Is It Because I'm Black

[Verse 1: Ceelo Green & Stephen Marley]

The dark-brown shade of my skin

Only adds colour to my tears

That splash against my hollow bones

That rocks my soul

Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew

Wondering why all my dreams never came true

Ooh! Is it because I'm black?

Somebody tell me, what can I do

Oh something's holding me back

I wonder, is it because I'm black?

[Verse 2: Anthony Hamilton & Black Thought]

In this world of no pity

I was raised in the ghetto city

You said, Momma, she worked so hard

To earn every penny

Oh Lord, something's holding me back

Is it because I'm black?

Like a child stealing his first piece of candy,  and get caught

Thieving around life's corner somewhere I got lost

Oh, something's holding me back

I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Somebody tell me what can I do

Will I survive, or will I die?

Oh it keeps on holding me back

Is it because I'm black?

[Verse 3: Syleena Johnson]

The dark-brown shade of my skin

Only adds colour to my tears

That splash against my hollow bone

That rocks my soul, oh Lord!

Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew

Wondering why all my dreams never came true

Is it because I'm black?

Somebody tell me, what can I do?

Oh something's holding me back

Is it because I'm black?

[Outro: Ceelo Green, Stephen Marley, Black Thought, Anthony Hamilton]

Oh something's holding me back

I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Oh something's holding me back

I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Oh something's holding me back

I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Oh it keeps on holding me back

Is it because I'm black?