Just Listen

You heard me cry at the Door of No Return

You heard my splash as I jumped overboard

You heard me shriek as you whipped my back

You heard me swallow fear on the auction block

You heard me grunt as I birthed your child

You heard me breathe deeply when I walked all those miles

You heard my painful songs that I sang so sweet

You heard my children cry when you ripped them from me

You heard my neck snap as I hung from a tree

You heard my ouch when the cotton poked me

You heard my silence as crosses burned and you stood guard

You heard my chain gang clank on the hot prison yard

You heard me sing freedom songs as I marched through the streets

You heard my scream when hoses knocked me off my feet

You heard me moan when the three strikes sent me away

You heard me shoot my gun as I shouted U. S. A.

You heard my knee crack as I took a knee

You heard me shout “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” and you murdered me

You heard me whisper, “I can’t breathe”

You heard all these things, NOW LISTEN TO ME

JUST LISTEN!