Soul, 1971 - Sho Baraka, Jamie Portee, Amisho Baraka Lewis

I’m groovin' for the activists and graduates

I’m an advocate for those feeling abandonment

In the favelas and slums, the ghetto inhabitants

It’s like 'Can anything good come outta Nazareth?'

The only thing good came outta Nazareth

(This is the groove, tell me, can you handle it?)

Yeah I’m schooled in the ways of runaway slaves

I’m brave, I’m unchained, I’m Frederick Douglass with a fade

I kidnapped greatness and left no ransom

I’m the grandson of Muhammed Ali, but more handsome

The soul of Cab Calloway without dancing

Call me Eve before I show my fruit, let me get at 'em

Picking up the pieces in a world that’s fallen

They imprisoned by ignorance, I’m begging your pardon

I’m charming, I am George Washington Carver in a garden

With some soul food, but some prefer starving

The LP is sold out, yeah I’m missing the bargain

The industry is Walmart, they missing the target

Suited for success, bow ties and top hats

If greatness had a score this is the soundtrack

Oh lord

Oh lord

Oh lord

Oh lord

Come on now

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I will not keep on losing

Imma keep on grooving

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I will not keep on losing (hell naw)

The finish line keeps on moving

I’m grooving for a Coltrane and Athanasius

Bonhoeffer in Harlem

Now, you speaking my language

I’m contagious, educated and dangerous

(I've been running for my life but I don’t know where the race is)

If you’ve never seen a frown, you’ll never love a smile

Only insecure boys stay fighting for a crown

You never been a servant, then you’ll never be a king

Woke up in 2015 like you’ve never had a dream

Bad schools, bad food, bad predatory lenders

Bad debt, no investment, just mandatory spenders

On spinners, on spinners, need something on spinners

Churches ain’t saving they just decorating sinners

When the liquor store is your neighbor, you’ll probably grow up a drunk

When the courts keep you from court you’ll probably learn to dunk

They took the cheese and they put it in the trap

I got a gift from the Lord so maybe I should rap

Yeah, I know poor is a state of mind

Huh, and I’m tryna cross the border line

In due time, you gon' learn to love me

No matter what you do, you can’t take the groove from me

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

Yeah

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I’m a man, ain’t I?

(you the man)

I’ll keep on moving, I’ll keep on

If you wanna be

Oh lord (good god)

Oh lord (groovy)

Oh lord (funky)

Oh lord