[Verse 1: Swamburger]
I was born king
Pushing hip at '29
Son of a preacher mind
With the same name as he
Until at 35, he legally dropped it
And changed it to honor a German Protestant
I used to sing choir
Went to college at 15
Skipping 9th and 12th grade
With big dreams of sociology and systematic theology
Ima be like pops and pa** the AP
In 1954 I'm just that
25 in Alabama facing lack
Of unity, in tune with omnipresent
I'm used to being Jim Crow though
Relate to that
Where I stay there's racial segregation
The measurement of a man is 98 cents
Freedom and a home to write is $28.12
But I'm a long way from all that
I admit
[Chorus - Alexandrah]
What's that to you?
What's that to you?
Yeah it's pushing through
[Verse 2 - Swamburger]
I played the game of being victim too long
To be a silent opposition to authority's position
Listen, one day while beginning a book
I had a vision that would wake me in the middle of typing
Fast Forward to the signing of that very book
Harlem '58, take a closer look
I was stabbed in the chest with an envelope opener
Black woman from Georgia, named Izola now
Rewind back to that typing process
My vision of a promise land, in spite the d**h
People gathered, speaking rather bold
Saying I was out of touch, bus boycotts are old
Civil rights not a fight for the now
Even now in the present, I'm learning how
Maybe I should just rest
Slitter in my chest
Pushing the envelope, was not for the best
[Chorus]
[Verse 3 - Swamburger]
No, Ima wake from this
Escape d**h while I got a boat to fix
Reaper's knocking
But you can't stop when
A will to make a way is waiting over the mountain
So I wrote more books
Led our people to action
Marched on Washington for peace and pa**ion
Led a movement in of the South to the North for Jackson
Opposed war, Vietnam back to back then
Won't sleep til' the dream is alive
Hold more rallies get the poor organized, I
Believe in a date with d**h
But if I gotta go now, no feelings left
Away from stress
39 years to a king
Ain't a thing, what's left?
An absolute? Nah, another living being wants to see if I'm bulletproof
[Excerpt from I have been to the mountaintop]
Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop
And I don't mind
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
So I'm happy, tonight
I'm not worried about anything
I'm not fearing any man
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord