[Talib Kweli]

The proud

Stand tall or don't stand at all, c'mon

Uhh, yeah

Break it down

What we do?



[Chorus]

We survive, it's more than pride

We stay alive, ready to ride



[Chorus] - repeat through intro



[Intro: Talib Kweli]

One two, one two yo

Aight.. put it down yo

June 21, 2001

Timothy McVeigh is executed

And the country breathe a sigh of relief

Goodness prevails over evil, it seems

Somehow when he's gone, we feel safer

Little do we know



[Verse One]

Today the paper say Timothy McVeigh's in hell

So everything's okay and all must be well

I remember Oklahoma when they put out the blaze

And put Islamic terrorist bombing, on the front page

It's like saying only gays get AIDS, propaganda

Like saying the problem's over when they locked that man up

Wrong! It's just the beginning, the first inning

Battle for America's soul, the devil's winning

The President is Bush, the Vice President's a Dick

So a whole lot of fuckin is what we gon' get

They don't wanna raise the babies so the election is fixed

That's why we don't be fuckin with politics

They bet on that, parents fought and got wet for that

Hosed down, bit by dogs, and got blacks into house arrest for that

It's all good except for that - we still poor

Money, power and respect is what we kill for, for real



[Chorus] - repeat through interlude



[Interlude]

August 4, 2001

A drunken police officer mows down an entire family in Brooklyn

The judge lets him go with no bail

It reminds us, of just how worthless our lives are to the justice system

I struggle, to explain the situation to my son, it's hard



[Verse Two]

Niggaz with knowledge is more dangerous than than niggaz with guns

They make the guns easy to get and try to keep niggaz dumb

Target the gangs and graffiti with the Prop 21

I already know the deal but what the fuck do I tell my son?

I want him livin right, livin good, respect the rules

He's five years old and he still thinkin cops is cool

How do I break the news that when he gets some size  

He'll be percieved as a threat or see the fear in they eyes

It's in they job description to terminate the threat

So 41 shots to the body is what he can expect

The precedent is set, don't matter if he follow the law

I know I'll give my son pride and make him swallow it all (damn!)

Fuck the pigs! I think the pigs killed Big and 'Pac too

If they didn't they know who did, they got to!

Who they serve and protect, nigga not you

Cops shot off of ten G's but they got glocks too

Let you protect yourself, or better yet respect yourself

Straight into the hospital is where you gotta check yourself

They be gettin tips from snitches and rival crews

Doin them favors so they workin for the drug dealers too

Just business enforcers with hate in they holsters

Shoot you in the back, won't face you like a soldier

Kurt Loder asked me what I say to a dead cop's wife

Cops kill my people everyday, that's life



[Chorus] - repeat through final interlude



[Final Interlude]

September 11, 2001

Terrorists attack the Pentagon and the World Trade Center

Kills thousand and permanently scars America's false sense of security

We see the best examples of humanity in the face of the worst

As fire fighters, police officers, rescue workers

and volunteers of all sorts, fight to save lives

The world will never be the same again



[Verse Three]

My heart go out to everybody at Ground Zero

Red, black, yellow, white and brown heroes

It's more complicated than black and white

To give your own life is the greatest sacrifice

But it's hard for me to walk down the block

Seeing rats and roaches, crack viles and 40 ounce posters

People broken down from years of oppression

Become patriots when they way of life is threatened

It's a hard conversation to have

We lost kids, moms and dads, people ready to fight for the flag

Damn, when did shit get this bad?

America kill the innocent too, the cycle of violence is sad

Damn!  Welcome to the world, we here

We've been at, war for years but it's much more clear (yeah)

We got to face what lies ahead

Fight for our truth and freedom and, ride for the dead



[Chorus] - repeat to end