The Prisoner

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron] Here I am, after so many years Hounded by hatred and trapped by fear I'm in a box. I've got no place to go If I follow my mind, I know I'll slaughter my own Help me, I'm the prisoner Won't you hear my plea? I need somebody, yeah, to listen to me I beg you, brothers and sisters I'm counting on you, yeah [Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron] Black babies in the womb are shackled and bound Chained by the caveman who keeps beauty down Smacked on the ass when they're squalling and wet Heir to a spineless man who never forgets Never forgets that he's a prisoner. Can't you hear my plea? 'Cause I need somebody, Lord knows, to listen to me I'm a stranger to my son who wonders why his daddy runs, yeah [Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron] On my way to work in the morning when I don't give a damn Can't nobody, can't nobody, can't nobody, can't nobody see just who in hell I am Hemmed in by a suit. Yes, all choked up in a tie Ain't no wonder sometimes, near morning, I hear my woman cry She knows her man is a prisoner. Won't you hear my plea? Yeah, 'cause I need somebody, woah, to listen to me My woman, she don't say, but she hates to see her man chained this way. Yeah Help me, I'm the prisoner Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm the prisoner