[Verse 1]
Shreveport, I love you
but you wear it on your face
boarded doors, burnt-out lots
and that ache in every place
Kids learn fear too early
when the sirens cut the air
cars get snatched at stop signs
like nobody really cares
Tap water taste like warning
mouthful of the same old wrong
and the block keep holding breath
while the night get way too long
[Pre-Chorus]
Mama say keep your head down
I say keep your heart up
but the porch lights dimming out
and the hope getting starved up
Too much pain in the hallway
too much weight in one home
if we don't stand for each other
we get left here alone
[Chorus]
Shreveport, don't let me go
Shreveport, don't let me go
I see the hurt, I see the smoke
Shreveport, don't let me go
Shreveport, raise up now
Shreveport, raise up now
More of us gotta show up
Shreveport, raise up now
[Verse 2]
Carjacking at the gas station
he came home with shaking hands
another name on the prayer list
another candle on the stand
Domestic storms behind closed doors
left the whole block bruised and blue
love should never come swinging
like a thing it can do to you
And the polls stay quiet
like folks too tired to fight
but silence got a price tag
and it always costs us twice
[Pre-Chorus]
Mama say keep your head down
I say keep your heart up
but the porch lights dimming out
and the hope getting starved up
Too much pain in the hallway
too much weight in one home
if we don't stand for each other
we get left here alone
[Chorus]
Shreveport, don't let me go
Shreveport, don't let me go
I see the hurt, I see the smoke
Shreveport, don't let me go
Shreveport, raise up now
Shreveport, raise up now
More of us gotta show up
Shreveport, raise up now
[Bridge]
I know this city got scars
I know this city got teeth
but we can’t call it normal
when the wounds stay in the streets
One vote, one voice, one doorway
one hand pulling the next
if we want a different morning
we start with what we protect
[Final Chorus]
Shreveport, don't let me go
Shreveport, don't let me go
I see the hurt, I see the smoke
Shreveport, don't let me go
Shreveport, raise up now
Shreveport, raise up now
More of us gotta show up
Shreveport, raise up now