89 Lines

As a dog with a bone is always
In danger, so's a woman with a
Bag when meeting dark strangers
She holds it just a little bit tighter
Which she wouldn't do if my skin were lighter
It's not in my mind, I've been around the block a few times
Every time she crosses to the other side
Women supposedly got that intuition
So they should no better, but that's a dubious distinction
It's not a figment of my imagination it happens a lot
When I flag down a cab it doesn't stop
Not because I look dangerous or nothing like that
It's not 'cause he's off duty it's cause I'm black
The police come flying around
The corner with the red light screaming
I pulled over to let them pass, they pulled over too,
I thought that I was dreaming
I'm scared to death of our men in blue
It must be cold over there in your shoes

So close your eyes
In silent night
Bet you can't tell
If I'm black or white

Turn out the lights
Stand here by my side
Cause we're all alike
On the inside

One step up
Then two to the side
One more man
Let the sleeping dog lie
From the back of the bus
To screams in the night
Planting flowers of fire
With these 89 lines

Doesn't it bring back some terrifying memories
There goes the president making more enemies
If he's doing to his wife what he's doing to the country
She'd be happy, we could stand up and dump the monkey
I ask not what I can do for my country
Cause I wonder sometimes if it cares for me
The government could change a lot with education
And catching kids before they start to think in races
And eliminate a lot of infuriating situations
Your blindness not of eyes you go public with your lies
Then as to prove you have a heart in private you apologize
Seems my history is a set of lies agreed upon by you repeated
So many times and for so long accepted as the truth
Like an unfriendly takeover attempt
I get in you hold on fuckin' coincidence
Like a nicotine stain it won't go away
And it won't if you raise your kids this way

So close your eyes
In silent night
Bet you can't tell
If I'm black or white

Turn out the lights
Stand here by my side
Cause we're all alike
On the inside

One step up
Then two to the side
One more man
Let the sleeping dog lie
From the back of the bus
And screams in the night
Planting flowers of fire
With these 89 lines

What's your favorite color
What's your favorite color?
For those victimized by this ultimate violence
We now observe a moment of silence