[Verse 1]
She at the table, Bible open, house coat on
Steam from the collards, TV low, porch light on
She say my name like a warning and a blessing
“Lord, keep him breathing when the world get reckless”
Kiss my forehead, oil on her thumb
“Cover that boy when he leave with his friends and guns”
Not ‘cause we violent, ‘cause they quick to assume
‘Cause this brown skin loud when I walk in a room
She lost brothers, lost cousins to the same deep grave
But she never lost faith, kept showing me grace
Rent late, lights off, she ain’t break one time
“God gon’ come through,” she would say, “you’ll be fine”
[Chorus]
Grandma praying over me (yeah)
Hands shaking, eyes closed, but she see what I can’t see
In a world that don’t love young black like me
She talk to heaven every night for my safety
Grandma praying over me (uh)
Said, “Baby, you a king, don’t you bow your head in these streets”
Every word like armor when I leave
I’m alive ‘cause my grandma prayed for me (yeah, yeah)
[Verse 2]
Phone call late, “You home yet? You safe?”
She don’t trust them sirens or that badge on they waist
Told me, “Keep your hands visible, answer with ‘sir’
Don’t argue with a man that don’t see you as a person”
She seen dogs, hoses, signs on the doors
Lived through the names they don’t teach anymore
Still cooked big pots, still laughed so loud
Still walked in church like she carrying the whole proud crowd
Her back bent, but her spirit got muscle
Whispered, “You gon’ win, even coming from the struggle”
Said, “I press on, boy, that’s how we survive
When they count us out, that’s when we rise” (we rise)
[Chorus]
Grandma praying over me
Hands shaking, eyes closed, but she see what I can’t see
In a world that don’t love young black like me
She talk to heaven every night for my safety
Grandma praying over me
Said, “Baby, you a king, don’t you bow your head in these streets”
Every word like armor when I leave
I’m alive ‘cause my grandma prayed for me (ooh, prayed for me)
[Bridge]
If you see me walking, that’s her walk too (yeah)
Every step I take, she pulled me through
Every tear she dropped, watered these roots
I’m her answered prayer in a pair of shoes
[Chorus]
Grandma praying over me
Hands shaking, eyes closed, but she see what I can’t see
In a world that don’t love young black like me
She talk to heaven every night for my safety
Grandma praying over me (over me)
Said, “Baby, you a king, don’t you bow your head in these streets”
I carry her strength when I leave
I’m alive ‘cause my grandma prayed for me (yeah, yeah)