Black Steel

Album: Maxinquaye (1995)
Play Video
  • I got a letter from the government the other day
    Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
    They wanted me for their army or whatever
    Picture me giving a damn, I said never

    Here is a land that never gave a damn
    About a brother like myself because they never did
    I wasn't with it but just that very minute
    It occurred to me the suckers had authority

    Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
    They got me sittin' in a state pen
    I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
    I contemplated a plan on the cell floor

    I'm not a fugitive on the run
    But a brother like me began to be another one
    Public Enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
    They criticize me for some crime

    I got a letter, I got a letter, I got a letter
    Picture me giving a damn, I said never
    It occurred to me the suckers had authority

    Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
    They got me sittin' in a state pen
    I gotta get out but that thought was thought before

    I got a letter from the government the other day
    Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
    They wanted me for their army or whatever
    Picture me giving a damn, I said never

    Here is a land that never gave a damn
    'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
    I wasn't with it but just that very minute
    It occurred to me the suckers had authority

    Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
    They got me sittin' in a state pen
    I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
    I contemplated a plan on the cell floor

    I'm not a fugitive on the run
    I'm not a fugitive on the run

    Many switch in
    Switch on, switch off
    Many switch in
    Switch on, switch off
    Many switch in
    Switch on, switch off
    Many switch in
    Switch on, switch off
    Many switch in
    Switch on, switch off

    Nevertheless they cannot understand, I'm a black man
    And I could never be a veteran
    On the strength, the situation's unreal
    I got a raw deal, so I'm lookin' for the steel
    Lookin' for the steel

    I got a letter from the government the other day
    Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
    They wanted me for their army or whatever
    Picture me giving a damn, I said never

    Here is a land that never gave a damn
    'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
    I wasn't with it, but just that very minute
    It occured to me the suckers had authority

    Cold sweatin' as I dwell in my cell, how long has it been?
    They got me sittin' in a state pen
    I gotta get out but that thought was thought before
    I contemplated a plan on the cell floor

    I'm not a fugitive on the run
    I'm not, I'm not

    I'm not a fugitive on the run
    But a brother like me began to be another one
    Public Enemy servin' time, they drew the line y'all
    Criticize me for some crime

    I got a letter from the government the other day
    Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
    They wanted me for their army or whatever
    Picture me giving a damn, I said never

    Here is a land that never gave a damn
    'Bout a brother like me and myself because they never did
    I wasn't with it but just that very minute

    I got a letter from the government the other day
    Opened and read it, it said they were suckers
    They wanted me for their army or whatever
    Picture me giving a damn, I said never
    Here is a land that never gave a damn Writer/s: Carlton Ridenhour, Eric Sadler, Hank Shocklee, William Drayton
    Publisher: REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?