Talib Kweli The Proud
[Talib Kweli] The proud Stand tall or don't stand at all, c'mon Uhh, yeah Break it down What we do? [Chorus] We survive, it's more than pride We stay alive, ready to ride [Chorus] - repeat through intro [Intro: Talib Kweli] One two, one two yo Aight.. put it down yo June 21, 2001 Timothy McVeigh is executed And the country breathe a sigh of relief Goodness prevails over evil, it seems Somehow when he's gone, we feel safer Little do we know [Verse One] Today the paper say Timothy McVeigh's in hell So everything's okay and all must be well I remember Oklahoma when they put out the blaze And put Islamic terrorist bombing, on the front page It's like saying only gays get AIDS, propaganda Like saying the problem's over when they locked that man up Wrong! It's just the beginning, the first inning Battle for America's soul, the devil's winning The President is Bush, the Vice President's a Dick So a whole lot of f..ckin is what we gon' get They don't wanna raise the babies so the election is fixed That's why we don't be f..ckin with politics They bet on that, parents fought and got wet for that Hosed down, bit by dogs, and got blacks into house arrest for that It's all good except for that - we still poor Money, power and respect is what we kill for, for real [Chorus] - repeat through interlude [Interlude] August 4, 2001 A drunken police officer mows down an entire family in Brooklyn The judge lets him go with no bail It reminds us, of just how worthless our lives are to the justice system I struggle, to explain the situation to my son, it's hard [Verse Two] Niggaz with knowledge is more dangerous than than niggaz with guns They make the guns easy to get and try to keep niggaz dumb Target the gangs and graffiti with the Prop 21 I already know the deal but what the f..ck do I tell my son? I want him livin right, livin good, respect the rules He's five years old and he still thinkin cops is cool How do I break the news that when he gets some size He'll be percieved as a threat or see the fear in they eyes It's in they job description to terminate the threat So 41 shots to the body is what he can expect The precedent is set, don't matter if he follow the law I know I'll give my son pride and make him swallow it all (damn!) F..ck the pigs! I think the pigs killed Big and 'Pac too If they didn't they know who did, they got to! Who they serve and protect, nigga not you Cops shot off of ten G's but they got glocks too Let you protect yourself, or better yet respect yourself Straight into the hospital is where you gotta check yourself They be gettin tips from snitches and rival crews Doin them favors so they workin for the drug dealers too Just business enforcers with hate in they holsters Shoot you in the back, won't face you like a soldier Kurt Loder asked me what I say to a dead cop's wife Cops kill my people everyday, that's life [Chorus] - repeat through final interlude [Final Interlude] September 11, 2001 Terrorists attack the Pentagon and the World Trade Center Kills thousand and permanently scars America's false sense of security We see the best examples of humanity in the face of the worst As fire fighters, police officers, rescue workers and volunteers of all sorts, fight to save lives The world will never be the same again [Verse Three] My heart go out to everybody at Ground Zero Red, black, yellow, white and brown heroes It's more complicated than black and white To give your own life is the greatest sacrifice But it's hard for me to walk down the block Seeing rats and roaches, crack viles and 40 ounce posters People broken down from years of oppression Become patriots when they way of life is threatened It's a hard conversation to have We lost kids, moms and dads, people ready to fight for the flag Damn, when did shit get this bad? America kill the innocent too, the cycle of violence is sad Damn! Welcome to the world, we here We've been at, war for years but it's much more clear (yeah) We got to face what lies ahead Fight for our truth and freedom and, ride for the dead [Chorus] - repeat to end