Lyrics

Peace to the ancestors Yes Peace to Dr. Cornel West Yes Peace to The Movement Yes [Verse: Iriz] We came from the bottom Ever since they got us We've been going through these problems 400 years behind and there's no promise That we could ever actually be equal, to be honest It's messed up how they put us in chains Kidnapped our language and changed our names But when we speak ebonics then they call it a shame They leave us with a couple options: Rob us, slang Now we locked up again How much can our skin take We went from slaves to inmates Carrying the weight of the 50 states Working your farms Black nannies carrying white babies in their arms Black men sacrificed their lives in your wars But you don't ever show appreciation here at home You treat us so damn wrong You act like you hate my race The police, they just beat in the streets, like a 808 bass America, when will you defend my case? You never will 'cuz your freedom is fake I'm only living here 'cuz I wanna get paid Enough to round up all my family and shake [Chorus: Lucky Witherspoon] Get up, get up Get up, get up Get up, get up Get up, get up [Verse: Rah Digga] They done torn down all the PJ's in my barrio Ganging is the worst case scenario Might work, steal a couple of corks Can't call'em pancakes 'til pour some syrup This a whole lot bigger than a pretty new house Especially when the rodents is still running about P-Diddy running marathons Raising dough That's going to the school Where the tax money go?! Homeland Security Now there's a phenom Pacifying folks by hangin' Saddam Troops still riding, still obliging Still no Bin Laden Tune in, wait for the President's announcements There's no forty acres, take these forty ounces You ain't gonna get on the levees Revolution televised early Is you ready? [Chorus II: Witherspoon] America (Ooh) Why you do you treat me so cold? America (Ooh) I done gave you all that I own America (Ooh) Took me from my momma so young America (Ooh) Locked me up and gave me your name [Verse: Black Thought] When you steady being forced to climb Should've had your back Now been done lost your mind 'specially when you been down for some much time Getting up don't really ever cross your mind You got pawn shop, gun shot, liquor store sign SWAT team, crack feign, unemployed line They late, a dollar short, try'na buy time What we do to survive is defined as life of crime You can't ball it Your forced to grind If you fall, then you crossed the line And I been putting in work from nine to five To five to nine, since phone costed a dime What it made me is One of the relevant, highly intelligent Brothers' not only dealing with The same drug selling shit If I'm a hustle, then what's more American? We all founded on the same sub-heritage [Chorus II: Lucky Witherspoon] [Enters: Cornel West] America, America, America You know the Black Freedom Movement constitutes of the moral and conscious. We have been trying to redeem the soul of a nation even if that nation renders us soulless. We are a soulful people, a blues people. We've been keeping alive in a state of democracy. Thank God for those who came before, we shall never forget them. We will always move forward with grace and dignity! [Chorus II: Lucky Witherspoon]