[Intro: two-bar instrumental, immediate bass riff, no vocalization] [Verse 1: low raspy female rap, laid-back rolling cadence, intimate storytelling, crisp diction] Daddy had an answer 'fore I finished asking why Had the world in little boxes, kept the labels stacked high What to read and what to watch, who to trust and who to doubt Had a short list of what's in, had a long list of who's out News came on, he knew the man before they said his name Had a verdict and a sentence, never bothered with the case I was taking notes without a pen, didn't know it at the time Had me borrowing his vision, thinking all along it's mine [Pre-Hook: groove opens, relaxed melodic inflection] Funny how a family can be close and still be far Same blood running through us, still don't know how things got hard [Hook: melodic rhythmic rap, soulful pitch slides, brief tasteful melisma on select words, no belting] You taught me what to stand against Did you teach me who to love? Daddy, you taught me how to measure a man Jesus taught me how to see one [Verse 2: fluid rolling rap, internal-rhyme emphasis, subtle quicker clusters, natural breathing] I could quote a little Scripture, tell you what the passage meant Had a verse for every problem, never asked where mercy went Knew the rules, knew the reasons, knew the people to avoid Had a mouth full of conviction, but I couldn't hear His voice Had a warning for a neighbor, had a reason for a friend Had a way of ending conversations 'fore they'd even begin If you didn't see it my way, I could tell you where you stood Funny how I called it wisdom when I barely understood [Turnaround: drums briefly drop, low deliberate rhythmic delivery] You taught me how to spot a sinner Before you taught me how to love my brother [Bridge: stripped kick and bass, intimate low rap, deliberate pauses] Bible in my hand But what about my heart? Got a verse for your life But won't examine my part Read it, quote it Know it front to back But when the Word reads me Am I ready for that? [Verse 3: relaxed melodic rap, slightly warmer tone, subtle pocket variation] Read about a man left bleeding, everybody passing by Some knew the words of Scripture, still they crossed to the other side Then the one they least expected stopped and tended to his wounds Didn't ask him for agreement, just did what love would do Had to sit with what I'd learned, had to question what I'd heard Put the things I called conviction underneath the written Word Now I'm learning how to listen, learning how to disagree Without making someone's difference mean they're less than me [Final Hook: familiar melodic cadence, expressive but restrained, brief soulful inflection] You taught me what to stand against Now He's teaching me who to love I can stand upon His Word Without standing over anyone [Brief beat cut] Daddy, you taught me how to measure a man Jesus taught me how to see one [Outro: bass returns, low rhythmic delivery, minimal melodic tail] See one Teach one [Silence] Lord, don't let me pass it down. [End]
