up late nights, trying to write more poems Since I know I’ll sleep when I’m dead, Clive Owen [Chorus] This is how I’m livin’ with the life I’ve been given And I don’t think about what I’m missing Because this is how I’m livin’ with the life I’ve been given And I could give a fuck what you’re thinking, This is how I’m livin’ with the life I’ve been given And here’s a toast to what you’re drinkin’ Because this is how I’m livin’ with the life I’ve been given And I could give a fuck what you’re thinking, Fuck what you’re thinking, thinking, thinking, thinking [Verse 2] And I’m thinking, should I or should I not be drinking? But I’m not thinking, which explains why this ship’s sinking And I’m not Costeau and I’m not Thoreau But my words are oceans, see how deep they go Ground control; Major Tom The earth’s blue like my mood And there’s nothing I can do But live life how I chose to And I choose to - be a better man Life’s a game of cards and I won’t fold this hand Even if I’m on tilt, with an ace up my sleeve I'll never let another person get the best of me I will never let another person be the death of me Only my nerves, that’s what Dallas Green told me Won’t drink my troubles away, I’ll sing my troubles away Because when the music hits, (yeah) you feel no pain Love don’t live here anymore, I know that sounds strange Don’t bring me your love, cause I don’t wanna wait in vain
5.
Last Breath (free) 02:51
[Steve Jobs] Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. [Satnam] It's just "Champagne Wishes, Caviar Dreams" Washing the slate clean on this New Year's Eve As we wish for reprieves from all the dirty deeds Throughout the last year, as we try to believe A list of resolutions is all that we need In reality, we're blinded by the lust and the greed Sorrows drowned in booze and the smoke of the weed Sin is still sin no matter how it's conceived Now that this high is achieved, I can activate the Motivation I need to go out [and] succeed And accomplish anything, and be the man I can be Yet it's not so simple, why try and deceive Our own logical thinking, by thinking that we Need an arbitrary date to set fate's direction and speed And redirect it on a path for us to be free If you wanna be free, listen to your heart, take heed Make changes today, or any other 'New Day's Eve' Be the best version of yourself, you gotta trust me Live a life of honesty, one anyone would wanna lead Keep a positive attitude, then you will see The fruits of your labor; savor it, pass it onto your seeds Life's a struggle, never let the ground meet your knees March forward through the darkness 'til the sun's within reach 'Cause tomorrow's a new day, appreciate it, indeed [Chorus] Enjoy this moment, as if this were the last breath you might breathe [4x] [Satnam] Enjoy this moment, as if this were the last breath you might breathe Last words you might hear, last thing you might see You might be thinking life just isn't peachy And it's a bitter fruit, I ask you to believe me Believing that we can really achieve things If we put our minds to it isn't just for when we're dreaming So dream a little dream, then start seizing Every single moment - cause your time here's fleeting Take risks, leaps of faith, be open to receiving The good and the bad are just lessons for teaching Experience, period, otherwise you're just cheating Yourself out of a full life, that's self defeating Sky is the limit, imagine there's no ceiling If you love someone, then express your feelings No words left unsaid, even when you're leaving Give it your all while your heart's still beating [Chorus 4x]
6.
[Harmony]: I/You got, I/You got, I/You got the heart of, Heart of, Heart of, Heart of a Lion [Optimist - Satnam] Chorus: You say no, and I say yes / Never say no, ‘cause I know best [Pessimist - Chance Random] Chorus: I say no, and you say yes Still say no, ‘cause I know best [Optimist] Thank the heavens, I’ve made it past the age of 27 Won’t be joining Jim, Janis or even Mr. Hendrix Each day I wake’s a blessing, that’s why I’m not stressing All of the small things, What’s my age again? I’m forgetting I’ve got a spotless mind, living in Eternal Sunshine Timing’s everything, not rushing to find Clementine Searching for a better line, better rhyme to better mine It’s a better time, fuck trying to bed a dime No remorse, no regrets, just living for each breath If it’s the last one I get, I’ll be sure to give it my best My best is good enough cause that’s what Thom Yorke said Now It’s time to change the station in my Radiohead Haven’t been “Let Down” - no expectations, “No Surprises” Not checking my mirrors for “Karma Police” when I’m driving (Just) striving for greatness, I consider myself “Lucky” Got the Heart of a Lion, (these) Wicked Witches can’t touch me [Pessimist] PLEASE, take a step back, reassess. you shouldn't think you have wings when you can barely leave the nest/ .. you're just stressed like the rest of 'em. and when the confession’s done, you won't think to question 'em./ fuckin' LOSER, you know just what the truth is.. those bullies were all right even though they're all ruthless./ the puddin's where the proof is, you're useless, believe that. anyone with a head on their shoulders can see that/ who's the cynic? bruised ego trippin' good thoughts? don't listen. play your position./ keep your head down.. i mean the lowest maybe no one will notice when you BLOW IT/ because you will.. and you KNOW IT so don't get your hopes up, you'll only get 'em broken/ .. to pieces you can't pick up so if you're down and out.. don't get up. [Pessimist] Everybody plays (the) pessimist, The weary are restless, so effort always gets bested ..and don't get ahead of yourself but I don't think any of these lessons would help So there's nothing you can do but wear your shame like tattoos And scarlet letters, better do just what you have to Don't you get it? You should quit it Admit it, you'd rather hear the bad news [Optimist] I want you out of my head, cause your baggage is a burden If this is fight club that makes you Tyler Durden And I am Jack’s smirking revenge Cause tonight a Pessimist is gonna meet his end Your villainous words won’t get under my skin Muhammad Ali - one to the chin Down for the count, here’s your bad news Eternal Optimist, I will not lose

about

"Heart of a Lion" is more than just a record for me: it's a fundamental shift in my core beliefs.

As I enter into a new chapter in my life, I'm taking all the lessons I've learned throughout my years on this planet and continuing to progress further as a human being. Life is too short to be sad, depressed and pessimistic about the cards we're dealt. Play your hand, bluff if you have to. Find a way to make the best of what you have.

It's easy to focus on the negative aspects of life. It's a lot harder to maintain a positive outlook. It requires you to walk into this world with your head up high. It requires you to carry with you the heart of a lion.

Stay true to yourself. Don't let this world break you. Never back down. Experience the warmth that this world has to offer you before it's too late. No remorse, no regrets.

Always remember - you've got the heart of a lion.

Note: I will be donating a portion of sales earned from each purchase of "Heart of a Lion" to charitable causes that deal with suicide prevention, such as To Write Love On Her Arms.

credits

released April 17, 2012

Recorded at Darker Earth Studios (Eric Palma)
Mixed and Mastered by Chance Random
"Change Your Mind" beat by Main Doc
"Stop Cryin' Yo" beat by Blockhead
All Other Beats by Chance Random
Bansuri and Tabla arrangement on "Stop Cryin' Yo"
by Neelamjit Dhillon

Cover Photograph by Jennifer Christine
Artwork Designed by Jason Haniuk

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Satnam California

Satnam is a poet, writer, geek and music aficionado from Los Angeles, CA. He's been writing poetry since the age of 13, and making hip-hop music since he was 16. He put out his first mixtape EP, "The 18th Letter Diaries" in 2010. His follow-up debut release, "Heart of a Lion" will be released on his birthday on April 17th, 2012. ... more

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