(feat. Young MC)



Don't lock me up



[VERSE 1]

Well, I was kickin it on the corner somewhere out west

Lookin fly like I do because I am well dressed

When a cop stepped to me like a man possessed

And said, "Get ready to hear your rights because you're under arrest"

I told him, "Pardon me, Mr. Officer, but what's the charge?

Is it against the law to max out and live large?"

He told me, "Keep quiet, did you hear what I said?

You keep runnin your mouth, and I'ma bust your head"

So he slapped the cuffs on me behind my back

A couple of friends walked up and aksed me, "What's up, black?"

Well, I couldn't say a word, this is really a shock

Cause I was known as the good guy on the block

We rolled to the station in the black and white

Goin through stop signs and traffic lights

And I thought, this must be the good Lord's test

An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest



Don't lock me up [x3]



[VERSE 2]

When we got to the station we screeched to a halt

I said, "Whatever you think I did, my man, it ain't my fault"

I walked inside, feelin nervous and tense

When I was led downstairs for some pictures and prints

I posed from every angle, the pictures were taken

I tried to tell the cop about the mistake he was makin

But fingerprints were next, so I followed the plan

I took off my three-finger and I gave em my hand

I was real puzzled about the situation

No charge given, and no explanation

Subject to the law and its intimidation

Not to mention my own humiliation

The pieces didn't fit, it just didn't connect

Then I was told, "You're bein held as a rape suspect"

I was speechless, my head just fell to the chest

An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest



Don't lock me up [x3]



[VERSE 3]

Sittin in a jail cell, what a crazy tale, hell

Seconds seem like hours and the minutes seem like days, well

I'm tryin to keep my wits about me, but

A man that doesn't have his dignity, will soon be a nut

Now I thought you're innocent until your guilt is proven

Locked behind bars, young man ain't movin

Like a newborn chick thrown out of the nest

An innocent man found guilty, placed under arrest



[BREAK]



[VERSE 3]

So I sat in the cell, sayin, 'Why?' and 'How?'

And what would my mother say if she could see me now?

As a rape suspect, and how could it be?

Cause all the women that I slept with, wanted to sleep with me

Just then the door opened, someone else got done

To my surprise it was the brother KRS-One

He said they snatched him up from out of his crib

Pulled out the night stick and nearly busted a rib

We spoke for a minute, then our names were called

Suspects for a line-up against the wall

Where they singled out a brother who was wearin a hat

And it wasn't me or Kris, so I was happy with that

Then I thought for a second: these cops got nerve!

They got the suspect, but justice was not served

Cause they was lookin for a brother who was 5 ft. 3

Well, I'm 6 ft. 1, and Kris is taller than me

So I went to my lawyer, asked if I could sue

He said, "I'm sorry, Young, there ain't a damn thing you can do

And it's a shame what happened, it's really a sin

The guy's short and fat and you're tall and thin"

Now I couldn't help feelin like I just got jerked

And the problem is that's how the system works

Black people need justice, we continue the quest

An innocent man found guilty placed under arrrest