[Intro – Police scanner chatter, distorted news samples, sirens, scratching] "Attention, citizens!" "There's a situation developing downtown." "Authorities are advising residents to remain calm." [Distorted voice] "Remain calm? REMAIN CALM?!" [Beat drops – Heavy breakbeat, horn stab] [Verse 1] Everybody got a theory, everybody got a plan Everybody's got an answer, nobody gives a damn Got a politician smiling with his hand in the till Got a corporate motherfucker selling poison for a bill Got a landlord raising rent while the ceiling caves in Got a preacher on the corner selling counterfeit sin Got a businessman in a suit with a pocket full of lies And a television telling everybody we're doing just fine! Well, I got news for the news and a message for the man You can push us to the limit but you better understand There's a difference between a sucker and a fool And the people ain't as stupid as you think they are, fool! [Chorus – Shouted crew vocals] FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) You can talk that talk, you can run that mouth But there's a price to pay when the truth comes out! FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) You keep pushing that button, keep playing that game Pretty soon everybody's gonna know your name! [Verse 2] Now the system's got a system for keeping us confused Got a thousand different channels but there's nothing worth the news Got a billboard selling freedom with a payment plan attached Got a revolution sponsored by a fast-food franchise! They say work hard, keep quiet, stay in your lane Keep your head down, pay your taxes, don't complain But the rent keeps rising and the wages stay the same And the only thing that's trickling down is another goddamn campaign! I got a microphone, a megaphone, a message and a match Not for burning down the neighborhood, but for lighting up the facts You can censor every sentence, you can confiscate the tape But you can't put a padlock on the people you exploit! [Sample Interlude – Rapid-fire chopped vocal collage] "Who benefits?" "Who pays?" "Who decides?" "WHO LIES?" [Distorted voice] "THE PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!" [Scratch solo] [Chorus – Shouted crew vocals] FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) You can talk that talk, you can run that mouth But there's a price to pay when the truth comes out! FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) You keep pushing that button, keep playing that game Pretty soon everybody's gonna know your name! [Bridge – Spoken word, ominous bass loop] "Now, let me get something straight." "We didn't make the rules." "We didn't write the contracts." "We didn't build the walls." "But apparently..." "We're the ones who gotta pay for all of it." [Beat stops] "Well, here's a little something for your consideration." [Massive drum break] [Verse 3 – Aggressive, rapid-fire delivery] I'm the neighborhood nuisance with a revolutionary thesis Got a fistful of receipts and a pocket full of grievances I'm the walking contradiction, the inconvenient truth The middle finger waving from the back of the voting booth! I got a bullhorn sermon and a basement full of records Got a hundred angry people and they're all becoming extras In a story about a country that forgot who it was for Where the rich get richer and the poor get shown the door! So don't come preaching patience when you're picking our pockets Don't come selling us a dream when you're changing all the profits Don't come telling us the future's looking brighter every day When the only thing that's shining is the chain around our pay! [Breakdown – Crew chants, layered percussion] "WHO'S GOT THE POWER?" (WE GOT THE POWER!) "WHO OWNS THE STREETS?" (WE OWN THE STREETS!) "WHO'S GONNA ANSWER?" (THE PEOPLE!) "WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?" (YOU FIND OUT!) [Final Chorus – Full crew, distorted vocals, layered samples] FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) You can talk that talk, you can run that mouth But there's a price to pay when the truth comes out! FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) FUCK AROUND! (FIND OUT!) You keep pushing that button, keep playing that game Pretty soon everybody's gonna know your name! [Outro – Beat strips down to kick, snare and scratches] "Message to the powers that be..." "Your free trial has expired." [Scratch] "Your privileges have been revoked." [Distorted crowd chanting] FIND OUT! FIND OUT! FIND OUT! [Beat cuts abruptly]
