Lupe Fiasco - Don't Mess up the Children (Interlude) lyrics

Adults are responsible for teaching
Children how to observe
The ways of their ancestors in fact
God insists that adults talk to
Their children when they
Sit at home and when they walk
Along the road when they lie
Down, and when they get up in
Other words, God is saying
"Don't mess up the children"
African American families

Are being driven further and further
Apart from each other, to the extent their
Children, particularly those living
In urban neighborhoods, are
Growing up without the benefit
Of having adults
In whom they can confide consequently
African-American cultural
Values are at risk of being lost
Like teaching children to respect
Their elders and saying
"thank you" or "no thank you" and other
Forms of common courtesy god is saying
"Don't mess up the children"