Knees on the Ground

[Verse 1] Cumulus clouds sitting up high Shape-shifting aimless and slow The breeze is easy, it moves by Timid, more whisper than blow Telephone wires, they buzz live Blackbird is frozen in flight Low-hanging sun makes a orange sky Silhouettes in a backlight Black shingled roofs are all bright-trimmed The trim the same on the windows 8-year-old girl, color caramel skin Pink barrettes and color pencils Stares, her mouth open and eyes wide As the crowd gathers below They heard the shouts and they knew why Grab cellphones pressing record Blue uniform and a badge on Showing no fear in his eyes Stands in the street with his gun drawn Military issue .45 [Chorus] Times have made a choice of what to keep and what to throw away Everything ingrained comes to a point so sharp could cut a piece a day And it bleeds on the ground, keep your knees on the ground where they belong Keep your knees on the ground where they belong [Verse 2] Brown boy sitting on his knees with his eyes shut Hands behind his head, fingers woven, pinkies up Saying he ain't even doin' nothing what you want They threw him on the ground when he called them all punks Retro blue and white Jordans, tongues out Over the black jeans cuffed just the right amount To make them bunch by the calves how he like Just ran out of boxer briefs so he wearing tighty-whities With a white T-shirt and the breeze catch it just so Pressing it tight against his chest so the red hole Is getting wider and the blood is soaking in the fabric And pooling on the ground, he looks down automatic And the dark pavement gets darker when it's wet He's losing balance slow with his hands on his head So his face hits first and his eyes go dead And the air is sucked out of the world with his last breath [Chorus] Times have made a choice of what to keep and what to throw away Everything ingrained comes to a point so sharp could cut a piece a day And it bleeds on the ground, keep your knees on the ground where they belong Keep your knees on the ground where they belong [Verse 3] One side is sneakers and wedge heels One side is boots with a steel toe One wants to shout the way they feel One told, "Feel nothing and move slow" A line in riot gear waving glass Full head to toe body armor A line of paper signs waving flags Crying for dead sons and daughters The training said, "Here's the enemy Prepare yourself for the war When they get violent, you'd better be Ready to defend the corps" In come the tanks and the AK's Protestors running for life 8-year-old girl crying loud at the window Not a single cloud within sight [Chorus] Times have made a choice of what to keep and what to throw away Everything ingrained comes to a point so sharp could cut a piece a day And it bleeds on the ground, keep your knees on the ground where they belong Keep your knees on the ground where they belong [Post-Chorus] Go ahead and make your peace, baby, go on and get your piece They swore to keep the peace and it is shattered into pieces And it bleeds on the ground, keep your knees on the ground where they belong Keep your knees on the ground where they belong