Sho Baraka - Soul, 1971 lyrics
[Intro: Jamie Portee] Fellas I'm ready to get up and do my thing (go ahead) I wanna get into it man, you know (go ahead) Like I, you know I'm the man, don't you? (go ahead) Can I count it off? 1, 2, 3, 4 [Verse 1: Sho Baraka] 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 Dougla** with a fade I kidnapped greatness and left no ransom I'm the grandson of Muhammed Ali, but more handsome The solar cat call away with our 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 [Hook: Jamie Portee] Oh lord Oh lord Oh lord Oh lord Come on now I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) I will not keep on losing Imma keep on grooving I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) I will not keep on losing (hell naw) The finish line keeps on moving [Verse 2: Sho Baraka] I'm grooving for a Coltrane and Athanasius Bonhoeffer and 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, they 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 neighbour, they'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 [Hook: Jamie Portee] I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) Yeah I'm the man ain't I? (you the man) I'm the 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