Ms Holly Roller - Will Smith (Lost & Found)

[David_McQueen]

So I listen to hip hop. Get over it! (Just kiddin) Here are the lyrics from the rapper Will Smith aka The Fresh Prince's latest album. Do you think he has a point?

[iNTRO]

Mic check 1, 2.. this is dedicated to an old friend of mine, Michelle...

[CHORUS]

Ms. Holy Roller, new angel, got ya Bible out shoutin' and you're ringing a bell

mid-life, reborn, can't wait to tell, if I don't believe what you believe,

I'm going to hell...

I've been down with Jesus since Sunday school & Easter speeches

The Bible was survival, that's what my grandma would teach us

Since I was 5, I've been dying and trying to read it When I did I did, it redefined it

Now you was 34 when you found Jesus after your life fell to pieces

Wife two times, with two guys, now enlightened in speeches

Seemed to flow out your mouth with the hype of a preacher

Took your whole life to reach you, now I'm a trifling creature

[CHORUS]

Come on, if I die right this second, I reckon that God would simply check

into my life & times, dissecting my rhymes, he'll see how I've been leading his troops

You can't do dirt your whole life then say "oops'!

[bRIDGE]

Now where was Jesus, when you life then you was cheatin', when you was deceiving me?

Where was Jesus when you greedy, your lawyers was bleeding me?

Where was Jesus when every weekend, a new man living with you?

Oh, wait he was with me, trying to keep me from killing you?

Now, where was Jesus when you was lying & you was betraying me?

When I was trying to make it, you was hatin' delayin' me, huh?

Where was Jesus when the ice was thrilling you,

Oh, he was he with me trying to keep me from killing you!

If I ain't know Jesus, ain't no telling where I would be

It's been nights I felt like feces; I needed to fight to release it

I'm in the limelight, it's hot & the heat is ceaseless,

Holding my tongue while little bums cut me to pieces

The only reason's cause I studied the life of Jesus &

Venting with my pen, intending to write & release it

But when an ex-friend would slight me or slam me with venom

I hate it, I can't stand it, damnit, I really resent it

I always strive to be righteous, my version of God

The reason why I never write verses with curses inside

The reason I never purposely hurt persons,

I've applied many teaching of God,

Searching the reaches of God

Pondered the mysteries of why you be dissing me,

I adore you all I hope for you is freedom from misery

You made mistakes & blunders, you breaking from under

But yo, If I'm going to hell, it's making me wonder.

[bRIDGE]

The greatest atrocities ever committed on this planet have been in the

name of God

This country was founded by Puritans, for the expressed purpose of

oppression-free worship

Your attitude is the same arrogant, fearful fundamentalism that fueled the

hatred of the Crusades

& the attacks on 9/11.

If we are not allowed to worship God as groups & individuals free from

persecution, in respectful

Tolerance, there's only one outcome...

[CHORUS]

[Liz]

I have always liked Will Smith.

Liz

[Morning Glory]

I never knew he had it in him!! I don't listen to rap, so thanks for sharing the words. I would agree that he does have a point. Yes, I like the guy, too.

[Nicodema]

Interesting perspective. I'm not familiar with rap much or with Will Smith so maybe you could shed some light on this for me David. Is he trying to portray how zealous converts look to life-long Christians? That's the message I get from it. I know there can be a certain tendency for those who experience a dramatic "rebirth" or conversion in their teen or adult life to look askance at the person who was raised in it and question their commitment or their Christianity because they have not had some dramatic "turning point". I know I had that kind of experience when I was 16 and first met God and then joined the SDA church.

I wonder now where we got the idea that there has to be some dramatic "turning point" for someone's walk to be valid. Obviously some of it comes from Jesus' words about "you must be born again (born from above)" -- but it is just as possible for someone raised to know Christ to have a quiet decisive moment where they personally embrace Him of their own accord as it is for a lifelong sinner to have a dramatic moment where they do the 180* turn. And that does not make one necessarily better or more real than the other. As Will Smith seems to be pointing out, it isn't grounds for passing judgment on someone else's experience with Jesus. And ultimately that's how I interpret his message: don't go off judging and thinking you know it all because you had some dramatic conversion -- your experience is just as questionable in the eyes of others as you think theirs is to you (hence the line about "you can't do dirty your whole life then just say Ooops!")

In fact, as someone who converted (or is trying to!) I personally envy those who were raised to know Jesus, raised "in the truth" because they have so much more foundation in their lives and characters than I do or could ever hope for. They have had that foundation laid from the time they were young, whereas I did not, and once you're an adult there is nothing in the world that can substitute or fill in for those early years.

Thanks for posting a thought-provoking rhyme! Sorry if I'm being too analytical. I just wanted to discuss it.

Nico

[David_McQueen]

This song has actually has garnered a lot of discussion across various Christian media. I first heard about it from a hip hop site where all the artists rap on overtly Christian themes, lyrics.

I think the main point is think about how you come over to others. For example he has come in from a lot of stick from a lot of other rappers because he his lyrics arent profane, demeaning, but he maintains that is because he has a responsibility grounded in his faith. Even if one doesnt see it the same way he does, I admit I was enamoured by his openness on the subject, and have experienced the same approach from newly converted Christians.

[Pockey]

Yeah some rappers have given Will Smith a hard time about his lack of profanity, like Eminem for example in "The Real Slim Shady" I think. However, I believe it's not the absence of cursing that has garnered him heat, but rather his boasting (or what may be perceived as boasting) about it.

[Amelia]

David, Im curious as to why you title this thread "Ms" Holly Roller? "Ms" is a form of address for single women. Do you know something we dont? ROFL

[David_McQueen]

Amelia, It's the title of the song. See the first verse for further reference.

Sid, I think it is a balance of both, but most rappers tend to take offence at his clean living. Apparently he isnt being "real"