Tearz Of A Clown

[Verse 1]

"Start from the intro?"

I can't though, it's gonna be too painful

To speak of all the evil obstacles my people came through

"Equality?"

Is not true, I rush to beat the curfew

I guess nobody told us that the people gotta eat too

"The system?"

I laugh, 'cause I don't see no truth left

Addicted to that crack or raised too high to fight for Yusef

Can't blame 'em, they slumber, come here ya Casanova

Just because Mandela is free don't mean the freedom fight is over

The beaches, Howard, Virginia and the others

Ya let 'em lynch the brothers and no one will love the mothers

"Confused?"

You shouldn't be, my facts are stated clearly

But my raps contain no "wild thing" so I guess no one will hear me

"They're killin' us?"

But what's new, 'cause nobody will yell out

They're all too busy livin' lavish lives of a sellout

"The police?"

A big joke, the only time their gun smokes

Is when they murder brothers after every bone has been broke

"Huey?"

A hero, although he never tried to be

Died and since his death he's still a victim of society

"Well, what's next?"

Unity, respect and love your sisters

We joke and call 'em bitches so the crackers try to diss her

"We'll kill them?"

That's not the way, it's time to use intelligence

"Turn the other cheek?"

Never again, it's time for self-defense

"How come you're so angry?"

'Cause I'm tired of bein' kept down

Now it's time to wipe away the tears of a clown

[Intermission]

[Verse 2]

"Why ya cryin'?"

I told ya, I'm tired of livin' life low

The rich can beat the lotto, while the poor stay in the ghetto

"The president?"

Elected, but I don't know how it happened

Better qualified for rappin', with his gift for senseless yakkin'

A day for Martin Luther King, now his soul is put to rest

Turnin' over in the grave next to him is Malcolm X

Forgotten too quickly, it makes me want to hate them

Forgot about his wisdom, he's the latest fashion statement

"Red or Blue, what set ya claim?"

Does it make a difference?

One day we're gonna work it out and overcome this ignorance

"Education?"

Propaganda, taught to me in class

How can we control our future if we're kept from our past?

We better live a better way or we won't see another day

You can heed the words I say or don't and kiss your life away

Not tryin' to preach or teach, it is my wish to only explain

So many died before me, can I let their lives be in vain?

So now we've come to this point, it's time to make decision

Do we live in self-destruction or escape the realism?

They ask me why I'm angry, 'cause I'm tired of bein' kept down

My people, let's unite and wipe away the tears of a clown

[Intermission]

[Verse 3]

"What ills the children?"

The future, for them, I see such sorrow

The least that we can do is let them live to see tomorrow

Too many have been killed, it's time to stand up for our rights

How can the people "Fight The Power", if they can't fight for their life?

Instead, they fight their wife, beat up if she's not silent

Time to fight for principles, the brothers get nonviolent

The government is so crooked and liberties a hypocrite

"The Star Spangled Banner?"

Just some patriotic bullshit

Destruction of the Panthers another sneak attack plan

Couldn't stand to see the strength and peace within the Blackman

"Where are all the heroes who we thought were so untouchable?"

I see 'em pushin' dope and rollin' 'round in BMW

How can it not trouble you to see a dyin' species?

The world must find peace or find itself ripped up in pieces

Afflicted with the teaching's, that make ya feel inferior

Some say the government invents it all, that they just scarier

Polly want a cracker, but cracker want a sister

How come they could see her beauty, but brothers persist to diss her?

Revolutionary generation on an uprise

Never will they see another tear from this clown's eye

[Intermission]

[Verse 4]

Livin' the life I live, I have to be positive

Hell's my reality, I chose not to ride in it

I did want to live fast, I just wanted much cash

But punks were persistent, they hunted with gauge blast

So I wasn't the violent type, I had to protect my life

Lovin' my brother, but if he steps, I'mma shoot him twice

(song cut)

Psychotic society

It's hard to find love with those who treat us like enemy

They call me a lunatic, I say realistic

Beware of their politics, it's sick as the sick get

The son of a Panther, see pain in my mama's eyes

'Cause nobody thanked her for givin' them better lives

"Assata Shakur?"

Another auntie, I miss her though

Please thank Mr. Castro for keepin' her safe bro

How many more of us die before we can see the light

It's time brothers work it out, unite for a bigger fight

We're still in the same hole and now it's the 90's

Seems everyone's livin' large, but I ain't got mine G

But I got a bill for all the ill ya gave me

Society slavery, who's gonna pay me?

"Has anybody here seen Yusef Hawkins?"

I thought I seen him talkin' with Malcolm walkin'

"Where, over the rainbow?"

Naw, over the track

Another murdered brother, now where's the payback

Tears of a clown

[Intermission]