We be

I looked at the moon so full and so bright

And then at the fireplace with its flickering light

And realised why this world would never be right

Then I threw another log on the fire

We be, uh huh

We be, hmm hmm

We be

Travelling down the highway of the enemy

We be

Joining the endless convoy of cultural hegemony

We be

Missing the forest for the trees 'cause

We can't see the evils that men do on TV

In the movies, overseas and right here on our streets

We be

Opting for vainglory over humility

We need, we need to break the convoy line

Get the hell off the highway

Take the road less travelled

'Cause that moral fiber you thought was so tightly woven

It's unravelling, it's unravelled

I hate to tell y'all, it's unravelled

Why do you insist on keeping us caged

You know all that does is intensify rage

The word now is seize the tide

And all power to the people

Power to the people

We be

Say, I'm standing on my soapbox again

Say, I'm one of those conscious artists

Talking that "change the world" shit again

Say, I might be just a bit too dramatic

Slash overzealous about what I see

As the human spirit's dive into uncertainty

Say what you like, say what you like

'Cause I'll be all those things you say

All night and all day

Before I allow myself and soul

To wither away into indistinctness

Live a half-life of blissful ignorance

Never take another chance

Do the latest dance with the devil

And lose my dreams for all we could be

Lose my dreams for all we could be

We be

Why do you insist on keeping us caged

You know all that does is intensify rage

The word now is seize the tide

And all power to the people

Power to the people

We be

Many, so many

Many, like the number of death threats

That Malcolm used to get

We be

Many, oh so many

Many, like the multitude of souls lost in the wars of men

Over gold, over power, over God and hate

We be

Many, so so many

Many, like the lies that pale the truth

The coward lies of prophets and powermongers

Told to acquire faith

To steal land, to oppress people

We be the oppressed peoples

We be

We be

Why can't we be

More peaceful

Why can't we be

Nicer to one another

Why can't we be

We be

What we were meant to be

Love

Why do you insist on keeping us caged

You know all that does is intensify rage

The word now is seize the tide

And all power to the people

Power to the people

We be

We be, uh huh, hmm, hmm