THE FIRE ONCE BURNED IN OUR HEARTS FOR MANY YEARS
BRINGING IN JOY EXTINGUISHED OUR FEARS
THE WAYS OF THE WORLD WERE ALWAYS KEPT OUT
TALKING TO EACH OTHER NEVER DID SHOUT

BUT THEN WE GREW UP AND TORE AWAY FROM OUR KIN
NOW WERE AFRAID TO BE IN OUR OWN SKIN
WANTING TO DESPERATLEY BE LIKE THEM
OUR REPUTATIONS HANG ON VERY THIN WHIMS

JUDGED ALREADY AS A YOUNG BLACK MAN
DO YOU THINK YOUR DISRESPECT IS TAKING A STAND?
YOUR PARENTS TAUGHT YOU BETTER
I KNOW THAT FOR SURE
ALL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THEY HAD TO ENDURE

YOUR GRANDMOTHERS GRANDFATHERS FOUGHT FOR YOU TO
SO BASICALLY NOW YOUR DISRESPECTING YOU
WHEN YOU JUDGE A WHITE MAN TO ALWAYS BE RACIST
NOW BECAUSE OF YOU HE LOOKS AT INNOCENT BLACK FACES
AND PUTS US IN THE CATEGORY OF A DYING RACE
AND IF WE SHOW OUR FACE WE GET LOOKS OF DISGRACE
AND JUDGED TO BE SOMEONE LIKE YOU ALREADY ARE
THE CHANCES OF GAINING DIGNITY ARE VERY FAR

FOR NOW CRIME IS RISING SO VERY HIGH
BLACK MOTHERS HUSHED SO YOU CANT HEAR THEIR CRIES
ANGRY BLACK MEN STROLL OVER SACRED GROUND
YOU DISGRACED YOURSELF NOW ANGER YOU HAVE FOUND

SO LET ALL THE YOUNG ONES PAY FOR YOUR HATE
SPARE YOUR OWN BUT DONT SPARE THEIR FATE
YOU THINK AMERICA HAS SILENCED YOUR HOMES
WHEN YOU ARE THE ONES KILLING YOUR OWN

THE FIRE OF RACE BEGINS TO BURN
AS AMERICAS STOMACH BEGINS TO CHURN
ITS NOT THE FAMILY YOU COME FROM OR THE SCHOOL YOUR IN
WHAT IS THE CRIME NOW? THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.