This Must Be the Place

I read the news today, oh, boy
About a man fifteen years old
I read he must've been six foot, ten
At least that's what his killer told

He told a story of a
Brief encounter with a man who
Looked like he could've lifted
Ten cars with ease!

Then they showed a picture of a
Young, black boy
And I said, "This must be the place"

I read the news today, oh, boy
A city ripped down to the fold
I read the riot police were sent
A vain attempt to gain control

But they didn't tell the story
Of a population mourning over
The death of one in their community

But they showed a picture of a
Smiling white man
And I said this must be the place.
I think this must be the place

Yeah, when red, white, and blue means
Death has its eyes on you
And you don't got no choice 'cause
You're dead no matter what you do

They are the gunshots
They are the knotted noose
They are the choke hold
They are the black and blues

I read the news today, oh, boy
About a man who couldn't breathe
The last thing he ever felt
Was the pebbled ground of Bay Street

And though he told them so
Eleven times in total That he
Couldn't breathe, they wouldn't
Release hold

Now his kids won't see their father
Anymore
I'm guessing this must be the place

I read the news today, oh, boy
The killer's acquitted once again
I read that he was justified
To pull that trigger fifteen times

'Cause he didn't follow orders
Though he was already cuffed
And he didn't have a weapon
Isn't that enough?

Now we're busy counting all
The holes it takes to
Prove that this must be the place
I know that this must be the place

When red, white, and blue shines
In the cabin of your car
You bet you're servin' time
If you even make it that far

They are the hand cuffs
They are the gavel
They are the needle
They are the shovel

I read the news today, oh, boy
About a young man in his home
He heard a knockin' at his door
Couple days later he's in the ground

And for every person who says
We've got a problem here let's
Put our heads together and see
What we can do

We've got another one who
Says nothing's wrong
And I'm sure that this must be the place
I said this must be the place
Gather 'round cause this must be the place