[INTRO – spoken with swagger] Hey… yeah, you. The guy in the polo shirt. We need to talk. [VERSE 1] Dear white, straight, cisgender American man, Don’t look away, don’t pretend you don’t understand. This land ain’t yours, it was stolen on demand, Your great-granddaddy drifted in and called it “the promised land.” Every generation fights to fix your mess, You keep patchin’ up the cracks so you can keep your excess. Sayin’ “not all men,” like that’s some master plan But nothin' gets better if you stay the same type of man. [PRE-CHORUS] You say you’re normal, say you’re true, But the system holds because it’s built for you. And you look surprised when the cost hits home… Man, the rent’s due, and the interest has grown. [CHORUS] Dear white, straight, cisgender American man, We need you to rise up as loud as you can. Speak up at the job, in the shop, in the stands— Women keep dyin’ while you wring your hands. Dear white, straight, cis(gender) American man, If you won’t stand with us, we understand. But don’t cry later when the future moves on— ’Cause silence is violence, and the moment is gone. [VERSE 2] Amber begged for help, over and over and over and over Or if you need that spelled out, (it was) at least four times, (that) HR wrote it down, But no one stopped the danger before it put her in the ground. Your sister, your cousin, your mom; they know this all too well They've bleed or someone one they cared for that's been taken, From the violence you ignore while claimin’ “not my seed.” Women die most often by a jealous hand, Then childbirth comes next, depending on where they stand. And the odds get much worse based on Melanin, zip code, implicit bias, provider stereotyping, systemic and structural racism, yet that doesn't even begin to cover the full list. Tell me again how “we’re all equal on this ship", my dude? [PRE-CHORUS] You’re dreamin’ ’bout bein' Musk or 'Zuck one day Like you’re next in their club, But billionaire myths don’t make it so, it just keeps you voting in their interest and not your own. Taxes lift neighbors and neighborhoods Schools Roads Public Good Projects Grow up enough to say, “I understand.” [CHORUS] Dear white, straight, cisgender American man, Stop fallin’ for the fear and the cynical plan. Our government’s using old overseas tricks against us now, And you cheer for it all while they rig the fix. Dear white, straight, cisgender American man, Your kids need a future that’s honest and grand. Be a brother, a father, a real friend again— Not a bystander watching something unfold, that your grandfathers fought against. Cause I was raised to punch Nazi's in the F-ing face, Or mine would roll over in his grave. [BRIDGE] Othering cages you, traps you inside, Shrinks your whole world to a paranoid ride. Be who your grandma believed you could be, Not the tough-guy mask built on insecurity. [FINAL CHORUS] Dear white, straight, cisgender American man, If you want a better world, then act now while you still can. Justice ain’t somethin’ you watch from the stands, Stand with your people and strengthen the plan. Dear white, straight, cisgender American man, Wake up, step up This is your chance. ’Cause if you don’t join us, we’ll make our own clan… And that’s why sometimes… we choose the bear, man.
