[INTRO — rhythmic bass guitar riff, muted guitar chops, Rhodes stabs, light percussion, vocal hums] (Mmmmmm…) (Black boy…) (Black girl…) [DRUMS DROP — punchy kick, crisp snare, swinging hats, deep 808] [VERSE 1 — rhythmic reggae rap/soul cadence] Black boy, come over, lend me your ear It’s just a few things I think you really should hear Somebody got you gassed, blasting at your own people Shooting through the doorway, never checking through the peephole Who told you to move like that? That advice was wack Somebody on your block? Don’t let ’em lead you like that African, American, Jamaican—we relate Haitian and the rest of us, connected by fate (By fate…) How we point the finger at each other is a shame We should celebrate each other, every win, every change All this is a trick just to turn on one another Break the chains that bind us, come together like brothers (Together…) [CHORUS — melodic, stacked voices] Black boy, black girl, only a matter of time (Black boy… black girl…) Before they strip your everything, your soul and your mind (Your soul… your mind…) Wake up, use the wisdom and the strength that God gave you (Wake up…) Stop living in ignorance, don’t let the system play you (Don’t let ’em play you…) (We gon’ ride with you…) [4-BAR GROOVE BREAK — bass guitar, African/Caribbean guitar, percussion] [VERSE 2 — harder bounce, melodic ad-libs] Black girl, keep your head up and know you’re the prize Only keep a man beside you who gon’ love and provide (Know you’re the prize…) They gon’ tell you who you are before you know yourself Teach your babies they are royal, put that pride in themselves (Royal…) Evil lurking everywhere, tryna knock crowns off their heads Be the nurturer, the counselor, prepare ’em for what’s ahead They profit off your beauty, copy everything then sell But we know it’s you that always had us under your spell (Under your spell…) Black girl, never shrink just to fit inside their frame You got the blood and spirit of the Most High in your veins (In your veins…) Carry every lesson, every struggle, every scar Never let this world make you forget just who you are (Who you are…) [SPOKEN BREAK — kick, bass, finger snaps] We came from broken homes, broken promises too Still made something from nothing, that’s what our people do When they tell you your history, they tell you it’s chains But tell ’em kings came before it—remember the name (Remember…) [BRIDGE — call-and-response, groove keeps moving] Black boy… (You were born for more…) Black girl… (Don’t forget who you are…) When the world gets heavy And the road gets hard (Hold on…) Keep your people beside you Keep your faith in your heart We been down, but we rise (We rise…) We been hurt, still alive (Still alive…) From the roots to the sky (To the sky…) We can’t divide [BEAT CUT — CLAPS + STACKED VOICES] (Rise…) (Rise…) (Rise…) [BASS DROP — FULL GROOVE RETURNS] Know your name (Know your name) Know your worth (Know your worth) Know the ones Who walked this earth Before you… Before me… We’re the branches of the same old tree (Same old tree…) [FINAL CHORUS — biggest bounce] Black boy, black girl, only a matter of time (Black boy! Black girl!) Before they strip your everything, your soul and your mind (Your soul and your mind…) Wake up, use the wisdom and the strength that God gave you (Wake up!) Stop living in ignorance, don’t let the system play you (Don’t let ’em play you…) (We gon’ ride with you…) [OUTRO — bass and guitar groove, stacked vocals] (Know your name…) (Know your worth…) (Connected by fate…) (We can’t divide…) (Rise… rise…) [SLOW GROOVE FADE]
