Lyrics

He's African-American
His daddy was black
His grandpa was a Negro
But that's going way back

He listens to all the old vinyl
That his daddy left behind
He knows they hold a secret
That only he can find

THERE'S A LITTLE BAR ON CRENSHAW
NOT TOO FAR FROM LEIMART PARK
THEY LET HIM SIT IN ON PIANO
BEFORE IT GETS TOO DARK
HE'S GOT A LONG LONG WAY TO GO
TO BE WHERE HE WANTS TO BE
BUT SOME FINE DAY
HE'S GONNA BRING BACK THE MELODY

He rides his bike to school
Still humming them old songs
The other brothers got themselves boom-box rap
But he knows where his heart belongs

He got Mingus, Monk and Coltrane
Marvin Gaye and Dr. John
He's not hip to hip-hop
But he knows what's really goin' on

CHORUS

The waitress sings him that same 'ol song
"You gotta wait a few years for beers, child"
Then the background noise becomes a lullaby
And there's a blue note in the smile
Of a pretty face across the room
He takes it all in, mixes it up, then he lets his fingers fly

He never had much money
But hegot fingers, he got ears
All he really wants from life
Is to translate what he hears

He hears the sorrow in his mama's voice
When she lies to him about his dad
He don't know why his daddy left
But he knows it must've been pretty bad

He hears the hope of a new tomorrow
When she insists on tuckin' him in
So when she closes the door he pulls them old records out
And gives them all another spin

CHORUS

He knows they hold a secret...