Men, women, the teens with jutting *******
they put the chains round their necks
they could not breathe
they could not breathe
In the mouldy dank cargo hold on galleons
rawhide tether their necks to rusty deck rings
they could not breathe
they could not breathe
In the strangest of land with the strangest of faces
the mother and father of cold harmattan winds blows
they could not breathe
they could not breathe
In cotton fields and plantations where dogs were better treated
and strong strapping men were ******* and bull-whacked
they could not breathe
they could not breathe
When temptations overcomes female gentries into forbidden ways
or the hued rock hard beasts dared refusal and fingers are pointed
the lynching party marches to the sycamore trees
hapless wild beasts are for stringing high
they could not breathe
they could not breathe
When you fool yourself you have freedom, liberty and equality
and you are arrested and as is proper, they kneel on your neck
you cannot breathe
you will not breathe
When they see a black Prince, regal, distinguished, accomplished
they will try to extort money from him, they will burgle him
And if he fools himself that he has rights and stands up to them
they will slander you, defame you, demonize you, harass you They will hound you, humiliate you, torment you, isolate you
and mob you from dawn to dusk
until you cannot breathe
until you cannot breathe..........