Blog #2 My Favorite Writing

Song: “Dance” by Nas
Album: God's Son

I wish you were here,
I miss you more each second I breathe
You resting in peace forever I accepted you free
A blessing to me, I see you dressed in all white
Smiling at me, happy knowing everything's all right
If only I could hear your voice and your laughter
Just one more time, my chest would be filled up with sunshine
April 7, 02
That's when the gates of heaven opened up for you to stroll through
Beautiful Anne Jones
Job is done, raising ghetto kids in the hood
You was my strength to carry on and now I'm good
Job well done, you lived through you sons and your grandchildren
Jesus finally got his bride, mommy dance with em
And you've been my guide threw all the trouble I faced
They playing our song the life beat my hand on your waist
I grab your other hand and try not to step on your toes
Spin you around with my eyes closed
Dreaming I could have

Nas' thoughtful and emotional song is dedicated to his mother Anne Jones, who succumbed to breast cancer in 2002. I personally find these lyrics if not the entire song to be a good piece of writing because Nas gives the listener some perspective on his reminiscence of his mother and all the goodness she brought to Nas. In addition, Nas is able to describe his mother's passing as a gateway to a new life, shunning away from sorrow and mourning which is associated with death. Nas' lyrics about holding his mother and spinning her around with his eyes closed gives the listener something to visualize and possibly smile about euphorically. Losing a loved one is always hard, but Nas is able to craft a positive and heartwarming song that will be forever dedicated to his mother.

Personally, I like the lyrics in this song because overall the song shows the care and pride Nas took within his mother. “Dance” is not like other hip hop songs that ramble on about losing someone and pouring beers over their graves. In particular, this song demonstrates phenomenal writing because it is universally understood and hits each of his listeners at the heart. Lyricism is a rare commodity in today's music, but this song is a lyrical gem that sheds the thoughts produced by unconditional love.