1971

the italics are sung (marvin gaye, what's going on; bob marley, redemption song; lauryn hill, ex-factor; india arie, video)

my mother spit rhymes so elequently
so naturally
up next is me
i drop it truthfully
so all of you can see

what's going on
whats going on
whats going on

nineteen seventy one
and mother mother
there's still too many of you cryin
and too many young people dyin
and politician's ain't doing shit
but whinin
and Kanye was right
cuz Katrina showed us they
ain't even tryin

but everyday i see
shit that's inspiring

brother brother there's so
many of you smilin
sister sister sister so many of you
tryin

trying for a better day than yesterday
skipping lunch on saturday
just to find a dollar to brighten a day
by any means necessary

holdin it down on the block at night
stepping in to break up a fight
even when the combatants are
twice your size
you have the guts to look them in the eyes

won't you help to sing
sweet songs of

freedom, love, and redemption
of more youth than ever before
voting in the last election
of holding hands
and holding eyes
holding politicians and big media
accountable for their lies

making a difference in some other lives
getting up each day just to strive
for a better dream
than what may seem
the only way to get the means
to win this game that some call life
and others call strife
and even when it is rife
with shit that makes it difficult
they still say "the struggle is beautiful"

but it's not
the struggle's an ugly motherfucker
when you get caught
but the people that walk with you
make it worth what you're taught


it could all be so simple

but it's not
so you have to learn from the life you live
give all that your heart can give


put your salt on the shelf
go on and love yourself
cuz we can make everything just fine