- CHORUS -
here even when the smoke is cleared
strong even when the hope is gone
cuz we're getting tired of proving we belong
but we keep holdin' on!
here even after all these years
strong even when it all went wrong
we're getting tired of proving we belong
but we keep holdin' on!

- TAIYO -
a letter to her kids was the last thing she wrote
at a place in the bronx where she lost all hope
she tried & tried to survive & provide
but conditions she faced were too much to take
left her 4 children in the philippines
to nanny in the states and send 'em back dreams
cuz that's the way it works in poor countries
where there is no work and you have to leave
for little pay long hours no job benefits
fired if you tell or just the hell of it
abuse is what they call it and so is slavery
to be a migrant worker is to display bravery
i imagine the sacrifice it brings me to tears
to not see your children for so many years
fely belonged in our land of liberty
but something went wrong when they took her dignity

[CHORUS]

- DEREK -
we've come a long way since long duk dong
ridiculed for generations while the mock us and taunt
with their chings chongs rosie 'o dons
but that joke's more dumb than george dub and your mom
what oh you wondering where i'm from
is it confusing this colored skin is of an american
isn't this the land of opportunity rights and equals
where hollywood likes to give asian roles to white people
but still we'll find a way to get on the tube
props to yul kwon and american dance crews
now that's what i call reality tv
smack in your face raw like pacquiao handles beef see
if you can't recognize then widen your eyelids
instead of pulling 'em back like miley cyrus
these blind kids be keeping alive stereotypes like a virus
but whatever ridiculous ignorant shit that you give us you'll still find us here

[CHORUS]

- THERESA -
we're still here though they choose not to see us
we ain't ivy leaguers and tila tequila's only
we that lonely matrimony of struggles pushed aside
cuz they hold us up like trophies
trophies us model minorities
but what about all the refugees of war i speak
for my southeast asian brethren
peace to my fam who grew up in camp pendelton
like a pendulum its back and its forth
half of us is upper class half of us is poor
half of us is doctors studying health care
the other half is babies having babies for welfare
and as a sign of our grief
when we miss home we die on our sleep
so don't question why i'm inspired to speak
cuz against all odds and despite your beliefs we still here