I see slow genocide
Bodies strung like tanning hides
Oh, and the fly covered babies

And in the mirror love
I see another sun
I will try hard to smile back at me

It's no burnt cork affair
It's no undue despair
I know a joy that's mocked
And I know a grief

I know a slave name
And I know a cold shame
And I know I cried in disbelief

And I see a ****o star
Loaded on alcohol
I see a rolling stone
And I see a creep

Coming to on my knees
Empty hands full of all I will keep

Smiling black faces
Can anyone see?
Is anything radical in wantin' to be?

And on his wedding day
They took Sean Bell away
Cops let their bullets spray
In the same city where I am a man

And when the gavel fell
Over that bloody hell
Everyone walked away
No one even got canned

This nation's compromised
Just shrugged and turned its eyes
Some maybe shook their heads
And muttered 'What a shame'

But his body's my body's
Your bodies could die in pain

Smiling black faces
Is anyone free?
Is anything radical in wantin' to be?

But I see love breaking through
Right through the face of cool

Time to heed Nelson's call
Not to let self stay small
Know we can conquer all of this ********
If we know where we stand

Square on the side of love
Know how to arm a dove
I know, I want to sing so I know I can

And if there are joys to come
If there is movin' on
If there is love abounding, let it sustain

Oh, coo coo brown babe
Black baby with my last name

And I can see smiling black faces
I can see smiling black faces
I can see smiling black faces

Keepin' their teeth
Sayin' ***k grief
What a release