Welcome to Memphis TN Home of Graceland, the pyramid The MS River Queen The U of M Tigers and the Grizzlies Welcome to the home of Tom Lee Park The Riverwalk and Mud Island Where Beale Street is like a mini Bourbon Street Where the Famous Beale Street Music Festival is held and Memphis in May has BBQ fest Welcome to the place were I was born and raised Where I spent 18 years of my life Where I lived in 3 different houses Where my family is and my first friends are Welcome to the place where I got my first kiss Where I was in my fist show Welcome to the streets that I rode on my bike Where the woods behind my friends house was our playground Welcome to the block I grew up on The friends I had and the block parties Where I use to live next to a basketball star Where I was the only Jew on my block once my best friend moved away Welcome to the city that I love to hate And hate to love Where I have more memories then I can even remember Where times are always both good and bad Welcome to the park that was once hippie central Now its patrolled by police looking for trouble Where I first learned about drugs and life Where I first ran away to Welcome the drug capitol of the south The place that claims lives with addictions Welcome to the smell of meth houses And crack whores on the street Welcome to the home of 3 6 And the highly talked about Orange Mound Where gangs run free Where gangs run this city Welcome to Memphis Where the crime rate is the highest in the south Where gun shots are a daily thing Where you have to watch what color you where Where you have to watch what street you drive on Welcome to the city where hearing about a murder Is almost as common as hearing about a bomb in Israel Welcome to the city that claimed another life Welcome to the city the killed my friend Welcome to these streets that he walked Welcome to this slum he grew up in Welcome to the gangs he had to fight Welcome to the guns that took his life Welcome to the 5 year old packing heat Welcome to the 12 year whore trying to bring home food to eat Welcome to the 15 year old moms cause no one taught them better Welcome to the 7 year old peddling crack Welcome to the broken homes Welcome to the forgotten dreams Welcome to the City that Never Sleeps Welcome to the families trying to cope Welcome to the cops that won’t do shit Welcome to the gang that just won Welcome to the deathbed of my friend Welcome to the news reporter that will label this as just another gang fight Forgetting the family and friends and son he leaves behind Welcome to the man who won’t even go to trial Where people are scarred to mess with the gangs Welcome to the place where the blame always falls on the victim Welcome to the place where we bury another friend
Cheers on that one Halfpint. I love the transition from nostalgic paean to angry rant. It's a great juxtaposition. Nice piece.
it was written as a performance piece and will hopefully be done soon. if it is recorded at all I will post it up for yall.
