Lyrics Soul, 1971 - Sho Baraka, Jamie Portee, Amisho Baraka Lewis

Soul, 1971

I’m groovin' for the activists and graduates
I’m an advocate for those feeling abandonment
In the favelas and slums, the ghetto inhabitants
It’s like 'Can anything good come outta Nazareth?'
The only thing good came outta Nazareth
(This is the groove, tell me, can you handle it?)
Yeah I’m schooled in the ways of runaway slaves
I’m brave, I’m unchained, I’m Frederick Douglass with a fade
I kidnapped greatness and left no ransom
I’m the grandson of Muhammed Ali, but more handsome
The soul of Cab Calloway without dancing
Call me Eve before I show my fruit, let me get at 'em
Picking up the pieces in a world that’s fallen
They imprisoned by ignorance, I’m begging your pardon
I’m charming, I am George Washington Carver in a garden
With some soul food, but some prefer starving
The LP is sold out, yeah I’m missing the bargain
The industry is Walmart, they missing the target
Suited for success, bow ties and top hats
If greatness had a score this is the soundtrack
Oh lord
Oh lord
Oh lord
Oh lord
Come on now
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I will not keep on losing
Imma keep on grooving
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I will not keep on losing (hell naw)
The finish line keeps on moving
I’m grooving for a Coltrane and Athanasius
Bonhoeffer in Harlem
Now, you speaking my language
I’m contagious, educated and dangerous
(I've been running for my life but I don’t know where the race is)
If you’ve never seen a frown, you’ll never love a smile
Only insecure boys stay fighting for a crown
You never been a servant, then you’ll never be a king
Woke up in 2015 like you’ve never had a dream
Bad schools, bad food, bad predatory lenders
Bad debt, no investment, just mandatory spenders
On spinners, on spinners, need something on spinners
Churches ain’t saving they just decorating sinners
When the liquor store is your neighbor, you’ll probably grow up a drunk
When the courts keep you from court you’ll probably learn to dunk
They took the cheese and they put it in the trap
I got a gift from the Lord so maybe I should rap
Yeah, I know poor is a state of mind
Huh, and I’m tryna cross the border line
In due time, you gon' learn to love me
No matter what you do, you can’t take the groove from me
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
Yeah
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I’m a man, ain’t I?
(you the man)
I’ll keep on moving, I’ll keep on
If you wanna be
Oh lord (good god)
Oh lord (groovy)
Oh lord (funky)
Oh lord