And it begins where we left
A brother chased after by death until he catches his breath
We embarked upon a long march, too weary to rest
Now tell me who would ever have guessed
that at the top of the West
A party rocker and a poet might collectively have written another chapter in this fight against a self-described right But not righteous
It's highly unlikely we'll take it lightly
when a thousand of my compatriots are evacuating nightly
From one ave to another
University to beacon
The body was never last meant to be beaten
But Buddha's in the streets teaching a lesson to the kids in the cold
And if I tell all mine there's other stories to be told
Had a lot of good brothers either my age or younger
Who caught the first album when it dropped now gone under
And they say progress
But the fact is Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy's lookin like the streets we named after him:
Permanently under construction
The people hustlin'
Despite the pain and sufferin
The energy we've mustered in.
South-Side Seattle is a whole lot happenin'
But so-called "Soul Mates" are stabbin' each other's scapula's.
Melancholy hopefully might capture the present moment
We consummated the marriage of beats, rhymes, and atonement
Each mine, resides a potential so potent they think that we can guide it, if we did then we'd control shit.
Organizin' and prioritzin' what's important I'm just trying to raise and see while the homies have a abortions
No distortions to the static
I hold the mic and pass it to the future
School's in session but there won't be any classes.
Happy to see a family back
From 10 months in Iraq
For fallen comrades rockin' a black wristband
It's just a glimpse of what you missed when you're gone
We held you down and kept chantin
"Now bring 'em back home"
We said
Bring 'em back home
For my brothers and my sisters who been gone too long we say
Bring 'em back home
And I don't want to have to keep on singing this song, we say
Bring 'em back home
For my brothers and my sisters who been gone too long we say
Bring 'em back home
And I don't want to have to keep on singing this song
And somewhere a soldier kissed his family goodbye
And he was walkin' like a warrior, the water in his eyes
He left in late-September said he'll be back in July
Now the child is askin' "Mommy why did Daddy have to die?"
She says "He fought for freedom" but she knows it's just a lie
'Cause her father was a veteran with benefits denied
Now the fire in her eyes burns brighter with the passing of the minutes into hours and the hours into days
And days turn to nights
Nights turn to faith the other way
One sister strong holding down the whole family
It's just one in over three thousand casualties
And back home we battle with the apathy
We chantin
Now bring 'em back home
For my brothers and my sisters who been gone too long, we say
Bring 'em back home
And I don't want to have to keep on singing this song, we say
Bring 'em back home
For my brothers and my sisters who been gone too long, we say
Bring 'em back home
And I don't want to have to keep on singing this song
So next time you see recruiters in your school or your crib
Tell 'em thank you for the offer but you'd rather you live
We got more than just our bodies to offer so fuck the coffin wrapped in red, white, & blue
Withdraw past due
We disgusted with the fact we pay taxes to build tanks
Still droppin' one-twompin, I have to fill tanks
Got a China man's chance to fill banks like Phil Banks
For soldiers in the future, giving thanks in advance we say
Bring 'em back home
For my brothers and my sisters who been gone too long, we say
Bring 'em back home
And I don't want to have to keep on singing this song, we say
Bring 'em back home
For my brothers and my sisters who been gone too long, we say
Bring 'em back home
And I don't want to have to keep on singing this song