Doin' A'ight

Have you ever been rejected
for expressing your ideas?
Have you ever been scorned
for having credence in them?
How bad does it hurt
when you're told you're no good?
Understand me.
It's just a part of life.

I was once pushed away
for my powerful ideas.
The fear nearly made me lose
credence in my beliefs.
You have to understand that
the ideas made me alive.
And now, thankfully, after that hell
I can tell you now I'm a doin' a'ight.

You wouldn't have believed
two-three years ago, but I've
been through a lot,
and 'long the way I let go.
It's been so long since you held
your influence that it's fallen 'way from me,
and I can't help but say it-
I've never felt so alive.

I mean, I've seen life for all
the hell it can be, yet I now have
a clue as to what I truly want.
These things seem so unusual to you,
and it's gotta be a shock that
I'm doin' a'ight.

Nothing compares to the feeling
of emancipation.
And nothing compares to
facing your demons.

Thankfully, all I had to do
was walk away.
Just turn my back, just like that
and everything just went away.

It's been about six years.
Where the hell have I been?
You're asking me that question
like my independence is a sin.
Why should I tell you when
you are the one that
decided it'd be fine to cast me aside?

For your information,
I've been achieving my dreams.
Yeah, I've been doin' so without you;
I know now why you miss me.
But the shit you're pullin' is a waste
of time, and I can't believe you're
stoopin' so low when it's very plain to see
that I am doin' a'ight.

And for that matter,
take a look at yourself.
What booby trap got a stranghold on you?
It's amazing to watch you interrogate me
when you stand across from me,
battered like a whore; so don't tell me how to
live my life.

Nothing compares to the feeling
of emancipation.
And nothing compares to
facing your demons.

And frankly, all you need to do
is walk away.
Just turn your back and clean up your act
That's when everything will be okay.

Now you think I'm lying?
Why the hell would I do that?
You think I'd make up this shit?
No, I'm doin' a'ight.
I cried like a baby many years ago.
All that crap is behind me.
Don't you see?
I'm truly a'ight.

You people say I made my money
to ease the pain of their rejection.
Well, what the hell am I supposed to do?
Be a good girl and lick my wounds?
I really wonder how the hell anyone
can live like that.
Spillin' my pain is more sane
than holdin' it all in.

Now you bastards scream DENIAL at me,
saying I'm more greedy than Gates
could ever be?
I made my vow to never develop
a close relationship again, for that's
the only way I can ever maintain
some sanity, to avoid bonding close like that.
That people is my only way out.

I tell you people what I wanna tell you
because it's my life and my life only.
So get out. You don't belong
prowlin' through my life.
And the truth is, I'm so much better
without close people in my life,
so for that, I'll tell the world
I'm a doin' a'ight.

[musical interlude]


Nothing compares to the feeling
of emancipation.
And nothing compares to
facing your demons.

So what I suggest you do
is walk away.
Just turn your back and carry on.
And out of my life you should stay.