"Who We Are" Words & Music by Michael B. Hicks Michael B. Hicks Music, BMI © 2016 It's such a blessing to be who I am I had to call my momma and I told her Thank you, ma'am See, her people made it to where I would have no choice I was gon' have a wide nose and a decent singing voice And even though my childhood sometimes seems to be a blur I had to call my father and I told him, "Thank you, sir" 'Cause I love my brown eyes, even with imperfect sight And this black hair of mine that curls up really tight That's who I am, and that's more than OK So I give thanks to those who made me this way If you love you the way that I love me When I call you beautiful, then I know you'll agree That's who we are My Grandma Ruby taught down at the school Then on Sunday morning, she taught the Golden Rule And as long as I remember, my Granddaddy wasn't ever thin So he was overqualified to tell me that, Boy, food is yo' friend See with my cousin Anthony, the fun would never stop We share a love for basketball, he introduced me to hip-hop Now the legacy continues, even though I'm grown It lives in my baby brother, who's got a baby boy of his own That's who I am, and that's more than OK So I give thanks to those who made me this way If you love you the way that I love me When I call you beautiful, then I know you'll agree That's who we are When you think about it, we're really not the same We should celebrate the differences, let go of the shame Let me encourage and even challenge if I may Let's take pride in who we are, lift our heads up and say That's who we are, and that's more than OK So we give thanks to those who made us this way If you love you the way that I love me When I call you beautiful, then I know you'll agree That's who we are We are who we are We are who we are We are who we are We are who we are

"Half Past Always" Words and Music by Michael B. Hicks Michael B. Hicks Music, BMI © 2018 Years of searching, hoping and then Failing, loving again Growing, praying, trusting God's plan Working, now here we stand No longer thinking, "maybe one day" Now a forever's worth of Sundays 30 minutes past always We'll stay No longer waiting for "someday" Even should time go away Far beyond "old and gray" We'll stay Finding right in things that go wrong Turning sorrows to songs Fighting weakness to make us strong Seeing strength all along No longer thinking, "maybe one day" Now a forever's worth of Sundays 30 minutes past always We'll stay No longer waiting for "someday" Even should time go away Just after forever, half past always Straight through evermore Everlastingly, eternally You are mine, I am yours No longer thinking, "maybe one day" Now a forever's worth of Sundays 30 minutes past always We'll stay No longer waiting for "someday" Even should time go away Far beyond "old and gray" We'll stay Half past always, we'll stay

Never Find Another Words & Music by Michael B. Hicks Michael B. Hicks Music, BMI © 2017 This goes out to my all time favorite preacher My all time favorite Sunday School teacher Who'd call my name out from the third bleacher Whose belt was a hand extended when he couldn't reach us Who'd drop me off inside of my school and then pick me up Both when the day was over and later on when life got tough Who'd sit with me and Kyle and laugh at the dumbest stuff But always made sure we knew that we were smart enough To not only bring home good grades (Straight As) But to excel in each and every sport we played To be bold enough to stand in front of the church and pray He was the one who taught me to thoroughly clean my plate And how to handle pressure gracefully and with poise How to quiet my spirit amidst all the noise He would share in the excitement of our favorite toys Just to spend time with his boys--his pride and joys... Even if I looked, I'd never find another No need for me to try, I won't even bother My biggest influence, yeah he's got that covered And this man will always be more than just my father The greatest inspiration I ever had Ain't nobody quite like my dad Because of him, I try hard to always be nice...like him, I find myself fighting sleep by Chewing ice...he taught me that success never comes without a price...to be bold Enough to go thrice if I should fail twice...he'd keep a close eye on me to see what Would be next...put me up on Billy Graham and on Malcolm X... Said life's a movie--let The Bible always be its text...guided me down life's highway, to avoid the wrecks...he Was a father to my friends in the neighborhood, cheering us on should he find us out Doing good...attending parent/teacher meetings like a daddy should...and if there was Ever a could, he most certainly would...the hobbies that we enjoy are one in the Same...Can't draw like him, but we both be on them bowling lanes...could count on Hearing him yell Chief! at my games...but the title of son still means more than any Name... Even if I looked, I'd never find another No need for me to try, I won't even bother My biggest influence, yeah he's got that covered And this man will always be more than just my father The greatest inspiration I ever had Ain't nobody quite like my dad I think about this man each and every single day I talk about him when my words seem to find a way To express all the things that my heart prays And if we were face up, this is what I'd say: Dad, you're my hero and you'll always be The very influence that kept me up off the streets The organic earthy soul that flows through me Is from the toil and soil of Clarksdale, Mississippi Over time, I selfishly acted in my pride My eyes wouldn't show the tears that my heart cried I should've reached out--yeah man, I should've tried For every time I said I was cool, simply put--I lied And I'm sorry I disappeared without a trace Except a text message to say Happy Father's Day I'd run to the other father figures with haste Thank God for them, but your presence couldn't be replaced I've watched and I've learned from you since I was a little baby Taught me I could never be too far for God to save me So without a thought of if, possibly or maybe I reached out to you and you forgave me I'm not surprised, but overwhelmed that you did World's best dad, you still have my bid To this day, my all-time favorite kind of gig Is the one where you're smiling saying, that's my kid And that's why I still mimic the stuff you do And I still want to you to design one of my tattoos Either way, this is and will always be true I always have and always will love you

“Miss Josie” Words & Music by Michael B. Hicks Michael B. Hicks Music, BMI ©️2013 It's the story of Miss Josie Early 1900s No certificate of birth So we say 19-0-something Miss Josie Her's is a story of love See, the south that she grew up in Was oppressive, it was cruel Fighting Jim Crow laws and rules She would never finish school Miss Josie Her's is a story of love To endure a life of fighting The cotton fields equipped her She would pray to learn to real Just so she could study Scriptures Miss Josie Her's is a story of love Working endlessly for years Doing all that she was able Keeping collard greens and cornbread Sweet potatoes on the table Miss Josie Her's is a story of love While her kids were off at school She'd get down on all fours For little money cleaning toilets For little change, scrubbing floors Miss Josie Her's is a story of love She would never go on welfare But she would never lack She would make clothes for her children Out of fertilizer sacks Miss Josie Her's is a story of love She worked hard for her family And she gave all that she had Always reaching in that purse Pulling out some peppermints and a little bit of cash Miss Josie Her's is a story of love See, those hands of hers would work Cooking, cleaning everyday So that the hands of her grandson Could sit right here today and play Miss Josie Her's is a story of love See her body would grow weary Her spirit remained strong And though my Lord called her home Her legacy will live on Miss Josie Miss Josie Miss Josie You are my story of love You are my story of love

"Always There” Words & Music by Michael B. Hicks Michael B. Hicks Music, BMI ©️2018 Back in kindergarten You held my hand Helped me get homework started When I didn't understand And near our front door Were little figurines Whose skin looked like yours It boosted my self-esteem You let me hold your new baby And I still carry that smile I was hoping that maybe We'd keep him for a while We never had to wonder if your cared There was support and joy for your baby boys And a love that was always there Your very touch could heal us You were our own family nurse You taught us all about Jesus You made us go to church Hearing gospel music Playing through the house Cleaning up, no excuses Is what Saturdays were about Thought you'd be off at three But I heard you pull up at one You'd open the door to see None of our chores were done We never had to wonder if you cared There was teaching in the discipline And a love that was always there Always there Always there Always there You stood up for me When folks treated me wrong You'd listen proudly When I played you my songs And if ever it seems That you're on my nerves By simply being So very concerned I want you to know That's not the case Those seeds that you've sown Have not gone to waste We never had to wonder if you cared You instilled a pride with a faith inside And a love that was always there And if you ever wonder if I care May the lessons learned, the love returned The influence that I share, I share Help my life to say, my heart convey There's a love that is always there Always there Always there Always there