Nick Cannon: Can I Live
Brett and I rarely listen to rap music, but this music video by actor/artist Nick Cannon is a good example of an artistic medium being used to send a powerful message of life. In fact, it is so good that our church used it today as part of our Sanctity of Life Sunday service. Few eyes were dry when it was over.
The video tells the heroic true story of Nick Cannon’s mother, Beck. It is 1979 and she is seventeen, unmarried, and about to have an abortion.
UPDATE: Read the lyrics to the song below:
Can I Live
I’m talking, mom, I know the situation is personal
But it’s something that has to be told
As I was making this beat
You was all I could think about
You heard my voiceJust think, just think…
What if you could just, just blink yourself away?
Just, just wait, just pause for a second
Let me plead my caseIt’s the late seventies, you seventeen
And having me, that will ruin everything
It’s a lot of angels waiting on their wings
You see me in your sleep, so you can’t kill your dreamsThree hundred dollars, that’s the price of living?
Mommy, I don’t like this clinic
Hopefully you’ll make the right decision
And don’t go though with the knife decisionBut it’s hard to make the right move when you in high school
Now you gotta work all day and take night school
Hopping on the bus and the rain is pouring
What you want, morning sickness or the sickness of mourning?
Can I live?I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?I’m a child of the King, ain’t no need to go fear me
And I see the flowing tears, so I know that you hear me
When I move in your womb that’s me being scary
‘Cuz who knows what my future holds?The truth be told you ain’t told a soul
You ain’t even showing, I’m just two months old
Through your clothes try to hide me, deny me
Went up three sizesYour pride got you lying, saying ain’t nothing but a migraine
It ain’t surprising you not trying to be in WIC food lines
Your friends look at you funny, but look at you mommy
That’s a life inside, take a look at your tummyWhat is becoming, Ma? I’m Oprah bound
You can tell he’s a star from the ultrasound
Our spirits connected, doors open now,
Nothing but love and respect, thanks for holding it down
She let me liveI’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?I’ll always be a part of you
Trust your soul, know it’s always true
If I could talk I’d say to you
Can I live?
Can I live?It’s uplifing for real, y’all
I ain’t passing no judgement
Ain’t making no decisions
I’m just telling y’all my storyI love life, I love my mother for giving me life
We all need to appreciate life
And a strong woman who had to make a sacrificeThanks for listening…
Thanks for listening…
Momma, thanks for listening
January 21st, 2007 at 5:54 pm
Wow…that’s beautiful.
January 21st, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Wow, It’s always interesting to hear a positive message from some one “in the world” I pray this song will touch those who are struggling with this issue. Thanks for sharing this!
January 21st, 2007 at 7:10 pm
That was really really really good! Thanks for sharing!
January 21st, 2007 at 7:11 pm
I don’t usually listen to rap either (more like never), but that was really good. Some people seem to think that the fight against abortion is futile and that abortion will never go away. My pastor always reminds us that people used to say the same thing about slavery, and look where we are now! We need to keep fighting. Thanks so much for posting this!
January 21st, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Incredible… I am not a rap fan personally but i definitely believe that this song is, and will be used by God to sway hearts. It is a nice touch that the singer was attractive young man, and then him hugging his mother at the end. Well done.
January 21st, 2007 at 8:16 pm
Thanks for sharing. It reminded me that the battle will not be won in the courtrooms and legislatures, but in people’s hearts.
January 21st, 2007 at 9:23 pm
That is so powerful!
What you want, morning sickness or the sickness of mourning? That’s the saddest thing about abortions. It not only ends the heart beat of the tiny infant, but it breaks the spirit of his mother.
Thanks for sharing!
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:28 am
Wow! I haven’t even watched the video yet, just read the words. But they still impacted me. It’s so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:18 am
That was beautiful! I got tears in my eyes while watching. Thank you so much for posting this!
January 22nd, 2007 at 6:54 am
What an amazing video! That must have been so hard for his mother to share publicly, but well done to her for being willing for her and her son’s story to be told. We must have compassion on these young girls who are told that this is the only option once they are pregnant - it must be a terrible place to think that the only way out, the only way to be supported, is to have an abortion. We need to be more vocal and more practical in our love and support of single mothers who have gone against what society tells them would have been the easy option.
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:22 am
Powerful! Thanks for posting this!
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:26 am
Wow! Thats really all I can say!
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:18 am
Thank you so much for posting this. Wow.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:40 am
My mother, sister and I all watched it together. It was a powerful video, especially when all the children were singing near the end.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:49 am
I had a quick question for you, Alex and Brett: what is your opinion on Curtis Allen (Christian rapper for Sovereignn Grace Ministries)? I really enjoy his music and have been hoping to hear your opinions on him. You don’t have to answer the question, I was just wondering.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
Stephanie Amber: Brett and I were at New Attitude 2004, where our brother Josh invited Curtis Allen to “Christian rap” for the first time—that’s where everything started. He is the one rap artist we listen to. We love his doctrinally rich lyrics and heart for the gospel. Thanks for asking.
January 22nd, 2007 at 10:58 am
Thank you for sharing the video, I’ve heard the song before but it was even more powerful seeing it!
January 22nd, 2007 at 12:12 pm
My brother and I heard that song on the radio a long time ago, and we were both really struck: wow, a figure in the music community really standing tall and telling it straight up. God bless Nick Cannon for his courage!
January 22nd, 2007 at 1:49 pm
That was…….very beautiful. Many people should see this.
January 22nd, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Wow. Thanks for posting that.
January 22nd, 2007 at 2:18 pm
That was so moving! I got chills from watching it.
Thanks so much for sharing!
January 22nd, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Brett and Alex,
Wow I am speechless this song really resounded, BTW this sounds kind of like my story I am adopted…
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Thank you Nick Cannon for not rapping about the usual!
There’s a guy in my English class and I was proof-reading his paper, it was about how he and his girlfriend had just (as in the day before) gone to Planned Parenthood and found out she was pregnant. She wants to get an abortion, he’s going along with that.
… I don’t think it was a coincidence that I read that story right before the Sanctity of Life week! God is so good, I hope and pray He gives me words and the chance to talk to this guy.
Thanks so much for posting this!
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
That was really good. I never listen to rap but I thought this was really powerful. Another song with the same theme is “Everything to Me” by Christian artist Mark Schultz.
January 22nd, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Wow, that is really great!
January 22nd, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Wow. That was awesome. I know what he’s talking about; I live with my aunt and uncle, and I don’t even know who my dad is. Thanks for sharing that video!
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Thank you so much for sharing that. What a light and an encouragement!
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:53 pm
That was amazing! Very moving as you hear the children joining in, and then when you see them at the end. It’s refreshing to hear a rap song with a positive message! (Not that I hear much rap.) It’s a good genre for talking about life as it is, and this was a wonderful application of it. Thank you for sharing the video!
January 22nd, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I showed my mom and dad the video. It brought tears to mom’s eyes and dad said even thought he’s not a fan of rap, he thought the video was well done and gave a good message. Thanks again guys for sharing.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Wow. That is really powerful. It really shows how much we need to be on our knees praying!
Thanks also for the survey work you guys are doing! It means a lot to so many people that you are willing to put all this work into making it easier for girls to stay pure and keep the guys around them pure!
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 am
Don’t normally listen to rap, but this was good.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:06 am
THAT WAS TOTALLY FAB!!! Thank y’all so much for putting this on!
-MJ
January 24th, 2007 at 9:37 am
WOW!! That was SOOOooo good!!! I loved it! Thanks for posting it!
January 24th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Wow.
I’m glad that people are hearing the truth about abortion - whatever way that may be…like through a rap song.
It brought a tear to my eye.
*sniff*
January 24th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Awesome, awesome video. Rap can be so powerful when used correctly.
January 25th, 2007 at 10:51 am
My favorite line of the song is near the end, where Nick recognizes his mother “is a strong woman who made sacrifices”.
As a mom and a woman I know it is through bringing our children into the world that we prove we are strong. The “easy” way out is not about a woman’s strengths, but her weaknesses. As women we should all be appalled at society’s sponsorship of this.
January 26th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
The message of this song was absolutely wonderful, but I have a serious problem with using a worldly medium that does not glorify God like rap music to communicate a Godly message. Even though the words are great, the medium and beat is sensual. The Bible says to prove what is acceptable to the Lord. Does attaching a Godly message to an ungodly medium somehow cleanse the medium? The rhythm and beat of this song communicates just as strongly as the lyrics, and they convey a different message? Should we put pornography in gospel tracts to entice sinners?
January 26th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
That was excellent!! Thanks so much for including that in your post. Is it an older song? Speaking of rap, have any of you guys ever heard of R-swift. He’s a christian rap artist and his lyrics are really good. Not many people have heard of him.
January 26th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
This is such an amazing song and I’m glad that this message is being spread by someone admired by so many.
January 26th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Thank you for posting this! I think this is the first rap song I’ve ever listened to all the way through, but I have to admit, I almost started crying! What a positive message for the world. I also hope this might encourage more Christian teenagers to become personally involved in the fight for the unborn.
January 27th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Wow guys, that video brought tears to my eyes. It is the medium for the message too, as so many in the black culture are the ones most affected by abortion. Truth can change a heart.
dear anonomous:
You are entitled to your opinion, but seems like you are throwing it out there to be devisive, and it isn’t a logical conclusion anyways.
Music is a medium. Comparing pornography and music is a laughable analogy!
Pornography is Content, not medium… Music is medium, lyrics give content, savvy? (Couldn’t resist)
Anyways, no need for debate here, you have a prejudice against the music. I personally think this video more than redeems the style you consider offensive.
I am not a huge rap fan either, but I did not find the beat to be “sensual”, in the way you seem to mean. Music is a sensual medium, are you saying music should not apeal to our senses? Maybe we should not listen to music at all.
I agree rap has been used in “sensual” ways, and I hate that… so has Classical (aka, yesterdays contemporary music, if you are so inclined), Rock N’ Roll, Jazz, Punk, etc. But I do believe God can redeem a musical style and Christians can use the mediums in a way that glorifies Him. I do think we should descern and not jump on any bandwagons here, but for the sake of logic, and for encouragement of proper Christian use of the arts and media at large, I had to say something.
Thanks for listening.
January 27th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Amen. I love it. That’s amazing. Thanks for posting that.
January 28th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Wow, didn’t expect to cry myself.
What makes rap and Nick Cannon such effective messengers for the pro-life cause (although Nick could maybe have upgraded the muscle shirt) is that abortion is so prevelant in the black community; coming from within that community, the message is twice as powerful.
Another Christian rap group with some great songs is The Cross Movement. My favorite is “Off the Hook,” an allegory of redemption. It’s worth hearing.
January 31st, 2007 at 3:10 pm
omg usually songs do not get to me but this one has a strong message… its so good n i like rap but this one is one of the best! i hope everyone sees a posative message in this song caz its wonderful…
ash kay
January 31st, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I’ve never heard of him before, . . . this song is off the chain!!! Definately a rap fan, now I’ll have to keep my eyes open for a new album.
It’s about time some of my black brothas start speakin’ up! 
Thanks!!!
February 1st, 2007 at 9:08 am
I don’t know if I would recommend the rest of Nick Cannon’s work, but this song is definitely a jewel.
Are you familiar with Curtis “The Voice” Allen? He’s an excellent, theologically-rich Christian rapper from Brett’s and my older brother’s church.
February 1st, 2007 at 7:36 pm
Hmmm… Now i’m african american and know quite a bit about rap music, that’s why it may be surprising i’m about to say what i’m about to say. First let me say nick canon’s song is profound and the message is a good one. But that’s where it stops; nick canon and rap music for the most part is a powerful tool of the devil to destroy lives. Hip Hop is filled with double talk, Nick Canon will talk about not having an abortion but doesn’t talk about the problem that causes abortion, fornication, so overall this message is hypocritical at least and ineffective at best. Why do I say this? Does it really matter if people promote not having an abortion while at the same time promoting fornication? One of the major problem with African Americans is bastardization, meaning people having kids who never planned for them or wanted them in the first place. So I treat this song like a treat Kanye West shameful attempt at religiosity,
February 2nd, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Wow. it’s a beautiful music video. It just made me realise yet again that abortion is terrible. That is a life that you are taking away. Made in God’s image. and it’s so amazing to see that a rapstar is being honest and telling the world about his story. Big up to his mother, she has gained my respect by what she has done.
and I agree with what G.S says. He does not mention the fact about the sin, but you know, we are all contradictions.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:56 am
Hello renee i found your comment very interesting. You propose that all humans are contradictions, and I find such a statement quite offensive. By definition a contradiction, according to webster\’s, is:
1 : act or an instance of contradicting
2 a : a proposition, statement, or phrase that asserts or implies both the truth and falsity of something b : a statement or phrase whose parts contradict each other
3 a : logical incongruity b : a situation in which inherent factors, actions, or propositions are inconsistent or contrary to one another
Now I didn\’t use the word contradiction in my comment on nick canon, but we can use that word all the same. In the context of my former statement, the way we would use contradiction is as a logical incongruity or inconsistency. This definition of contradiction would hold the same connotations of the meaning of the word hypocrisy.
Now that we know what contradiction means, let us examine your sweeping generalization, that all people are contradictions. This may be surprising to people but persons who are really born again and saved aren’t hypocrites or contradictory persons. The biblical position of a saved person is not a logical incongruity, nor is it a logical inconsistency, that\’s why the gospel doesn\’t make sense without being accompanied by a holy consistent life. Of course i would need to provide scriptural support as well as explain further what i mean about true born again christians not being inconsistent. The scripture i will use to show that christians are not hypocrites will be matt 24:51, which states vividly that hypocrites have no part in the kingdom on heaven. What this means is that a person cannot be a hypocrite and saved at the same time. Does this mean christians don\’t fall into sin? I believe that scripture shows that a christian does not jump head long into sin nor desires to willingly do what is evil, in order words, a saved person is dead to sin and alive to to Christ. If a christian does fall into sin, it is not an intentional or high handed transgression, what occurs is along the lines of the euphemism called stumbling. This is not a mere arbitrary distinction, a person who lives in opposition or inconsistent to the commands of scripture, in sincere principled obedience, has no right to demand that they be looked upon as a christian.
Thank you for all those who took the time to read this and may the Lord bless you in your quest for holiness.
February 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
The words are powerful. We serve a loving God who works with us no matter what. For you all with questions about rap check out a former hiphop rapper who became a Christian at www.powerofthelamb.com. Ivor Myers has a great testimony that helped us choose at our house.
June 16th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I tried to watch the video, but it said that it was no longer available. The words are very beautiful though.
August 14th, 2007 at 5:22 am
Woww, this really is the most powerful song Ive heard in a long time. Its amazing. And many might disagree with me on this, but I have my opinion. I typed in abortion and I guess I clicked images and it popped up a bunch of woman killing themselves along with the child when abortion wasnt legal because they were trying to perform the surgery themselves. I dont know. Im in between two fences. But really, if you were sixteen and it would ruin your life like this..what would you do?
Really, when you type in abortion in images on google. Click on the image you want to read about. Usually theres a story behind the picture and then you’ll understand what Im talking about. Send me something at myspace.com/taylor_hunnyy
I really dont care if its offensive. Im not for abortion. But Im not against it.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:35 am
Here is an updated link for the Nick Cannon video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqPRcF7ZC0
September 27th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Although I do not care for rap music, in my opinion i’m not sure you could even call it music,(no offense to those who like it) I decided to watch this video anyway. I am so glad that I did. It was very touching and I could not help but cry at a few parts.
God bless!
Sarah