I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
I'vе got the bruises to prove
How could you prеtend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
[Verse 1: Mortimer]
Nuff whip lashing, yeah
Skin peeled and cracking
Black Friday sale outs
Nuff picnic days out
You made us heavy
Whip chains and sorrow
Oh, how we cried out
Till our eyes dried out
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
[Verse 2: Kabaka Pyramid]
Like seh yuh nuh use me like a tool
Abuse me like a mule
Refuse me inna yuh school
Then accuse mi seh mi fool
Beat me till mi wail up
Screaming while you rail up
Peel your sugar cane
Free me then you jail us
It's always the Black that pay the penalties
Scars on my back, they bear the memories
Bodies found, no grave, we nah no cemeteries
All we got a these verses and these melodies
And trauma inna mi DNA weh pass down
Chronic diseases, diabetes and gallstone
Cycle repeat and now you treat we like a rass clown
Is like a target pon mi back when mi a walk ‘round
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
[Verse 3: Lila Iké]
Take it from the eyes
That have seen the inner child
Many try to run from the pain they left behind
Trying to forgive is removal of my pride
I've been tryna cope with these voices in my mind
Once upon a time I'd wanna hear your side
But I've come to know your mouth is full of lies
Taken all I've got but you're not satisfied
Slavery isn't something you can justify
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
I've got the bruises to prove
How could you pretend you never
Used and abused (yeah)
And yes, you scorned and refused
To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)
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