I used to walk down the streets
On my way to school
Grinding my teeth to a rhythm invisible
I used my feet to crush dead leaves
like they had fallen from trees
Just for me, just to be crash cymbals

In class I'd pass the time
Drawing a slash for every time
The second hand went by
a group of five
Done twelve times was a minute

But Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential

I used to march down the windy, windy sidewalks
Slapping my leg with a riding crop
Thinking it made me come off so tough
I didn't smile,
because a smile always seemed rehearsed
I wasn't afraid of the bullies,
and that just made the bullies worse

In class I'd pass the time
Drawing a slash for every time
The second hand went by
a group of five
Done twelve times was a minute

But Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential

Hurricane Gloria in excelsis deo
That's my bird in my tree
My dog and my man and my music
is my holy trinity
Hurricane Gloria in excelsis deo
That's my bird in my tree
My dog and my man and my music
is my holy trinity

Tony told me he'd describe me
as pissed off, funny and warm
Sebastian said, I'm
"a good man in a storm"
Back then
I didn't know what potential meant
And Shameika wasn't gentle
and she wasn't my friend but
She got through to me
and I'll never see her again
She got through to me
and I'll never see her again
I'm pissed off, funny and warm
I'm a good man in a storm
And when the fall is torrential,
I'll recall

Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential

Tony told me he'd describe me
as pissed off, funny and warm
Sebastian said, I'm
"a good man in a storm"
Back then
I didn't know what potential meant
And Shameika wasn't gentle
and she wasn't my friend but
She got through to me
and I'll never see her again
She got through to me
and I'll never see her again
I'm pissed off, funny and warm
I'm a good man in a storm
And when the fall is torrential,
I'll recall

Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential
Shameika said I had potential