How Much More Can We Take?

How much, can we stand
Could be shot dead on our own free land
How much, can we stand
After we're dead, how can they understand
How much more, can we take
From Minneapolis down to The Big D
How much more, can we take
Sing along if you mean what you say

Click-clack, another man shot down
We hear he's black, and the Feds shutting mouths
It goes to court, justice ain't served when it's out
Um... What kinda world are we living in now

First, I was lied to, thinking everything was all good with racism, just because I wasn't raised in it
As much as my kids might be
Man, just the thought is a little frightening to me
Second, this criminal justice system isn't as just as I was raised to think it would be
And third, the system is rigged more than a frisbee
With more weight on one side. That don't right sit with me
Post-Algebra world, my domain and range
From the 17s to 16, how much has really changed, America
So hold on to your seats, bro
Because all that you just heard was just the intro

How much, can we stand
Could be shot dead on our own free land
How much, can we stand?
After we're dead, how can they understand
How much more, can we take?
From New York Harbor to the coast of LA
How much more, can we take
Sing along if you mean what you say

Na-na naaa, naaa, na-na naaaaa
Nuh-na, na na, na-na na Na naaaaa
Naaa naaa, na, na-na naaaaa
Nuh-na, na na, na-na na Na naaaaa

When I started thinking bout this mixtape while making Identity
Thought I was just gonna do covers essentially
But as my summer came to a close
The world's sorrow in my mind was gross
Black and blue lives matter when they shot, doh
And y'all remember when I mentioned this in 'That Hype, Doh...'
But this matter be up on another level
Misguided people, 'tis the work of the devil (Nah)
I always hate the sin, and never the sinner
'Cause everybody on the earth, to me is a winner
So with that said, let's discuss the sin in our country
I said what I said so you hopefully don't get jumpy

I was watching TV while eating breakfast at a Waffle House diner
I ask, the waitress if she'd turn it up, Steve implied that the news was dire
An unarmed man in a Florida town
Named Trayvon Martin, has been gunned down
They left his body out on the pavement
As if weren't trying to save him
Further down the road, his killer George was in a court case

And they don't find Mr. Zimmermann guilty

And the black people say
What kinda talk is that
He shot him! This is whack
I think I understand
So take a listen, man
When we as the American people get to where we hear stories like this, on a regular basis
I think we all feel in our hearts this is tasteless
It's a problem, and we should probably face it
I think that it's important to accept
That of the people in this country, not one is inept
So because of that, I don't think that we should be
Treated like we are, call it racial equality

I read my History books this semester
Penultimate class, heard him say, my professor
Conservatives, they be swapping things
Chaos be racial equality
With a mentality like that, I would want to keep the non-whites in check, especially in the courts; I get it
Get a good gathering of people that agree with you
Keep 'em locked away in a cage like we in a zoo
Well since '64 and five score before
A few rightful laws have been passed in the store called the National Mall
Discrimination atall
What's a man supposed to do? It's like I'm talking to a wall
I'm not saying everyone who looks a certain way does this, or fits this, but dig this
We make the justice system all for one and one for all, then that's it. Problem solved. We done

How much, can we stand
Could be shot dead on our own free land
How much, can we stand
After we're dead, how can they understand
How much more, can we take
From Orlando to Washington state
How much more, can we take
Sing along if you mean what you say

Na-na naaa, naaa, na-na naaaaa
Nuh-na, na na, na-na na Na naaaaa
Naaa naaa, na, na-na naaaaa
Nuh-na, na na, na-na na Na naaaaa

For this to be singular lament, I never meant
So now, I'll talk about law enforcement instead of government
So... everybody's hyped at something
Certain problems that shouldn't even be types of problems
Every year, I hear too many black brothers end up dead
The system sucks. Mike, Imma go back again
I know my officers aim black as per they trained
Sketchy characters and me have the same frame
(Dang) That's how the system works
Not their fault, but government, look what you causing us

He's going in now

I could get shot if I don't have a glock
I could get shot for asking why your gun is cocked
I could get shot if I was just driving a car
I could get shot if I hold a tool in my own front yard
I could get shot for just being retarded
I could get shot just for being an artist
I could get shot for my skin being brown
I could get shot while I'm down on the ground
I could get shot if it LOOK like I'm stealing
I could get shot if I don't get a court appealing
I could get shot, some people, they be cheering
I could get shot 'fore I even get a hearing

How much, can we stand
Could be shot dead on our own free land
How much, can we stand
After we're dead, how can they understand
How much more, can we take
From San Diego, to Portland, Maine
How much more, can we take
Sing along if you mean what you say

Na-na naaa, naaa, na-na naaaaa
Nuh-na, na na, na-na na Na naaaaa
Naaa naaa, na, na-na naaaaa
Nuh-na, na na, na-na na Na naaaaa

It's a psyhe thing. Nobody's fault
Our feds conditioned, overkilling like rifle assault
Our system ain't bad. Naw naw, it ain't bad
It simply interacts with racist customs we once had
Well if we once had, then why it seem like we still have
Because people in this country at times still think like that
Well why they think like that? Well, to understand that
I think we're gonna have to go way way way way, back
Before America, and burgers savory
Columbian Exchange, but not before slavery
Pick any civilization. Think about them a bit
It might not be like us, but everybody's saying it
"I'm better than you. You are inferior"
"Kneel down and suck on my toes, what's your interior..."
"And your exterior like? It's something that I crave"
"Come into bed with me, but I'm on top. You're my slave"

Now do you see what I'm trying to tell you
Racism and prejudice ain't nothing new
But just because it's here don't mean it belong
It's deeply rooted; To evict will take long
It's like a cancer in America's heart
No doubt it will be, so that's why we should start

Let's go back to the present
Back to police shootings
Confront, and solve our problems
US, that is, you and