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Escape Velocity

from How to Outrun a Supernova by Khemmeta

/

about

This song was written in loving memory of my partner, Marissa Snoddy.

lyrics

will they sing about your sorrow like they
sing about Achilles’ rage?
even if you put the lyrics
and notes on a page
and stuffed em down the mouths of
every vocalist close to a stage?
you want your lowest point to
usher new hope for your age?

you want your muse to live as
fuel for a worthier saint?
one more disciplined with
turning their words into paint?
but they can’t make the tryout,
rehearsal or play
if ain’t nobody noticed
casting managers searching today

you want to give your friend the
years that the universe took?
you want a monument
to get Ozymandius shook?
she deserves a longer stretch
and a lengthier book!
80 bars for every verse
and a lengthier hook!

you want the folks that loved her dearest
to bask in her light?
to feel the warmth of her embrace
and her laugh and her sigh?
and your only building blocks
are the raps that you write
that might not even reach anyone’s ear
but you have to recite


don’t be still,
be swift while the iron’s hot
like an avalanche boulder
no one would try to stop
if you want it hard enough
then you don’t need no rocket
one foot in front of the other
to ditch this dying rock

don't be still
be swift while the iron’s hot
like an avalanche boulder
no one would try to stop
if you need it you’ll be it
and it won’t take no jets
one foot in front of the other
to get away from death


would you build your love a temple
before you could make yourself a house?
a grand cathedral
that liberates all its guests from doubt?
structure so sturdy
the centuries couldn’t rust it down?
bricks that laugh at
exploding stars when they’re shutting down?

would you raise a new society
to bless her name?
torch the cities of
any who celebrate her pain?
of course you’d have to climb back
outta your couch and the games
you’re playing getting stagnant
ducking calendars counting the days

ain’t no legacy building
if you’re strapped to despair
steady sleeping cuz in dreams
there’s still spaces you share
waking up to a tragic
that’s too sad to be bared
grown-ass man just finding out that
life isn’t actually fair

tears ain’t only homonyms,
they are actually tears
you spend your life restitching
lest your innards might catch too much air
tryna share her brand of magic,
they had to be there
the truth is ain’t no going back cuz
your better half isn’t here


don’t be still,
be swift while the iron’s hot
like an avalanche boulder
no one would try to stop
if you want it hard enough
then you don’t need no rocket
one foot in front of the other
to ditch this dying rock

don't be still
be swift while the iron’s hot
like an avalanche boulder
no one would try to stop
if you need it you’ll be it
and it won’t take no jets
one foot in front of the other
to get away from death

don’t be still,
be swift while the iron’s hot
like an avalanche boulder
no one would try to stop
if you want it hard enough
then you don’t need no rocket
one foot in front of the other
to ditch this dying rock

don't be still
be swift while the iron’s hot
like an avalanche boulder
no one would try to stop
if you need it you’ll be it
and it won’t take no jets
one foot in front of the other.

credits

from How to Outrun a Supernova, released August 6, 2021

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Khemmeta San Francisco, California

Khemmeta's music strives to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, or are shouted down when they do. His upcoming EP "When I Get To It" produced by Stephonathan (1/3 of both Pride City Purpose & Chedda Guap Boyz) is silly, nerdy, romantic, anti-nihilistic and defiant. He can't wait for you to get to it this [December]. ... more

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