Be Free

This is how it all began
In confusion, pain
A spark turned to a flame
Ten people died, lost their lives
Somebody had to be blamed
Even though it would never be explained how
After 22,000 pieces of evidence was collected
None of it could be connected to a crime
This is what blows the mind!
The phony uncorroborated testimony
Of jailhouse informants willing to sell their souls
For the chance of an early parole
But the state had the power to indict
They had the power to incite
An angry community out for blood

Let it not be misunderstood
An eye for an eye, somebody has to die
An eye for an eye, somebody has to die!
It's hard to cut through the cacophony of sound
So many different voices
So many people standing around
"Keep your mouth closed, Keith" I was constantly told
An all-white jury, white judge, black robe
Eighteen years without touching a soul
I went for this, went through this
Sat by silently as they tortured me
They tortured me!
They TORTURED ME!
Sat by silently as they tortured me
Had to open my eyes before I could see
Open my mouth before I could speak
Put a pen in my hand... THIS is what they did to me!
I'm here to speak truth to power, yo
To tell you that WE have the power, yo
That we have the keys to the kingdom, yo

So hard to believe, but you need to know
Until all of us are free, none of us can be
Until all of us are free, none of us can be!
Until all of us are free, NONE OF US CAN BE!

It took me a long time to find my way out
A long time to understand what it's all about
Find out what any people will silently accept
And you have found out the exact amount of injustice that will be applied
We have to draw the line
Do more than just survive
To live we have to be willing to give
That's the only way that peace can be achieved
The only way the soul can come to rest
We have to reach for the best in ourselves
So we can be free
So we can be free!
So we can BE FREE!