Top Anti-Racism Songs

With the call for unity in the country, Hey U.G.L.Y. and our Choose To Change Radio Show crew, wanted to share our top 31 favorite and impactful Anti-racism songs. Remember – we all have the option to Choose To Change. Please love your fellow Hue-Man Beings.

#1. DROWNING by Hootie & The Blowfish
Click to watch music video

Trouble with the world is we’re too busy
To think about it, all right
Why is there a rebel flag hanging
From the state house walls
Tired of hearin’ this s***
About heritage not hate
Time to make the world a better place

Why must we hate one another
Well, no matter what we gotta live together
Just that you don’t look like me
Tell me what do you see
When we pass on the street
What do you wanna see

P.E.’s coming is all I gotta say
Wanna turn and run away
They’re just telling you how they see it
Right or wrong they don’t care
You wish that they would quit

Drowning in a sea of tears
Hatred trying to hide your fears
Living only for yourself
Hating everybody else
‘Cause they don’t look like you

Nancy singing it’s a hard life
Wherever you go
About some fat racist living in Chicago
Trying to teach his kids to hate everyone
Well, tell me why is that something
You wanna teach your son

Why must we hate one another
When the people in the church
They tell me you’re my brother
You don’t walk like me, I said that
You don’t talk like me, saying
Go back to Africa
I just don’t understand

Drowning in a sea of tears
Hatred trying to hide your fears
Living only for yourself
Hating everybody else
‘Cause they don’t look like you
Don’t look like you

Drowing
I’m trying to be someone
That he could look up to, but
When I walk down the street
Tell me what do you see
I’m a man, I’m a man, I’m a man
No I’m not like you
Why do you hate me so
I don’t know
I don’t know, I don’t know

Hating everybody else
‘Cause they don’t look like you
Oh drowning
Hating everybody else
‘Cause they don’t look like you

Drowning

#2. THE COLOR OF A MAN by Alicia Williamson
Click to watch music video

Centuries of division
Misunderstanding leading to suspicion
Years of injustice our ignorance confronts us
and fills our father’s eyes with tears.

His image is that Of all races
reflecting in a rainbow of faces
Everyone’s created by His hand
God’s the one who chooses the color of a man
He makes no mistakes
but forms a perfect plan
God is the artist in the color of a man

City streets filled with tension
a fear of the unknown feeds our apprehension
these differences will hurt us
if we only see the surface
and fail to find our common ground

Oh Love is an action that’s braver
compelling us to love our neighbor

Everyone’s created by His hand
¬God’s the one who chooses the color of a man
He makes no mistakes but forms a perfect plan
God is the artist in the color of a man

We can live beyond the differences that are tearing us apart
If we trust the Master with the color of our heart
Everyone’s created by His hand
God’s the one who chooses the color of a man
He makes no no no mistakes but forms a perfect plan
God is the artist in the color of a man

God is the artist in the color of a man

 

#3. FEAR CAN’T PUT DREAMS TO SLEEP by Stevie Wonder with Take 6 and Drums of Unity
Click to watch music video

From out of the blue there came to me a question
the kind that until you answer won’t let you be
The question was if I was blessed w/the gift of sight what most in life would I want to see

That made me think of an old story about a boy who had no feet … no feet or hands who was asked if he could walk what would he do
And he said, as I understand,

If my eyes were to see let them be the witness of a world that is color free
And if my limbs were to move let me touch and walk in land where hate could no longer be
And if my ears were to hear let it be like sweetest music be in sync with harmony
And if my mouth were to speak, let me talk about a land were love’s for all and fear can’t put dreams to sleep

And in a crowd there came two sisters one talking to the other one in sign and she asked of the sister of all things if you could hear what would you like to hear most at this time
She, without any hesitation, gave the tale of girl that couldn’t talk at all and she asked if you could talk what would you say and she wasn’t seeing at all

If my eyes were to see let them be the witness of a world that is color free
And if my limbs were to move let me touch and walk in land where hate could no longer be
And if my ears were to hear let it like the sweetest music be in unity and harmony
And if my mouth were to speak, let me talk about a land were love’s for all and fear can’t put dreams to sleep

If my eyes were to see let them be the witness of a world that is color free
And if my limbs were to move let me touch and walk in land where hate could no longer be
And if my ears were to hear let it like the sweetest music be in unity and harmony
And if my mouth were to speak, let me talk about a land were love’s for all and fear can’t put dreams to sleep

If my eyes were to see let them be the witness of a world that is color free
And if my limbs were to move let me touch and walk in land where hate could no longer be
And if my ears were to hear let it like the sweetest music be in unity and harmony
And if my mouth were to speak, let me talk about a land were love’s for all and fear can’t put dreams to sleep

#4. WHERE IS THE LOVE? by Black Eyed Peas & Justin Timberlake
Click to watch music video

What’s wrong with the world, Mama?
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that’ll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we tryna stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin’
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and the Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate, then you’re bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all, y’all

[Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurtin’, hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love?

[Post-Chorus: will.i.am & Fergie]
(Love) Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?

[Verse 2: Taboo]
It just ain’t the same, old ways have changed
New days are strange, is the world insane?
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don’t belong?
Nations droppin’ bombs
Chemical gases filling lungs of little ones
With ongoing sufferin’ as the youth die young
So ask yourself, is the lovin’ really gone?
So I can ask myself, really, what is going wrong
With this world that we livin’ in? People keep on givin’ in
Makin’ wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin’ each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin’ on, but the reason’s undercover
The truth is kept secret, and swept under the rug
If you never know truth, then you never know love
Where’s the love, y’all? Come on (I don’t know)
And where’s the truth, y’all? Come on (I don’t know)
And where’s the love y’all?

[Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurtin’, hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love?

[Post-Chorus: will.i.am & Fergie]
(Love) Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love?
(Love) Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?

[Verse 3: apl.de.ap]
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I’m gettin’ older, y’all people gets colder
Most of us only care about money-makin’
Selfishness got us followin’ the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo, whatever happened to the values of humanity? (Yeah)
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality? (Yeah)
Instead of spreading love, we spreading animosity (Yeah)
Lack of understanding leading us away from unity
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ down
It’s no wonder why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
Gotta keep my faith alive ’til love is found
Now ask yourself

[Post-Chorus: will.i.am]
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?

[Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
‘Cause people got me, got me questioning
Where is the love?

[Outro: will.i.am & Justin Timberlake]
Now sing with me, y’all (One world, one world)
We only got (One world, one world)
That’s all we got (One world, one world)
And something’s wrong with it (Yeah)
Something’s wrong with it (Yeah)
Something’s wrong with the w-world, world, yeah
We only got (One world, one world)
That’s all we got (One world, one world)

 

# 5 YOU’VE GOT TO BE CAREFULLY TAUGHT by James Taylor
Click to watch music video

You’ve got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You’ve got to be taught
From year to year,
It’s got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff’rent shade,
You’ve got to be carefully taught.

You’ve got to be taught before it’s too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You’ve got to be carefully taught

 

# 6. WHAT’S GOING ON by Marvin Gaye
Click to watch music video

Hey, hey-hey
Hey, what’s happenin’?
Hey, brother, what’s happenin’?
Boy, this is a groovy party (Hey, how you doin’?)
Man, I can dig it
Yeah, brother, solid, right on
What’s happenin’?
Hey, man, what’s happening?
Woo
Everything is everything
We’re gonna do a get down today, boy, I’ll tell ya

Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some loving here today, yeah

Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some loving here today, oh (Oh)

Aminé ‘Compensating’ Official Lyrics & Meaning | Verified

Picket lines (Sister) and picket signs (Sister)
Don’t punish me (Sister) with brutality (Sister)
Talk to me (Sister), so you can see (Sister)
Oh, what’s going on (What’s going on)
What’s going on (What’s going on)
Yeah, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Oh, what’s going on

Ah-ah-ah-ah (In the meantime, right on, baby)
Woo (Right on, baby), woo
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Woo (Right on, baby, right on), woo
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Ba-da-boo-doo, boo-boo-boo-doo, boo-boo-boo
Ba-da-boo-boo-boo-doo, boo-boo-boo-ba-ba-do

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long?
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today, oh-oh

Picket lines (Brother) and picket signs (Brother)
Don’t punish me (Brother) with brutality (Brother)
Come on, talk to me (Brother), so you can see (Brother)
Oh, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Yeah, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Tell me what’s going on (What’s going on)
I’ll tell you what’s going on (What’s going on)

Woo-ooh-ooh-ooh (Right on, baby, right on)
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya, ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Woo, woo (Right on)
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Ba-da-boo-doo, boo-boo-boo-doo
Ba-da-boo-boo-boo-doo, ba-da-da-da-da-da-da

Woo (Right on, baby, come on, right on)
Ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Woo (Right on)
Listen, ah-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya
Da-boo-doo, boo-boo-boo-doo
Da-boo-boo-doo, boo-boo-boo

 

#7. WAR/NO MORE TROUBLE by Bob Marley and the Wailers
Click to watch music video

Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another
Inferior Is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned
Well, everywhere is war
Is your war

And until there’s no longer first-class and second-class citizen of any nation
Until the color of a mans skin is of no more significance
Than the color of his eyes
I’ve got to say ‘War’, yeah
And until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all
Without regard to race
Is your war, hey

But until that day
The dream of lasting peace, world citizenship
And the rule of international morality, yeah
Will remain but a fleeting illusion to be pursued
But never attained
Well, everywhere is war
Is your war

War in the east
War in the west
War up north
War down south, yeah

Yes, you want a war
And the rumors of war
And, until the ignoble and unhappy regime
That holds our brothers in South Africa, yeah
South Africa, yeah
Sub-human bondage
Have been toppled, yeah
Utterly downstroyed
Well everywhere is
Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere
Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere

War in the east
War in the west
War up north
War down south, yeah

Yes, you want a war
And the rumors of war
And until
And until
And ’til all these things have a meaning
’Til man learns
There’ll be always war, now
There’ll be always war

And the war in the east
War in the west
War up north
War down south

Some winning
Some losing
Some dying
Some crying
Some singing
We don’t need
No more troubles
We don’t need
No more troubles
No more troubles, no more troubles
No more troubles, eh

What we need is love
To guide and protect us on
If your hope looks down from above
Help the weak if you are strong

We don’t no trouble
What we need is love
We don’t need
No more troubles
No more troubles
No more troubles
No more troubles
No more troubles
We don’t need
We don’t need
No more troubles
No more war, no more war, no more war, I say

Speak happiness
Sad enough without your woes
Good morning, speak love
Sad enough without your foes, yeah

We don’t need no troubles
What we need is love

#8. END RACISM (POLECAT FEAT. BRICK CASEY)
Click here 4 music video

Black rapper = B       White rapper = W

I’M BLACK – I’M WHITE – THAT’S RIGHT – YOU COOL – GOT
RESPECT FOR ME – I GOT RESPECT FOR YOU
I’M BLACK – I’M WHITE – THAT’S RIGHT – YOU COOL – GOT
RESPECT FOR ME – I GOT RESPECT FOR YOU

W
HEY BROTHER – IT’S NOT YOU IM HATIN – FRUSTRATIN
SEE MONEY IT’S FUNNY – SATAN GOT US CONTEMPLATING OVER
WHOSE WHO – AND BETTER AT IT
IM JUST TRYIN TO LIVE
YOU KNOW THE HOUSE, THE WIFE AND THE KIDS

B
ME TOO – AND BETWEEN ME AND YOU – FEELS LIKE A SEQUEL THOUGH
THE BROWN SKIN KIND OF MEN ARE NEVER TREATED EQUAL YO
SEE ONE OF US CAN PLAN FOR THE FUTURE WHILE THE OTHER BROTHER
WORRIED ABOUT A CROOKED ASS COP THAT MIGHT SHOOT YA

W
WELL YOUR POINT OF VIEW IS TRUE DUDE – I HAS TO RESPECT THAT
BUT I FEEL IT’S UP TO YOU AND I TO KINDA CORRECT THAT
I WISH I COULD ERASE THE HISTORY OF THE RACIST
SEE MY PEOPLE DID YOUR PEOPLE WRONG ON A REGULAR BASIS

B
YUP – FROM SLAVERY – ECONOMY – TO POLICE BRUTALITY
FROM EDUCATION TO THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF MY SALARY
THE BUCKS MAN – YEAHS IT SUCKS MAN – IT’S SUCH A SIN
HOW MEN ARE BENEFITTING JUST BY THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN

W
YEAH YOU RIGHT – BUT TRY CONSISTING AS THE CULPRIT – ITS LIKE
THE PASTOR TALKING ABOUT ME UP IN THE PULPIT SEE
CUZ I WAS BORN WHITE RIGHT – NOW IM YOUR ADVERSARY
IT’S A MYSTERY – TO BLAME ME FOR ALL OF BLACK HISTORY

B
WELL YOU SEEM TO NEVER MIND IT – SYSTEMIC RACISM
IT’S LIKE YOU CO-SIGN IT – FOR REAL IF YOU DONT SPEAK UP
AND I TAKE IT QUITE OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE I GET – I MEAN
YO HOW’D YOU’D LIKE TO LIVE A LIFE OF HARD TIMES AND BULLSHIT

W
I KNOW MY SKIN IS LIKE THEM OTHER MEN – BUT DEEP WITHIN IT’S NOT
SEE I DONT HAVE THE ISSUES THAT THE RACIST PEOPLE GOT
CAN’T TELL YOU HOW TO FEEL CUZ WHAT YOU SAYING IS THE TRUEST
WITH NO MONEY IN MY POCKET MAN I’M JIST AS BLACK AS YOU IS

B
KNOWLEDGE OF WEALTH- KNOWLEDGE OF SELF – RARE TO HEAR THAT
EQUALITY- MAJORITY – YO THEY AIN’T TRYING TO HEAR THAT
SEE ONE OF US IS MORE FORTUNATE – WE GOTTA (PAUSE)
CHANGE THE CULTURE – LET’S MAKE IT FAIR HERE LIKE WE SUPPOSED TA

I’M BLACK – I’M WHITE – THAT’S RIGHT – YOU COOL – GOT
RESPECT FOR ME – I GOT RESPECT FOR YOU
I’M WHITE – I’M BLACK – THE FACTS – WHAT’S GOOD
(WE) NEED UNITY – IN THE COMMUNITY – IN MY HOOD
WHETHER BLACK – OR YOU YOU WHITE – NO NEED TO COMPETE
TRUTH IS (PAUSE) WE BOTH GOTTA EAT IN THESE STREETS
SEE I’M BLACK – AND I’M WHITE – WE BOTH BLEED THE SAME
BRING AND END TO RACISM IS THE AIM OF THE GAME

W.
YOUR LOSS IS LIKE MY HOLOCAUST – EXCEPT ITS ONGOING

B
YEAH WE GOTTA CLIMB HIGHER INSPIRE TO MAKE CHANGE

W
PUT THE BRAKE ON RACISM IS THE AIM OF THE GAME

B
BUT THE MANY LIVES LOST IS A HIGH COST TO CLAIM
EVEN YOU KNOW IT’S A SHAME CALL IT EVIL AT BEST
CUZ IF YOU REALLY ABOUT INCLUSION THAN IN ‘WE’ YOU’D INVEST
THE COPS MAKE AN ARREST – ANOTHER BROTHER MAN DEAD
IF IT AINT GUNS OR DRUGS – IT’S THE LACK OF HIGHER ED

W
MORE LOVE SHOWING – AN AREA WE NEED TO GROW IN
TRUE INDEED – WE NEED – RIGHTEGOUS SEED SOWING
IM NOT LIKE THE REST WHITE SUPREMESSESS SHOWING
IT’S JUST HARD FOR YOU TO SEE – CUZ ONLY GOD IS ALL KNOWING

B
WELL SEE – MAYBE E IMPOSE THIS – BLACKS LIKE AN ISRAELITE
WHITES ARE LIKE A PHAROAH – MARTIN LUTHER MOSES MADE IT RIGHT
TO PUT THE LIGHT ON SHADED NIGHTS – MY PEOPLE CRAZY JADED RIGHT?
(PAUSE) FEELING OPPRESSED – WHEN YOU PROVED HARD TO TRUST

W
NOW IM OFFENDED MAN – YOU SAYING WICKEDNESS IS IN ME
WHEN REALLY ITS – CROOKED LEADERS THAT CAN REPRESENT ME WHEN
MY INTENT BE TO GENTLY – GET ALONG
YOU JUDGE A BOOK BY THE COVER MAN – YOU SURE TO GET IT WRONG

B
(YEAH YEAH YEAH I KNOW ITS) CASE BY CASE – CAN’T GENERALIZED –
BUT THE LIES – GETTING DENIED – THE LOSS OF MANY LIVES
TO BE CLEAR – WHATS FAIR IS FAIR – YO WHENS THE LAST TIME
YOU GOT STOPPED AND FRISKED – MAN WE SICK OF THIS SHIT

W
LIFES IMPACTED BY WAY THE MEN IN PAST HAVE ACTED
RACISM AND ALL THAT – NOT LOOKING AT IT PASSIVE
NOT SURE HOW TO SETTLE THE SCORE – MOVING FORWARD
CHANGE – WE CAN DO MORE WITH – PUT HATRED INTO ORBIT

B
IM WITH YOU ON THAT – I JUST
CANT STAY QUIET CUSS
WE WANT PEACE – SO THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE
AND WE WONT CEASE – NOT AT LEAST TIL WE FEEL WE RESPECTED
BLACKS NEED THE PAYBACK – I’M TALKING LIKE F4OM WAY BACK

W
YEAH IT’S WILD – THIS RACIAL PROFILING IS A CURSE
BUT POINT THE FINGER THIS WAY IS PROFILING IN REVERSE
COP COME – KID RUN – A GUN BURST AND NEXT (PAUSE)
IT’S A HEARSE – LET’S START WITH POLICE REFORM FIRST

I’M BLACK – I’M WHITE – THAT’S RIGHT – YOU COOL – GOT
RESPECT FOR ME – I GOT RESPECT FOR YOU
I’M WHITE – I’M BLACK – THE FACTS – WHAT’S GOOD
(WE) NEED UNITY – IN THE COMMUNITY – IN MY HOOD
WHETHER BLACK – OR YOU YOU WHITE – NO NEED TO COMPETE
TRUTH IS (PAUSE) WE BOTH GOTTA EAT IN THESE STREETS
SEE I’M BLACK – AND I’M WHITE – WE BOTH BLEED THE SAME
BRING AND END TO RACISM IS THE AIM OF THE GAME

END OF THE DAY – ITS UP TO US – WORD UP – TRUSS THAT
GIVE ME EQUALITY – NOT THE BACK OF THE BUS – (PAUSE)
WE SUPPOSED TO GET ALONG IN THIS WORLD – THERE’S ONLY ONE EARTH
(AND) SKIN COLOR DOESN’T DETERMINE A MANS WORTH
NO MAN IS MADE BETTER – SEE WE BOTH NEED CHEDDAR
DIVISION ISN’T THE CURE – SOLADARITY IS BETTER (WE DONT)
HAVE TO FIGHT TO SHINE LIGHT LIKE A PRISM – (CAN WE)
BOTH TAKE AN OATH TO BRING AN END TO RACISM

I’M BLACK – I’M WHITE – THAT’S RIGHT – YOU COOL – GOT
RESPECT FOR ME – I GOT RESPECT FOR YOU
I’M WHITE – I’M BLACK – THE FACTS – WHAT’S GOOD
(WE) NEED UNITY – IN THE COMMUNITY – IN MY HOOD
WHETHER BLACK – OR YOU YOU WHITE – NO NEED TO COMPETE
TRUTH IS (PAUSE) WE BOTH GOTTA EAT IN THESE STREETS
SEE I’M BLACK – AND I’M WHITE – WE BOTH BLEED THE SAME
BRING AND END TO RACISM IS THE AIM OF THE GAME

 

 

#9. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE by Depeche Mode
Click to watch music video

People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully

So we’re different colours and we’re different creeds
And different people have different needs

It’s obvious you hate me though I’ve done nothing wrong
I’ve never even met you, so what could I have done?

I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?

Help me understand
Help me understand

And now you’re punching and you’re kicking and you’re shouting at me
I’m relying on your common decency

So far, it hasn’t surfaced but I’m sure it exists
It just take a while to travel from your head to your fists

I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?
People are people, so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully?

I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand
I can’t understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand

#10. YOUR RACIST FRIEND by They Might Be Giants
Click to watch music video

This is where the party ends
I can’t stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

It was the loveliest party that I’ve ever attended
If anything was broken I’m sure it could be mended
My head can’t tolerate this bobbing and pretending
Listen to some bullet-head and the madness that he’s saying

This is where the party ends
I’ll just sit here wondering how you
Can stand by your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
You and your racist friend

This is where the party ends
I can’t stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

Out from the kitchen to the bedroom to the hallway
Your friend apologizes, he could see it my way
He let the contents of the bottle do the thinking
Can’t shake the devil’s hand and say you’re only kidding

This is where the party ends
I can’t stand here listening to you
And your racist friend
I know politics bore you
But I feel like a hypocrite talking to you
And your racist friend

#11. ALL GOD’S CHILDREN AIN’T FREE by Johnny Cash
Click to watch music video

I’d sing more about moral of this land but all God’s children ain’t free
I’d open up every door I can cause all God’s children ain’t free
I met a beaten broken man he shovels dirt but got no land
And he held out his hand to me all God’s children ain’t free
I’d sing along too a silly song but all God’s children ain’t free
I’m gonna sing the blues for the men they done wrong
Cause all God’s children ain’t free
Mister how bout the man you condemn to die
But taking everything that he’s livin’ by
And reject him from society all God’s children ain’t free
No reject him from society all God’s children ain’t free

I’d be happy walking any street but all God’s children ain’t free
I’d have a smile for all I meet but all God’s children ain’t free
I’d whistle down the road but I wouldn’t feel right
I’d hear somebody cryin’ out at night
From a sharecropper shack or penitentiary all God’s children ain’t free
From a sharecropper shack or penitentiary all God’s children ain’t free

 

 

#12. ERASE RACISM by Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
Click to watch music video

Yo V, bring that beat in
Yeah that’s aight
Ahhh man!
Yo G, yo Kool G, yo
I’m doin this right here
We got Big Daddy Kane over there
We all gonna do just one part
Because you know, we came a long way
You know, from back in Martin Luther King days, Malcolm X
[Ain’t hard to tell] You know, now now that we see
Nelson N-Nelson Mandela’s free
We gonna talk about this, is e gonna talk about this racism
Stop that, you know what I’m sayin’, we gonna stop that
So G, why don’t you just do your rhymin’ part, and then I’ll come on after you
(Aight, check it out, here we go, yo)

I’m tryin’ hard to explore, I’m not sure
What all the racial war for
It’s makin’ me more sore
I walk through a color blind corridor
Seekin’, for peace in the people I’m meetin’
Black white and Puerto-Rican men are greetin’ each other
Just like brothers, there’s plenty and many of others
You can discover, kids fathers and mothers
A meltin’ pot, no one felt they got prejudice
Listen I could never assist someone diss this
A landscape, with a dark and a light handshake
Havin’ fun, without one bein a fake snake
So let’s form a rainbow over the mountain
And let’s drink from the same water fountain
Let’s make our Earth Day a story of
People that walk through the same territories
Color or creed, is no need for a man to bleed
I believe, we all breathe the same seed
Unless it’s diluted, for somethin’ to intrude it
Then I see your family tree was uprooted
So don’t be foolish if you’re Jewish or Hindu
The racial manual is the evil that men do
I was raised in a nation of Asian
Hate shouldn’t separate Jamaican from Haitian
So if you’re givin’ in your ears I hope your hear me and
Siberian’s no better than Nigerian
I bring a rattle to a battle that you see me in
I’m no villain so why would I be killin’ Indians
My nationality’s reality
And yo a prejudiced man is of a devil mentality
These are words of a wise man, wisdom
Take a taste and erase the racism

[Chorus]
The ink is black, the page is white
Together we learn how to read and write
People are black, got people that’s white
LYo V, bring that beat in
Yeah that’s aight
Ahhh man!
Yo G, yo Kool G, yo
I’m doin this right here
We got Big Daddy Kane over there
We all gonna do just one part
Because you know, we came a long way
You know, from back in Martin Luther King days, Malcolm X
[Ain’t hard to tell] You know, now now that we see
Nelson N-Nelson Mandela’s free
We gonna talk about this, is he gonna talk about this racism
Stop that, you know what I’m sayin’, we gonna stop that
So G, why don’t you just do your rhymin’ part, and then I’ll come on after you
(Aight, check it out, here we go, yo)

[Verse One: Kool G Rap]

I’m tryin’ hard to explore, I’m not sure
What all the racial war for
It’s makin’ me more sore
I walk through a color blind corridor
Seekin’, for peace in the people I’m meetin’
Black white and Puerto-rican men are greetin’ each other
Just like brothers, there’s plenty and many of others
You can discover, kids fathers and mothers
A meltin’ pot, no one felt they got prejudice
Listen I could never assist someone diss this
A landscape, with a dark and a light handshake
Havin’ fun, without one bein’ a fake snake
So let’s form a rainbow over the mountain
And let’s drink from the same water fountain
Let’s make our Earth Day a story of
People that walk through the same territories
Color or creed, is no need for a man to bleed
I believe, we all breathe the same seed
Unless it’s diluted, for somethin’ to intrude it
Then I see your family tree was uprooted
So don’t be foolish if you’re Jewish or Hindu
The racial manual is the evil that men do
I was raised in a nation of Asian
Hate shouldn’t separate Jamaican from Haitian
So if you’re givin’ in your ears I hope your hear me and
Siberian’s no better than Nigerian
I bring a rattle to a battle that you see me in
I’m no villain so why would I be killin’ Indians
My nationality’s reality
And yo a prejudiced man is of a devil mentality
These are words of a wise man, wisdom
Take a taste and erase the racism

[Chorus]
The ink is black, the page is white
Together we learn how to read and write
People are black, got people that’s white
Let’s stop racism, and, let’s unite

(Yo yo Kane, why don’t you do your part and then let me do mine .
And then we get outta here go head, bet)

In the days of slavery
Some got to run away and many got done away
Inferiority is what some men say
But that shit played out with Kunta Kinte
Then again in the streets of New York
I think of Yusef Hawkins, and I see you’re still stalkin’
And when I think of barriers like Bensonhurst
Huh, notice how I mentioned hearse
We got to better this world of prejudice
People, make peace, and learn to live equal
‘Cause I don’t look at myself as a
Coon or a mooley that would have to say massa
You better believe that I’m an Asiatic descendant
And I know what’s been amended and intended
So let’s fulfill and get real, and try to build
A united nation, eliminate segregation
I know there’s different strokes for different folks
But I’ve also acknowledged what hatred provokes
So don’t hate me or try to underrate me
Cause I collect ends drive a Benz and live greatly
And we can all live together in harmony
Without thinkin’ what color is harmin’ me
If I’m a slave I’m a slave to the rhythm
To E-R-A-S-E the racism

[Chorus]

To the black and the white
The red and the yellow
To all the nationalities
I’d like to say hello
And I hope they stop racism and it’s comin’ from our hearts
Me, Kool G Rap, Polo, Big Daddy Kane, Cool V, and of course
The Diabolical Bizmarkie I hope ya stop racism
Peace

(Yo yo Kane, why don’t you do your part
And then let me do mine and then we get outta here
Go ahead, bet)

In the days of slavery
Some got to run away and many got done away
Inferiority is what some men say
But that shit played out with Kunta Kinte
Then again in the streets of New York
I think of Yusef Hawkins, and I see you’re still stalkin’
And when I think of barriers like Bensonhurst
Huh, notice how I mentioned hearse
We got to better this world of prejudice
People, make peace, and learn to live equal
‘Cause I don’t look at myself as a
Coon or a mooley that would have to say massa
You better believe that I’m an Asiatic descendant
And I know what’s been amended and intended
So let’s fulfill and get real, and try to build
A united nation, eliminate segregation
I know there’s different strokes for different folks
But I’ve also acknowledged what hatred provokes
So don’t hate me or try to underrate me
Cause I collect ends drive a Benz and live greatly
And we can all live together in harmony
Without thinkin what color is harmin me
If I’m a slave I’m a slave to the rhythm
To E-R-A-S-E the racism

[Chrous]

To the black and the white
The red and the yellow
To all the nationalities
I’d like to say hello
And I hope they stop racism and it’s comin’ from our hearts
Me, Kool G Rap, Polo, Big Daddy Kane, Cool V, and of course
The Diabolical Bizmarkie I hope ya stop racism
Peace

 

#13. COLOR BLIND by Beacon Light
Click to watch music video

I guess we’re color blind
Black hand
White hand
Black man plows white man’s white land
White cotton in the white fields
Black slaves with their black backs peeled
The past kills the black feet in the black night
Running fast from the black dogs with a black bite
But should I act white?
Cause what I’ve heard is only
Black is darkness and white is good
It’s like the light right, right
Black Bible, white pages, black ink
Used wrong by the white racists, blacks think
But white mans, white plans are white washed
That’s why they built these white walls
I’m praying that they might
Fall
I guess we’re color blind
I guess we’re color blind
Blinded in our sin
To all the ways of our creator
For He made us in his image
But we all some image haters
I guess we’re color blind
I guess we’re color blind
Just black, just white
Mixed together all grey
We were never meant to be this way
All I see
Are shades of grey
This rain pours down
My window pane
All I see
Are shades of grey
This rain pours down
My window, window pane
Looking through this window all I ever see is pain
I guess I’ll call it window pain
A white widow looking out a white window
Bit by a black widow
Ironically that’s widow pain
A little poison with a little rain
A little boy was killed, his skin was stained
At least that’s what they thought
And so he hangs
I once heard a white Christian man
Point the finger in his hand
At black skin and say it was the mark of Cain
Dang, so twisted
But I heard the same and yet the opposite
From a black Christian
So I guess we’re all the mark of Cain
Since we kill each other we’re clearly disabled, slain
I got some black family that don’t even know it yet
My white family never seems to grab a hold of it
But my true kin is every tone, every color
Painted red
All my sisters and my brothers
But
Break these chains (Break these chains, break these chains) Break these chains Lord
Oh please
(Break these chains, break these chains)
Break these chains
We need You to break these chains
It’s obvious we’re all enslaved
On the bottom of the see we pray
That You save us with amazing grace
We need You to break these chains
Jesus

 

#14. FREEDOM by Pharrell Williams
Click to watch music video

La la la la la la la la la [x4]

[Verse 1:]
Hold on to me
Don’t let me go
Who cares what they see?
Who cares what they know?
Your first name is Free
Last name is Dom
Cause you still believe in where we’re from
Man’s red flower
It’s in every living thing
Mind use your power
Spirit use your wings

[Chorus:]
Freedom! [x3]
Freedom [x3]

[Verse 2:]
Hold on to me
Ooh don’t let me go
The cheetahs need to eat
Run antelope
Your first name is King
Last name is Dom
Cause you still believe in everyone
When a baby first breathes
When night sees sunrise
When the whale hops the sea
When man recognizes

[Chorus:]
Freedom! [x3]
Freedom [x2]
Breathe in

[Verse 3:]
We are from heat
The Electric one
Does it shock you to see, he left us the sun?
The atoms in the air
Organisms in the sea
The Sun, and yes, man
Are made of the same things

 

#15 I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD by James Brown
Click to watch music video

Uh! Your bad self!
Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud
Say it louder! I’m black and I’m proud
Look a-here!

Some people say we got a lot of malice, some say it’s a lotta nerve
But I say we won’t quit movin’ until we get what we deserve
We’ve been buked and we’ve been scourned
We’ve been treated bad, talked about as sure as you’re born
But just as sure as it take two eyes to make a pair, huh!
Brother we can’t quit until we get our share

Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud
One more time, say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud, huh!

I’ve worked on jobs with my feet and my hands
But all the work I did was for the other man
And now we demands a chance to do things for ourselves
We tired of beatin’ our head against the wall
An’ workin’ for someone else

Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud
Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud
Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud
Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud, oh!

Ooh-wee, you’re killin’ me
Alright, uh, you’re out of sight!
Alright, so tough you’re tough enough!
Ooh-wee uh! you’re killin’ me! oow!

Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud
Say it louder! I’m black and I’m proud

Now we demand a chance to do things for ourselves
We tired of beatin’ our heads against the wall
And workin’ for someone else look a-here
There’s one thing more I got to say right here
Now, now we’re people, we’re like the birds and the bees
We rather die on our feet than keep livin’ on our knees

Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud huh!
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud huh!
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud Lord-a, Lord-a, Lord-a
Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud, ooh!

Uh! alright now, good God
You know we can do the boogaloo

 

#16  IF I CAN DREAM by Elvis Presley
Click to watch music video

There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can’t my dream come true?

There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away all the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won’t that sun appear?

We’re lost in a cloud with too much rain
We’re trapped in a world that’s troubled with pain
But as long as a man has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly

Deep in my heart there’s a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer’s gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there’s a beckoning candle
And while I can think,
While I can talk
While I can stand,
While I can walk
While I can dream,
Please let my dream come true… right now
Let it come true right now
Oh, yeah

 

#17 UNDIVIDED by Tim McGraw & Tyler Hubbard
Click to watch music video

You see, Billy got picked on at school
For things he couldn’t change
He tried his best to play it cool
But in the seventh grade
You either fit right in or you don’t fit
That’s just the cold hard truth
I wish that I’d have been the friend
That Billy never knew

I think it’s time to come together
You and I can make a change
Maybe we can make a difference
Make the world a better place
Look around and love somebody
We’ve been hateful long enough
Let the Good Lord reunite us
‘Til this country that we love’s
Undivided (yeah)

You either go to church or you gonna go to Hell
Get a job and work or you gonna go to jail
I just kinda wish we didn’t think like that
Why’s it gotta be all white or all black?
And when we gon’ learn to try on someone’s shoes sometimes? (That’s right)
When we gon’ start to see from someone else’s eyes?

I think it’s time to come together
You and I can make a change
Maybe we can make a difference
Make the world a better place
Look around and love somebody
We’ve been hateful long enough
Let the Good Lord reunite us
‘Til this country that we love’s
Undivided (oh, yeah, ayy)
Undivided, oh yeah

We’re all the same to God
No matter what we get His love
I’m tired of lookin’ left or right
So I’m just lookin’ up

I think it’s time to come together
You and I can make a change
Maybe we can make a difference
Make the world a better place
Look around and love somebody
We’ve been hateful long enough (hateful long enough)
Let the Good Lord reunite us
‘Til this country that we love’s
Undivided (come on)
Oh yeah, ayy
Undivided, oh yeah
Oh yeah
(Get a job and work or you gonna go to jail)
Undivided
(I just kinda wish we didn’t think like that)
Yep
Why’s it gotta be all white or all black?

 

#18 THE POWER OF EQUALITY by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Click to watch music video

I’ve got a soul
That can not sleep
At night when something
Just ain’t right
Blood red
But without sight
Exploding egos
In the night
Mix like sticks
Of dynamite
Red black or white
This is my fight
Come on courage
Let’s be heard
Turn feelings
Into words
American equality
Has always been sour
An attitude
I would like to devour
My name is peace
This is my hour
Can I get
Just a little bit of power

[Chorus]
The power of equality
Is not yet what it ought to be
It fills me up like a hollow tree
The power of equality

Right or wrong
My song is strong
You don’t like it
Get along
Say what I want
Do what I can
Death to the message
Of the Ku Klux Klan
I don’t buy supremacy
Media chief
You menance me
The people you say
Cause all the crime
Wake up mother******
And smell the slime
Blackest anger
Whitest fear
Can you hear me
Am I clear
My name is peace
This is my hour
Can I get
Just a little bit of power

[Chorus]

I’ve got tapes
I’ve got c.d.’s
I’ve got my Public Enemy
My lilly white a**
Is tickled pink
When I listen to the music
That makes me think
Not another
Mother******’ politician
Doin’ nothin’ but something
For his own ambition
Never touch
The sound we make
Soul sacred love
Vows that we take
To create straight
What is true
Yo he’s with me
And what I do
My name is peace
This is my hour
Can I get
Just a little bit of power

[Chorus]

Madder than a mother******
Lick my finger
Can’t forget
‘Cause the memory lingers
Count ’em off quick
Little piccadilly sickness
Take me to the hick
Eat my thickness
I’ve got a welt
From the Bible belt
Dealing with the hand
That I’ve been dealt
Sitting in the grip
Of a killing fist
Giving up blood
Just to exist
Rub me wrong
And I get pissed
No I can not
Get to this
People in pain
I do not dig it
Change of brain
For Mr. Bigot
Little brother do you hear me
Have a heart oh come get near me
Misery is not my friend
But I’ll break before I bend
What I see is insanity
Whatever happened to humanity

 

#19 LET’S FACE IT by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Click to watch music video

It’s so hard to face that in this day and age
Somebody’s race could trigger somebody’s rage.
And somebody’s preference can drive some total stranger
To make somebody, somehow feel the wrath of their anger.

Why were we put here?
What for? We’re unsure.
We sure weren’t put here to hate
Be racist, be sexist,
Be sure we won’t stand for your hate.

Why so cut and dry? A simple concept missed.
Give tolerance a try, this confusion still exists.
Ignorant mongers, no area’s gray.
Couldn’t be any wronger in this age and day.

Why were we put here?
What for? We’re unsure.
We sure weren’t put here to hate.
Be racist, be sexist, be bigots
Be sure we won’t stand for your hate.

Now how far have we come?
How come there are still some who won’t let some march
To the beat of a different drum?
To face it, it’s so hard, you must be on your guard.
It’s not okay and you’re not free to be a different way.

Why were we put here?
What for? We’re unsure.
We sure weren’t put here to hate.
Be racist, be sexist, be bigots
Be sure we won’t stand for your hate.

Let’s try to erase it, it’s time that we face it.
If we don’t, then who will?
Shame on us.
Let’s try to erase it, it’s time that we face it.
Let’s face it, the time is upon us.

Let’s try to erase it, it’s time that we face it.
If we don’t, then who will?
Shame on us.
Let’s try to erase it, it’s time that we face it.
Let’s face it, the time is upon us.

Let’s try to erase it, it’s time that we face it.
If we don’t, then who will?
Shame on us.
Let’s try to erase it, it’s time that we face it.
Let’s face it, the time is upon us.

b.
i. Album cover
c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdeDCm3Xu3Q
i. Official song (could not locate a lyric video)
d. https://www.bosstonesmusic.com/
i. Official website

 

#20 BREATHE by Calvin Bridges
Click to watch music video

I tell there’s so much turmoil, and trouble and distress in our world.
And what makes it so bad, if it’s not natural disasters, if it’s not floods and fires; We’re doing it to each other… It’s killing; it’s hatred; it’s murder…
So I asked the Lord to Breathe on us… Was it Ezekiel who asked the question “Can these dry bones live”? He said, “Lord Thou knowest”…
Lord if You just Breathe on us tonight…

Father God we seek your face
Asking for Amazing grace
Come refresh our weary souls
In your presence we’re made whole
Lord we’re crying out to you
Give us strength to make it through Oh Yes….
So much trouble in the land
Flesh and blood can hardly stand…

(Refrain)
Breathe on us
Spirit Breathe on me
Fill my heart with desire
Send Your fresh fire
Living within me
Holy Spirit Breathe Spirit Breathe..

Father God we seek your face
Asking for Amazing grace
Come refresh our weary souls
In your presence we’re made whole…Oh Yeah

Breathe on us
Holy Spirit Breathe on me
Fill my heart with desire
Send Your fresh fire
Living within me
Holy Spirit Breathe Spirit Breathe..

Fall a fresh on me
Holy Spirit Breathe
Oh…. Breathe……

I surrender all
My Heart, Mind and Soul
We humbly bow Lord
In Your presence Now
Let Your Power fall
Let Your Voice be heard
At Your command Lord
We shall live again… Live again… we’ll live again

Breathe on us
Spirit Breathe on me
Fill my heart with desire
Send Your fresh fire
Living within me
Holy Spirit Breathe Spirit Breathe..

Fall a fresh on me
Holy Spirit Breathe
We need you right now God

Father we’re crying out to You in our cities;
We’re crying out to You in our homes…
The jobs are going away God…
Men and women are trying to make it Lord…
Spirit Breathe on Us

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh yeah….
Spirit Breathe Spirit Breathe
Spirit Breathe on Us

Father we seek Your face
Breathe Crying out for more grace
Breathe Show Your mighty hand…
Breathe Do it again…
Spirit Breathe on Us
Do it again…

All the Power Lord
Breathe
All the Glory Lord Breathe
It All belongs to You oh God
Breathe on us right now
Spirit Breathe on us

Touch these dry bones God
Breathe
We shall live again
Breathe
Come Lord Jesus we need You right now
Breathe Spirit Breathe on Us
Yeah ………
Spirit Breathe
Yeah… Oh ….
Spirit Breathe on us…..

Send fresh fire Lord
Breathe
Anoint our hearts oh God
Breathe
Lord we’re humble before You
Breathe
Let us hear your voice
Spirit Breathe on us…

Living within me
Sweet Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit Breathe
Fall afresh Lord
Fall a fresh on me
You are my desire Lord
Holy Spirit Breathe
Spirit Breathe….
Breathe Hallelujah Breathe
Hallelujah…..

#21 BLACK SPIDERMAN by Logic w/Damian Lemar Hudson
Click to watch music video

[Logic:]
Jesus, Black Jesus
Jesus, Black Jesus

I been feeling so down
I think they should know now
I think they should know what’s up
That’s that road I been down
I know how it go down
I know how it go now, what’s up
I feel like I don’t belong
I feel like my life is wrong
I feel like I don’t know what’s up
What’s up, what’s up
Yeah, yeah
Ayy

I ain’t here to pick and choose
I ain’t here to sing the blues
I’m just here to spread the clues
I’m just here to spread the news
Everybody know I do
Listen
I ain’t ashamed to be white
I ain’t ashamed to be Black
I ain’t ashamed of my beautiful Mexican wife as a matter of fact
I know you vibin with that
And I’m not scared of the people who tell me I should be
Do what you love and don’t ever wonder what it could be
Everybody from my hood, everybody know I’m good
Sometimes I’m misunderstood
But that’s just the uneducated that never related and feel like I’m fading off
They feel like I’m fading
I’m right out my mind
Tell ’em!
Momma don’t love me
Daddy don’t love me
Wonder why I drown in the bubbly
You could be anything you wanna be
‘Cept the person you don’t wanna be
Let him hate let em love
Wondering if everybody still like this up above
When that push come to shove
Make me wanna pull up with the, with the gat in the glove like
I just wanna be free
Not a slave to the stereotype
All alone in my room in the middle of the night
I don’t have the words but my stereo might
I don’t wanna be black, I don’t wanna be white, I just wanna be a man today
I don’t wanna be a Christian, Muslim, gay, straight, or bi, see you later, bye
Not perceived by the things I believe or the color of my skin
Or the fact I’m attracted to her, maybe him
Or the fact I’m a single mother living all alone
Looking for a man and a home to call my own
But I already have one
The only man I’ma ever need is my son, my son, my son, my son
Son, say:
Black is beautiful
Be black and proud
F*** everybody hatin’ on me right now, I’m black and proud
I’m just as white as that Mona Lisa
I’m just as black as my cousin Keisha
I’m biracial so bye Felicia
Praise Black Jesus now call the preacher
Maybe Jesus was black
Maybe Jesus had dreads
Spiderman should be black
I vote for Glover instead
Glover instead
Like what’s up
I vote for more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more and more
I vote for so much more

I been feeling so down
I think they should know now
I think they should know what’s up
That’s that road I been down
I know how it go down
I know how it go now, what’s up
I feel like I don’t belong
I feel like my life is wrong
I feel like I don’t know what’s up
What’s up, what’s up

[Logic & Damian:]
Go on and let your soul glow
Let your soul glow
Glow
Shine and glow
Let it glow
Glow
Let, let it
Black Spiderman can he save a brother now
Black Spiderman can he save a brother now
Yeah
Let your soul glow
Let your soul glow
Glow
Yeah

[Logic (Sir Dylan):]
Ayy man
(What’s up, bro?)
Spiderman should be Black
(Yeah, I mean Spiderman should be Black
yeah)
Yeah man
Black Spiderman
Black Superman
Black Santa Claus
Black Seinfeld
(Black Seinfeld?
, that’s Martin!)
Damn, you’re right…
, I’m high

 

#22 I KNOW WHERE I’VE BEEN by Queen Latifah
Click to watch music video

There’s a light in the darkness
Though the night is black as my skin
There’s a light, burning bright, showing me the way
But I know where I’ve been

There’s a cry in the distance
It’s a voice that comes from deep within
There’s a cry asking why, I pray the answer’s up ahead, yeah
‘Cause I know where I’ve been

There’s a road we’ve been travelin’
Lost so many on the way
But the riches will be plenty
Worth the price, the price we had to pay

There’s a dream in the future
There’s a struggle that we have yet to win
And there’s pride in my heart
‘Cause I know where I’m going, yes I do
And I know where I’ve been, yeah

There’s a road we must travel
There’s a promise we must make
Oh, but the riches, the riches will be plenty
Worth the risks and the chances that we take

There’s a dream, yeah, in the future
There’s a struggle that we have yet to win
Use that pride in our hearts to lift us up to tomorrow
‘Cause just to sit still would be a sin

I know it, I know it, I know where I’m going
Lord knows I know where I’ve been
Oh, when we win, I’ll give thanks to my God
‘Cause I know where I’ve been

 

#23  GLORY by John Legend and Common

Click to watch music video

Glory, glory

Oh, glory, glory

Now the war is not over, victory isn’t won
And we’ll fight on to the finish, then when it’s all done
We’ll cry glory, oh glory
We’ll cry glory, oh glory

[Common:]

Selma is now for every man, woman and child
Even Jesus got his crown in front of a crowd
They marched with the torch, we gon’ run with it now
Never look back, we done gone hundreds of miles

From dark roads he rose, to become a hero
Facin’ the league of justice, his power was the people
Enemy is lethal, a king became regal
Saw the face of Jim Crow under a bald eagle

The biggest weapon is to stay peaceful
We sing, our music is the cuts that we bleed through
Somewhere in the dream we had an epiphany
Now we right the wrongs in history

No one can win the war individually
It takes the wisdom of the elders and young people’s energy
Welcome to the story we call victory

The comin’ of the Lord, my eyes have seen the glory

[John Legend:]

One day when the glory comes
It will be ours, it will be ours
One day when the war is won
We will be sure, we will be sure

Oh glory

Glory, glory

Oh, glory, glory

Oh, glory, glory

Hey, glory, hey, glory

[John Legend:]

When the war is won
When it’s all said and done
We’ll cry glory, oh glory

 

#24 FREEDOM by Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar
Click to watch music video

[Beyoncé:]
Tryna reign, tryna rain on the thunder
Tell the storm I’m new
I’ma walk, I’ma march on the regular
Painting white flags blue
Lord forgive me, I’ve been running
Running blind in truth
I’ma rain, I’ma reign on this bitter love
Tell the sweet I’m new

I’m telling these tears, “Gonna fall away, fall away”
May the last one burn into flames

Freedom! Freedom! I can’t move
Freedom, cut me loose!
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
‘Cause I need freedom too!
I break chains all by myself
Won’t let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I’ma keep running
‘Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves

I’ma wade, I’ma wade through the waters
‘Til the tide, “Don’t move”
I’ma riot, I’ma riot through your borders
Call me bullet proof
Lord forgive me, I’ve been runnin’
Runnin’ blind in truth
I’ma wade, I’ma wave through your shallow love
Tell the deep I’m new

I’m telling these tears, “Gonna fall away, fall away”
May the last one burn into flames

Freedom! Freedom! I can’t move
Freedom, cut me loose!
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
‘Cause I need freedom too!
I break chains all by myself
Won’t let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I’ma keep running
‘Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves

[Kendrick Lamar:]
Ten Hail Marys, I meditate for practice (One, two)
Channel 9 news tell me I’m movin’ backwards
Eight blacks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin’ statements by my persona
Six headlights wavin’ in my direction
Come on
Five-O askin’ me what’s in my possession
Yeah, I keep runnin’, jump in the aqua ducts
Fire hydrants and hazardous
Smoke alarms on the back of us
But, mama, don’t cry for me, ride for me
Try for me, live for me
Breathe for me, sing for me
Honesty guidin’ me
I can be me more than I gotta be
Stole from me, lied to me, nation hypocrisy
Cold on me, driving me
Wicked, my spirit inspired me
Like yeah

Open correctional gates in high deserts
Yeah, open our mind as we cast away oppression
Yeah, open the streets and watch our beliefs
And when they carve my name inside the concrete
I pray it forever reads

[Beyoncé:]
Freedom! Freedom! I can’t move
Freedom, cut me loose!
Freedom! Freedom! Where are you?
‘Cause I need freedom too!
I break chains all by myself
Won’t let my freedom rot in hell
Hey! I’ma keep running
‘Cause a winner don’t quit on themselves

[Kendrick Lamar:]
What you want from me?
Is it true you see, uh? Oh, father, can you hear me?
What you want from me?
Is it true you see, uh? Oh, father, can you hear me?
Hear me?

[Hattie White:]
I had my ups and downs, but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up. I was served lemons, but I made lemonade

 

25. BALTIMORE by Prince and Eryn Allen Kane
Click to music watch video

[Eryn Allen Kane:]
Baltimore

[Prince:]
Nobody got in nobody’s way
So I guess you could say it was a good day
At least a little better than the day in Baltimore
Does anybody hear us pray
For Michael Brown or Freddie Gray?
Peace is more than the absence of war
Absence of war[expand title= “…READ MORE”]

[Prince & Eryn Allen Kane:]
Are we gonna see another bloody day?
We’re tired of the cryin’ and people dyin’
Let’s take all the guns away

[Prince:]
Absence of war, you and me
Maybe we can finally say
Enough is enough, it’s time for love
It’s time to hear
It’s time to hear the guitar play, guitar play
Baltimore, ever more

If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace
If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace
If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace
If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace

[Prince & Eryn Allen Kane:]
Are we gonna see another bloody day?
We’re tired of the cryin’ and people dyin’
Let’s take all the guns away

If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace
If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace
If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace
If there ain’t no justice then there ain’t no peace

We have to interrupt the regular scheduled programming
to bring you up to date on a developing situation in Los Angeles[/expand]

 

#26 SPEAK NOW by Leslie Odom Jr.
Click to watch music video

Listen, listen
While the storm in your heart is raging
Listen, listen, listen
Listen, listen
To the echoes of martyrs praying[expand title= “…READ MORE”]
Listen, listen, listen
Listen
Brothers and sisters
Listen, listen, listen
I swear we’ll never find a way to where we’re going, all alone
Don’t take your eyes off the road
Can you hear the bells ring out?
Speak now
Speak now
Can you hear the angels singing loud?
Speak now
Speak now
Listen, listen
To the message of hope in the whispers of ghosts
Listen, listen
Listen
For the children will grow on the seeds that we sow
They listen, they listen
Oh, listen
Brothers and sisters
Listen, listen
I swear we’ll never find a way to where we’re going, all alone
Don’t take your eyes off the road
Can you hear the bells ring out?
Speak now
Speak now
Can’t you hear the angels cry out?
Speak now
Speak now
Don’t you hold your tongue
Speak now (speak now)
Speak now (speak now)
Speak now (speak now)
Oh
Can’t you hear the angels?
Speak now (speak now)
Speak now[/expand]

#27 LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING by Alicia Keys
Click to watch music video

Lift Every Voice and Sing By Alicia Keys

Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea[expand title= “…READ MORE”]

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us marсh on ’till victory is won
Let us march on ’till victory is won
Let us march on ’till victory is won
Let us march on ’till victory[/expand]

 


#28 BLACK LIKE ME by Mickey Guyton
Click to watch music video

Little kid in a small town
I did my best just to fit in
Broke my heart on the playground, mm
When they said I was different[expand title= “…READ MORE”]

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, now
Now, I’m all grown up and nothin’ has changed
Yeah, it’s still the same

[Chorus]
It’s a hard life on easy street
Just white painted picket fences far as you can see
If you think we live in the land of the free
You should try to be black like me

[Verse 2]
My daddy worked day and night
For an old house and a used car
Just to live that good life, mm
It shouldn’t be twice as hard

[Pre-Chorus]
Oh, now
Now, I’m all grown up and nothin’ has changed
Yeah, it’s still the same

[Chorus]
It’s a hard life on easy street
Just white painted picket fences far as you can see
If you think we live in the land of the free
You should try to be, oh, black like me

[Bridge]
Oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh, I know
I’m not
The only one
Oh, yeah
Who feels
Like I
I don’t belong

[Chorus]
It’s a hard life on easy street
Just white painted picket fences far as you can see
And if you think we live in the land of the free
You should try to be, oh, black like me

[Outro]
Oh, and some day we’ll all be free
And I’m proud to be, oh, black like me
And I’m proud to be black like me
I’m proud to be black like me
Black like me[/expand]

 


#29
  A CHANGE IS GONNA COME by Sam Cooke

Click to watch music video

I was born by the river in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river I’ve been running ever since

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes, it will[expand title= “…READ MORE”]

It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die
‘Cause I don’t know what’s up there beyond the sky

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes, it will

I go to the movie and I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me don’t hang around

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes, it will

Then I go to my brother
And I say, “Brother, help me please”
But he winds up knockin’ me
Back down on my knees

There’ve been times that I thought I couldn’t last for long
But now I think I’m able to carry on

It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gon’ come, oh yes, it will[/expand]

 

#30 ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN AIN’T FREE by Johnny Cash
Click to watch music video

I’d sing more about moral of this land
But all God’s children ain’t free
I’d open up every door I can
‘Cause all God’s children ain’t free[expand title= “…READ MORE”]

I met a beaten broken man
He shovels dirt but got no land
And he held out his hand to me
All God’s children ain’t free

I’d sing along too, a silly song
But all God’s children ain’t free
I’m gonna sing the blues for the men they done wrong
‘Cause all God’s children ain’t free

Mister, how about the man you condemn to die?
But taking everything that he’s livin’ by

And reject him from society
All God’s children ain’t free
No, reject him from society
All God’s children ain’t free

I’d be happy walking any street
But all God’s children ain’t free
I’d have a smile for all I meet
But all God’s children ain’t free

I’d whistle down the road but I wouldn’t feel right
I’d hear somebody cryin’ out at night

From a sharecropper shack or penitentiary
All God’s children ain’t free
From a sharecropper shack or penitentiary
All God’s children ain’t free[/expand]

 


#31
THE WAY IT IS by Bruce Hornsby and The Range
Click to watch music video

31 THE WAY IT IS by Bruce Hornsby and The Range
Click to watch music video

Standing in line, marking time
Waiting for the welfare dime
‘Cause they can’t buy a job
The man in the silk suit hurries by
As he catches the poor old lady’s eyes
Just for fun he says, “Get a job”

That’s just the way it is
Some things will never change
That’s just the way it is
Ah, but don’t you believe them

Said hey, little boy, you can’t go where the others go
‘Cause you don’t look like they do
Said hey, old man, how can you stand to think that way?
And did you really think about it before you made the rules?
He said, son

That’s just the way it is
Some things will never change
That’s just the way it is
Ah, but don’t you believe them, yeah

That’s just the way it is
That’s just the way it is

Well, they passed a law in ’64
To give those who ain’t got a little more
But it only goes so far
‘Cause the law don’t change another’s mind
When all it sees at the hiring time
Is the light on the color bar, no

That’s just the way it is
Some things will never change
That’s just the way it is
That’s just the way it is, it is, it is, it is

 

Click here for Hey U.G.L.Y.’s Top Anti-Bullying Songs

Hey U.G.L.Y.’s
C
hoose TChange
 
Radio Show …
 first aired in May of 2008. It was the nation’s first radio show that allowed listeners to read the lyrics as the songs play. Teen guest DJs suggest songs that either inspire positive  self-esteem, equality, a healthy planet, peace, diversity or never giving up. After each song we discuss the message of the lyrics and how these songs can help youth, all over the world, choose to change things about themselves that may be holding them back from a life free of not feeling “good enough” and the self-bullying that results from feeling that way. 

If you’d like to suggest songs for us to play and discuss, email the lyrics to:  PreventBullyingNow@heyugly.org. If we use it on our show, we’ll send you a FREE T-shirt.

Our theme song is CHANGE YOUR MIND by Sister Hazel.
h o o s e   o   h a n g e  streams worldwide on WRHC-FM