Every once in a while, my daughter will come to me and say, “Momma, I found a song I want you to hear,” then she will proceed to play her new treasure and, generally, it is exactly perfect for where I am in that moment. She’s really good at witnessing my life and sharing with me, through music, messages that are what I need to hear in the process of what I am going through – words that free me, finalize a transformation or solidify the new stuff I’ve learned. She expresses her life through music – much like her daddy – and collects songs by the hundreds, so when she shares one with me, I know it is something she knows I’m supposed to hear. Frequently, when this happens, I end up dissolved in a puddle of tears and sobs, but it is, always, good tears and sobs.
Last night, while I was bouncing my butt off in my Zumba class, she texted me. As I was walking to the car after class, I opened her message and read, “Momma, I have a song I want you to hear.” She was already in bed and asleep before I even made it home, (one of the things I dislike about being in school late at night – I miss kissing her goodnight and saying, “I love you.”) so this morning, when I got out of the shower, she said again, “Momma, I have a song I want you to hear.”
She brought me her phone and the song, “Fly” by Nicki Minaj and Rhianna filled my ears and I smiled from ear to ear. It was exactly perfect – the very message I needed to hear.
So, this morning, I will share with you the link to the original post-apocolyptic music video for the song she shared with me today so that you can immerse yourself in the experience, as well. I’ve also included the powerful lyrics for you to read through to remind you, it is time. Fly!
Fly by Nicki Minaj and Rhianna
[Rihanna – Chorus]
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly
[Nicki Minaj]
I wish today it will rain all day
Maybe that will kinda make the pain go away
Trying to forgive you for abandoning me
Praying but I think I’m still an angel away
Angel away, yeah strange in a way
Maybe that is why I chase strangers away
They got their guns out aiming at me
But I become Neo when they aiming at me
Me, me, me against them
Me against enemies, me against friends
Somehow they both seem to become one
A sea full of sharks and they all smell blood
They start coming and I start rising
Must be surprising, I’m just summising
I win, thrive, soar, higher, higher, higher
More fire
[Rihanna – Chorus]
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly
[Nicki Minaj]
Everybody wanna try to box me in
Suffocating every time it locks me in
Paint they own pictures then they crop me in
But I will remain where the top begins
Cause I am not a word, I am not a line
I am not a girl that can ever be defined
I am not fly, I am levitation
I represent an entire generation
I hear the criticism loud and clear
That is how I know that the time is near
So we become alive in a time of fear
And I ain’t got no motherfucking time to spare
Cry my eyes out for days upon days
Such a heavy burden placed upon me
But when you go hard your nay’s become yay’s
Yankee Stadium with Jay’s and Kanye’s
[Rihanna – Chorus]
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly
[Nicki Minaj – Bridge]
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
Get ready for it
I came to win
[Rihanna – Chorus]
I came to win, to fight, to conquer, to thrive
I came to win, to survive, to prosper, to rise
To fly
To fly
