Revolutionary Generation

Lyrics

[Intro: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] I get down to what it is And if it ain't funky (Yeah), see ya People askin' me what's goin' on in my mind (Hey) Wait a minute The true worth of a race Must be measured by the character of its woman [Verse 1: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] Just a matter of race 'Cause a Black male's in their face Step back for the new jack swing On the platter, scatter, huh (We got our own thing) Yes, just jam, let the rhythm run (Boy) Day to day, America eats its young And defeats our women There is a gap so wide, we all can swim in Drown in, uh, get down and get it Got it goin' on with it Sister (Hey), soul sister, we gon' be all right It takes a man to take a stand Understand it takes a woman to make a stronger man As we both get strong They'll call me a crazy Asiatic while I'm singin' a song Oh my God, oh my Lord, I can't hold back So I get exact on a track It's an eye for eye, tooth for tooth Forget about me, just set my sister free, huh R-E-S-P-E-C-T My sister's not my enemy 'Cause we'll be stronger together to make 'em all say, "Damn" (This generation) [Verse 2: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] They don't know what we got goin' is sound To turn it all around To my sisters, I communicate with the bass and tone Through speakers and the microphone 'Cause I'm tired of America dissin' my sisters (Yeah) For example, like they dissed Tawana And they try to say that she's a liar My people don't believe it, but even now, they're getting higher (Uh) Off the feeling, inspiration We must know that in this nation Every single generation They teach us how to diss our sisters Strange as you say, I say revolution Need for change brings a revolution The great book, look, see solution God chooses what and who for the bruisin' (What, man, what?) There's been no justice for none of my sisters Just us been the one that's been missin' her Now we got to protect to get together and damn (This generation) [Pre-Chorus: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] I said so to what it is, where it is She needs a lil' respect (There it is) I would say she needs a lotta Brother from a mother like me has gotta Give it up (Give it now) And pass it all around (Hey), to my soul sister [Interlude: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] Come on (Thank you, baby, huh) (Hey), soul sister (Hey, huh) Sister (Hey), soul sister (Hey, huh) Hey I'm comin' (Hey), soul sister (Hey), soul sister Yeah Let's go [Verse 3: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] They disrespected mama and treated her like dirt America took her, reshaped her, raped her No, it never made the paper Beat us, mated us Made us attack our woman in black So I said sophisticated B (Don't be one) Not to heed the warning, crack of dawn Or is it the dawn of crack? Uh-oh Stop the talk, they say, but we talk and say what's right or wrong Some say we wastin' time singin' a song But why is it that we're many different shades? Black woman's privacy invaded years and years You cannot count my mama's tears It's not the past, the future's what she fears Strong, we be strong, the next generation It's not what, who we're facin' The fingers pointed to us in our direction The blind state of mind needs correction Word to the mother, we tighten connection To be a man, you need no election This generation generates a new attitude (Yeah) Sister, to you, we should not be rude (Uh) So we come together, make 'em all say, "Damn" (This generation) [Interlude: Chuck D & Flavor Flav] Oh, huh Come on Ayy, oh, oh Hey Thank you, baby [Outro] I know that this country I know they try to divide But it's a prop, it's a trick We are not in competition together Don't get caught up in this mess Black woman took care of her children as if she took care of white woman's children She can't take care of them together How can we get caught up in this mess? "Well, I wouldn't go to that emotion But they gave it to the Black woman They're putting the Black man down" Yes, they're putting the Black man down, but it's not the Black woman And if it is the Black woman, then we take them to the 'splainin' room Because we are all in the family We don't need to let folks from outside who don't care about you, who don't care about me Who don't care about your children, who don't care about your mama, who don't care about your grandparents Don't let them solve your problems Mary McLeod Bethune said the true worth of a race Must be measured by the character of its woman