[MOM, spoken]
Why do you hate us?
[USHER, spoken]
I don't hate you!
[MOM, spoken]
You getting up in front of the world and showing everybody how much you hate us!
[USHER, spoken]
Mom, I don't hate you. I don't hate you!
[MOM, spoken]
Then why would you write about us like this?
[USHER, spoken]
Because I love you!
[MOM, spoken]
You don't love me. If you loved me, you wouldn't have made your daddy run out of here with tears in his eyes. If you loved me, you would've found you a church home up there in New York. If you loved me, you would've brought me home a daughter-in-law and a grandbaby by now! If you loved me, you'd be able to fly me around the world like Tyler Perry!
[THOUGHTS]
Her precious little dream
[MOM, spoken]
But oh no, you off writing about life
[THOUGHTS]
Came tumbling down
[MOM, spoken]
Never mind Doo Doo Bank Student Loans calling my house looking for your Black butt!
[THOUGHTS]
And after all the time she spent building it up
[MOM, spoken]
You lollygagging up there, you ain't half doin' nothing!
[THOUGHTS]
And after all of the things that she's been through
[MOM, spoken]
You probably dressin' up and pretendin' you was a white woman!
[THOUGHTS]
You come along and crush it
[MOM, spoken]
Talking 'bout you want a Black man, tuh!
[THOUGHTS]
In the palm of your hand
[MOM, spoken]
Like a real Black man would kiss you!
[THOUGHTS]
You come along and flush it
[MOM, spoken]
The Bible says homosexuality is worse than murder!
[THOUGHTS]
Down...
[MOM]
My precious little dream
Of a little boy
[USHER]
God, after all this time
Why can't you give it up?
[MOM, spoken]
Oh no, you not gonna put this on me, I know I'm a good mama!
[USHER]
Cause if you knew all the things that I've been through
[MOM, spoken]
Uh, they had to cut me open to get you, did you know that? I bled and bled, they pulled your Black butt out of my stomach!
[USHER]
You'd rue the ways you attacked me
[MOM, spoken]
Your aunt Hattie said the homosexshualities was just a phase
[USHER]
You'd rue the ways we fought
[MOM, spoken]
But you're 26 years old, and you're still kissing on men!
[USHER]
You run until you've tracked me down
[MOM, spoken]
Why couldn't you be the daughter I always wanted? I'll tell you why, it's because you're selfish!
[USHER]
Mama, I can't suck your titties again
I can't crawl back up inside your womb!
[MOM, spoken]
Your nasty little mouth!
[USHER]
You wonder why it's like a graveyard (Shut up, shut up)
In your living room
[MOM, spoken]
You see how you're makin' me cry?
[USHER]
You wanna cry, Mama?
Go right ahead
[MOM, spoken]
My steps are growing shorter on this earth, my son!
[USHER]
But I won't cry, Mama
Cause I'm not dead
[MOM, spoken]
And one day, you won't have me at all!
[USHER]
And you're not dead!
[MOM, spoken]
And then you'll be all alone!
[USHER]
Time just has this way of tearing
Down the dreams we think we live in
Spinning wheels in motor town
So effed up, and so run down
An overblown yet false display
Just like in a gospel play
[ANCESTORS]
Who the fuck is you, nigga?
Who the fuck is you?
Ooh...
Ooh...
[PREACHER, spoken]
Sister Sarabi, the Lord put it on my heart to sing this selection in honor of Brother Darnell, who was an abomination just like me. And I can't help but reflect on the ways that I have lived a life without passion in fear of you and your husband's words to me, that if I ever acted on my lust for another man, that I would meet the same fate as Darnell, lying in that there box. And those words have kept me HIV-free but absolutely terrified, because I realized then and there that the only thing worse than dying of AIDS would be living with it, and hearing the people you love say "I told you so, I told you so, I told you so!" Can I get a witness out there, choir?
[CHOIR, spoken]
Hallelujah! Yas!
[PREACHER, spoken]
And so, on today, as we prepare to bury yet another un-HBO special'ed, un-Oscars-so-white Award-winning, abnormal-hearted, un-Angel-in-American Black queer in the ground, it is very important that we remember what God's word, your word, Tyler's word, and every-fuckin'-body else's word tells us:
[USHER]
AIDS is God's punishment
[PREACHER, spoken]
Sing your song, brother, sing your song
[USHER]
For the man who ain't living right
[THOUGHT, spoken]
You hear that, Curtis?
[USHER]
AIDS is God's punishment
[THOUGHT, spoken]
I love the Lord, he heard my cry and pitied every groan, pastor
[USHER]
For he who sins in the night
[THOUGHT, spoken]
Let 'em know, let 'em know, let 'em know!
[USHER]
AIDS is God's punishment
But all darkness (all darkness), all darkness (all darkness), all darkness (all darkness) comes to light
[THOUGHT, spoken]
Speak on it!
[USHER]
He gonna knock them dicks up out your mouth
And then - and here's what I like about him -
Thee-thee-thee-thee-thee-thee-thee-thee
Thee he shall smite
Cause -
[SOPRANOS]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER, spoken]
Sing, sopranos! Testify for all of God's children!
[SOPRANOS]
AIDS is God's punishment!
[USHER, spoken]
Everybody in the building, clap with me on the two and the three, with my altos!
[ALTOS]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
AIDS is God's punishment!
[USHER, spoken]
Come on, tenors! AIDS!
[TENORS/BASSES]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER, spoken]
If you ain't living your life according to his holy and righteous word!
[TENORS/BASSES]
AIDS is God's punishment!
[USHER, spoken]
Then you ain't nothin' but a sinner, in a Black gay [?]
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER, spoken]
You gotta [?]
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER, spoken]
You gotta crucify yourself, you gotta crucify yourself
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER, spoken]
You know that Jesus won't protect you from...
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER]
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
Cunt!
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[USHER]
God is gonna do it, God is gonna do it, sores all on your body and your mouth and in your butt
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
[USHER]
AIDS is God's punishment when you fuck against God's will
AIDS is God's punishment when you fuck against God's will
AIDS is God's punishment when you fuck against God's will
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment
[USHER, spoken]
Crucify me Lord, crucify me Lord!
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS, AIDS!
AIDS is God's punishment, yes!
[MOM, spoken]
Usher! Please stop this!
[USHER, spoken]
Roast me in your flames!
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment!
[MOM, spoken]
Please stop this music!
[CHOIR]
AIDS is God's punishment!
[USHER, spoken]
You wanted a gospel play? Well this is the only way I know how to do it!
