[Intro – man voice] I hear the whispers, yeah, I hear the doubt, They say a king don’t leave his house. They see gold, they see the throne, They don’t see a kingdom grown. But I got plans, I got sights to see, This road to Mecca ain’t just for me! [Verse 1 – man voice] Gold in the streets, but the mind stay poor, Richest alive, but I’m searchin’ for more. Legacy written in paper or sand? Tell me what lasts when it leave your hand? They want war, they want land, they want power! I want wisdom, I want faith, I want hours— Time to reflect, time to rise, Time to see truth with my own two eyes! [Random Voices] “Mali needs you, Musa!” “You leave and the walls might fall!” “Who protects the throne when the king is gone?” “What’s gold to a land if the land ain’t strong?” [Pre-Chorus – man voice] Y’all don’t see the bigger plan, I don’t serve gold—I serve this land! You want a king that just sit in a chair? Or a king that they speak on everywhere? [Chorus – Ensemble] The road to Mecca is paved in sand, The weight of a kingdom on shifting land! Step too far, and the world may turn! Who will rule when the gold dust burns? [Verse 2 – man voice ] I seen thrones get swallowed in time, Men hold power but they lose they mind. They stack up gold, they hoard, they scheme, But die with they name just lost in the stream. Nah, not me—I play the long game! They measure wealth, I measure my name! Y’all stay home, stay small, stay weak, But I need knowledge, I gotta seek! [different Voices] “Mecca don’t know you!” “Mali is rich, what else you need?” “Pilgrims don’t rule, warriors do!” “You can’t trust a world that don’t trust you!” [Bridge – woman voice ] What of your daughter? What of your wife? What of the ones who will wait all their life? You chase the sky, but the earth still turns… Will Mali still stand when its ruler returns? [Pre-Chorus – man voice] Y’all don’t see the bigger plan, I don’t serve gold—I serve this land! You want a king that just sit in a chair? Or a king that they speak on everywhere? [Final Chorus – Ensemble ] The road to Mecca is paved in sand! The weight of a kingdom on shifting land! Step too far, and the world may turn! Who will rule when the gold dust burns? [Outro – man voice] Gold don’t lead, it only follows, Faith gon’ fill what wealth leaves hollow! Say what you want, call it a game— Mali gon’ rise, they’ll speak my name!
