Lirieke: Mos Def. Black On Both Sides. Umi Says.

I don't wanna write this down
(World premiere)
I wanna tell you how I feel right now
(World premiere)

I don't wanna take no time to write this down
(World premiere)
I wanna tell you how I feel right now, hey
(World premiere)

Tomorrow may never come
For you or me life is not promised
Tomorrow may never show up
For you and me this life is not promised

I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do the best that I can
With what it is I have

I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do the best that I can
With what it is I have

Put my heart and soul into this song
(Yes, yes)
I hope you feel me from where I am, to wherever you are
I mean that sincerely, tomorrow may never come
For you and me life is not promised, tomorrow may never appear

You better hold this very moment very close to you
(Right now)
Very close to you
(Right now)
So close to you, so close to you
(Your moment in history is right now, now!)
Don't be afraid, to let it shine

My Umi said, "Shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see"
My Abi said, "Shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see"

(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My Abi said, "Shine your light on the world"
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
"Shine your light for the world to see"

(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My Umi said, "Shine your light on the world"
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
"Shine your light for the world to see"
(Want black people to be free, to be free)

Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and things are so weak
People are so weak

Sometimes, sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away
(Fly fly fly, like a dove)
Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself
(Ow)

Passion takes over me, I feel like a man
Going insane, losing my brain
Trying to maintain, doing my thang
Hey hey, hey hey, hey

Put my heart and soul into this y'all
I hope you feel me where I am to wherever you are

Sometimes I don't want to be bothered
Sometimes I just want a quiet life
With me and my babies, me and my lady
Sometimes I don't want to get into no war
(Black people to be free, to be free, to be free)

Sometimes I don't wanna be a soldier
Sometimes I just wanna be a man, but

Umi said, "Shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see"
My Abi said, "Shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see"

(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
My dreamers say, "Shine your light on the world"
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
"Shine your light for the world to see"

(Want black people)
My elders said, "Shine your light on the world"
(Hey, hey)
"Shine your light for the world to see"

I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All my people to be free, to be free, to be free
All black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All black people to be free, to be free, to be free

That's all that matters to me, that's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me, that's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me, that's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me

Black people unite and let's all get down
Gotta have what? Gotta have that love
Peace and understanding, one God, one light
One man, one voice, one mic

Black people unite, come on and do it right
Black people unite, come on and do it right
Black people unite, come on and get down

Gotta have what? Love, peace and understanding
One God, one voice, one life, one man, gon' shine my light
Black people unite, now hop up and do it right
Black people unite, now come on and do it right

Black people, my people, black people, my people
Black people, my people, black people, my people