[Intro]: Broke out my chains Free the tribe and my sisters and mothers I'm finna free us from workin' for nothing Gettin' these racks And I'm back on the runnin' [Verse 1: (sparse, intimate lead vocal + soft acoustic guitar)]: “Your friend Jim is outside the city His hands at rest, his heart runs wild He says, ‘It’s better if you don’t come close,’ But I hear freedom in his lullaby.” Jimbo Broke out the chains Now I'm back on the runnin' My brothers tell me "Go and make it out the cotton N**ga Turn up on them crackers and go full throttle N**ga" 'Cause I can't breathe when they got they knee on my neck And they still thinkin' that slavery was a choice And they still thinkin' we less than equal When we both know that's not true Oh We both know that's not true [Pre-Chorus: (additional warmth from backing vocals / soft pads)]: “And the marks upon your soul are mine to seek Your eyes have stories that beg me to peek You said: ‘I loved you...but I learned to see You don’t love me.’” [Chorus: (full band, swells, strings, rhythmic lift)]: So How can you not wanna be like me? My brothers tell me "Go and make it out the cotton N**ga Turn up on them crackers and go full throttle N**ga" (Jimbo) How can you not wanna be like me? How can you not wanna be like me? (Jimbo, Jimbo) “Hey… do you remember me? Hey… can you feel my memory? Do you remember me?” [Verse 2: (return to close mic, adding light percussion/snare brush)]: “Your friend Jim’s found new roads to wear He’s got fresh boots, better city air He’s traded fields for city lights’ glow But old wounds still whisper of what we know.” [Pre-Chorus: (harmonies echoing lead)]: “And the marks upon your soul are mine to seek Your eyes have stories that beg me to peek You said: ‘I loved you...but I learned to see You don’t love me.’” [Chorus: (chorus repeats with more vocal power & instrumentation)]: Man Don't you ever wonder what it's like bein' white? Can't say that I do Well What do you mean Tom? Don't you think it might be nice? Tom I wouldn't trade shoes with you Well Hell Why not? You know what they say We all bleed the same All I know is we all get judged in different ways [Bridge: (suspended breakdown, minimal guitar, soft keys)]: “It’s dark down here but daybreak’s real Let me out there...let me feel I’m sick of fear, sick of doubt, So let's go… let's go… let's go.” [Final-Chorus: (final chorus with soaring backing vocals, full instrumentation)]: Who sailed the Mississippi We floated south of Jackson's isle On down to Tennessee for a while It was a rough ride for me Until we ran aground And he ran off That boy was gone “Do you remember me? Can you feel my memory? I’m goin’ home… I’m goin’ home…” [Outro]: And I know you gon' get yours I'ma get mine If I see one more One more I'ma lose my mind One more One more One more One more One more I'ma lose my mind If I see one more One more I'ma lose my mind One more One more One more One more One more I'ma lose my mind How can you not wanna be like me?
