[Chorus] It takes a community, hands on the wheel Everybody raising every child for real Porch light burning, somebody keeps watch Love and respect in the hardest block Mama Thornton, everybody's favorite Nana One look from her and the whole room calmer If one kid hungry, ten doors open wide It takes a community to keep hope alive [Verse 1] Little Jay got dropped at Miss Renee's after school His mama on the late shift, trying to make rent due Renee got a pot going, shoes lined by the door Two extra plates set out, then she sets two more Old heads on the corner know the buses run late They walk the young ones home, never leave it to fate Coach keeps spare cleats underneath the folding chair Auntie checks every backpack, makes sure the books are there No blood needed when the bond runs deep You can hear a whole block promise, "Your baby safe with me" We learned to share the weight when the pressure got heavy One hand on a shoulder, one hand keeping steady Mama Thornton in the kitchen, humming low over beans She remembers every birthday, every scraped-up knee Kids call her Nana though she raised half the town She can stop a loud room just by looking around She says, "Respect is a roof, love is what you build" Then she sends you home with leftovers and a bill [Chorus] It takes a community, hands on the wheel Everybody raising every child for real Porch light burning, somebody keeps watch Love and respect in the hardest block Mama Thornton, everybody's favorite Nana One look from her and the whole room calmer If one kid hungry, ten doors open wide It takes a community to keep hope alive [Verse 2] When the sirens cut the evening, doors open slow Nobody asks whose child when the little ones show They get pulled from the window, sat down in the hall Somebody tells a funny story till the fear gets small Mr. Ellis fixes bikes with a wrench and a grin Says, "A good wheel can carry where your feet can't begin" Miss Tasha braids hair before the school bell rings Teaches every young girl she is more than what the world brings The landlord wants payment, the pantry runs thin Still a bag gets passed around, more groceries come in No cameras, no medals, no speeches for display Just people doing what they promised yesterday A jacket from a cousin, a ride from a friend A warning when the wrong crowd starts circling again We know every child has a story to write So we guard their first pages through the longest night Mama Thornton keeps a chair by the front-room wall Says, "Bring me your trouble, I got room for it all" [Chorus] It takes a community, hands on the wheel Everybody raising every child for real Porch light burning, somebody keeps watch Love and respect in the hardest block Mama Thornton, everybody's favorite Nana One look from her and the whole room calmer If one kid hungry, ten doors open wide It takes a community to keep hope alive [Verse 3] Some grew up hard, now they soften the landing Teach the young ones patience, teach them steady hands and planning Ain't nobody perfect, every house got scars But we don't let a child believe their limits are the bars When a father disappears, somebody fills the gap When a mother needs a minute, somebody takes the map Homework at the table, rice cooling on the stove Everybody got a lesson, everybody helps them grow Respect ain't fear, it's showing up again Love ain't just a word, it's checking on your friends It is saving the last seat, sharing change for the train It is standing in the rain when somebody calls your name Mama Thornton tells the babies, "Keep your chin up high" Then laughs when they pretend they never need to cry She knows every neighborhood survives by the ties That pull a child from the edge and teach them how to rise [Bridge] [Background Chant] All hands, one heart All hands, one heart No child left in the dark No child left in the dark [Verse 4] So when you hear these streets, don't only hear the noise Hear a thousand quiet choices protecting girls and boys The neighbor with the key, the uncle with the van The sister watching toddlers while she studies for her exam We pass down more than names, we pass down how to care How to tell the truth with kindness, how to make a little share And if the world looks cold, we make a warmer place Put a plate in somebody's hand, put courage in their face Mama Thornton at the doorway, waving everybody in Favorite Nana of the block, where the healing can begin She says, "You don't raise a child with money alone" Then points around the room: "Look what love has grown" From the corner store to the church steps, from the project hall to the yard Every small act leaves a mark, every guardian stands guard We carry one another, that's the code we understand It takes a community, and it starts with your hand [Final Chorus] It takes a community, hands on the wheel Everybody raising every child for real Porch light burning, somebody keeps watch Love and respect in the hardest block Mama Thornton, everybody's favorite Nana One look from her and the whole room calmer If one kid hungry, ten doors open wide It takes a community to keep hope alive [Outro] [Background Chant] One block, one promise One block, one promise Love keeps watch Love keeps watch
