Revolutionary Generation Songtext

von Public Enemy

I get down to what it is
And if it ain't funky
People askin' me
What's going my mind
Huh, wait a minute

It's just a matter of race
'Cause a black male's in their face
Step back for the new jack swing
On the platter scatter, huh
(We got our own thing)
Just jam to let the rhythm run
Day to day, America eats its young
And defeats our women
There is a gap so wide we all can swim in
Drown in (uh, get down) and get it
Got it goin' on wit it
Sister, (hey) soul sister
We gonna be all right
It takes a man to take a stand
Understand, it takes a woman
To make a stronger man
As we both get strong
They'll call me a crazy Asiatic
While I'm singing a song
Oh my god, oh my lord
I can't hold back
But I get exact on a track
It's an eye for eye, tooth for tooth
Forget about me
Just set my sister free
R-E-S-P-E-C-T my sisters, not my enemy
'Cause we'll be strong together
And make the sucker say
Damn (this generation)

They don't know what we got goin' is (sound)
To turn it all around
To my sisters I communicate
With the bass and tone
Thru speakers and the microphone
'Cause I'm tired of America dissin' my sisters
For example, like they dissed Tawana
And they try to say she's a liar
My people don't believe it
But even now they're getting higher
Off the feeling inspiration
We must know that in this nation
Every single generation
They teach us how to diss our sisters
Strange as you say, I say revolution
Need for change brings on revolution
The great book, look see solution
God chooses who and what for a bruisin'
There's been no justice
For none of my sisters
Just us been the ones that's been missin' her
Now we got to protect
We put together and damn (this generation)

I said so to what it is
Where it is
She needs a li'l respect
I would say she needs a lotta
Brother from a mother like me has gotta
Give it up
Give it now
And pass it all around
To my soul sister

They disrespected mama and treated her like dirt
America took her, reshaped her, raped her
Nope, it never made the paper
Beat us, mated us
Made us attack our woman in black
So I said sophisticated B, don't be one
Not to heed the warning crack of dawn
Or is it the dawn of a crack?
Stop the talk they say, but
We talk and say what's right or wrong
Some say we're wasting time singin' a song
But why it is that we're many different shades
Black woman's privacy invaded years and years
You cannot count my mama's tears
It's not the past but the future's
What she fears
Strong, we be strong
The next generation
It's what not who we are facin'
The fingers pointed to us in our direction
The blind state of mind needs correction
Word to the mother we tighten connection
To be a man you need no election
This generation generates a new attitude
Sister to you we should not be rude
So we come together
And make 'em all say
Damn (this generation)