Gone Too Long

I know you've been gone too long
But I can still feel you
And I'd erase your memories
Long as I breathe in my prayers, your name I speak
I know you've been gone too long
But I still remember your presence
So we meet in heaven if I make it
'Til then I'll be waiting

Ayo, this is for George Emmanuel and me, I'm his grandson
I used to call him Dad 'cause at the time I ain't have one
The smartest man I knew, he couldn't read and he couldn't write

We used to sit on Sundays with Fred Price
The reverend, I remember what he said like
"We walk by faith and not by sight"
But Dad used to walk with that black knight
The master of the fishermen, knew how to cast right
And reel 'em in and skin 'em, then we fry 'em the same night
It's hard, 'cause I was only nine when I lost him
Remember calling 9-1-1 from the coffin
It's funny how this dude sheds light from the coffin

The stories of this half-white Cuban exhausting

I wish that he was here now, he could've put me on
But been gone since 1985, Dad I love you
And I wish that you were still alive to see what I became
Your great-grandchildren and my wife that Kevin named

I know you've been gone too long
But I can still feel you
And I'd erase your memories
Long as I breathe in my prayers, your name I speak
I know you've been gone too long
But I still remember your presence
So we meet in heaven if I make it
'Til then I'll be waiting

Grew up together by my side like my sister
Was coming out to see me when you died
Hard to keep it all inside, it's a twister

Remember how I cried?
I was sitting poolside when the news had just arrived
Now I miss you, for me to be cool, I had to copy you

Family reunions, I would copy your moves
The most beautiful, my voice used to bug me
" Jerome, when's your cousin coming for the summer?"
Funny, I would never tell him
Wanted to keep it to myself so we could build more
I wonder what was going on, the reason you got killed for

Was only nineteen, I wonder what this might be
If you were still alive, you'd be right here, besides me
And now you're gone so I'll never get the answers that I'm looking for
Tracy Carter, you're staying with me
I speak as if you never died, like it never hit me
Now I'm here to keep your memory alive, singing with me

I know you've been gone too long
But I can still feel you
And I'd erase your memories
Long as I breathe in my prayers, your name I speak
I know you've been gone too long
But I still remember your presence
So we meet in heaven if I make it
'Til then I'll be waiting

I remember opened my eyes and heard that Rachel just died
I said, "Wait, this is some bullshit, man, Rachel's alive"
Couldn't believe it, hesitated to cry

Now she joined Jackie Sr., got their own special place in the sky

She was a best friend to many, gave you her last penny
Give your heart self-esteem if it didn't have any
It was wild the way she lit up a room, like she was heavenly
Now she lives in heaven where most of us just may never be

She had the passion, not afraid to speak her mind
Tell you off quick if you was disrespectful every time
Miss you, Rachel, that's why I thought it's time to drop a line
Friends and family in pain like the sun has lost its shine
Wish we had an explanation but God don't have the time
And he wonders why we're so frustrated
I know this thing called life is very complicated
But you was one of his best creations, my word

I know you've been gone too long
But I can still feel you
And I'd erase your memories
Long as I breathe in my prayers, your name I speak
I know you've been gone too long
But I still remember your presence
So we meet in heaven if I make it
'Til then I'll be waiting

Remember you
It's been so long since you've been gone but I
Remember you
'Til then I'll be waiting