

Prompt / Lyrics
[Verse 1 – The Word Itself] They stole a word from the back-alley fight, “Stay woke” meant danger in the dead of night. Now it’s rainbow flags on the corporate sign, Sellin’ guilt in a bottle for ninety-nine. Same tongue that warned us ‘bout the Klan, Now tellin’ me my truth ain’t worth a damn. [Chorus – harmonica, saxophone, harmonica, bass] Woke levee done broke, water black and thick, Drownin’ common sense, movin’ mighty quick. Call it justice, call it pride, call it what you want— But the truth don’t float when the facts all sunk. [Verse 2 – My Body, My Choice… Wait] “My body, my choice” when the clinic door swing wide, But roll up my sleeve? That choice get denied. Needle in the arm for the greater good, But a heartbeat in the womb ain’t understood. Liberty’s a river, but they dammed one side, Freedom only flows where the party decide. [Chorus] [Verse 3 – Inclusive Gate] “Everybody welcome” till I speak my mind, Then I’m hate incarnate, get thee left behind. Pride parade rollin’, brass band play loud, But my Bible verse get me kicked off the route. Love got a velvet rope, cher, Step outta line—ain’t no love there. [Verse 4 – Sanctuary Shuffle] “Open up the borders, let the weary come,” Till the bus pull up to the mayor’s lawn. Sanctuary city till the shelter overflow, Then it’s “Federal problem—y’all gotta go.” Compassion got a street address, sugar, Just don’t park it where the rich folk slumber. [Verse 5 – Kids & Blockers] Teach my second-grader ‘bout the rainbow flag, Put lil’ boys in dresses, call it self-love brag. Pause the hormones, freeze the natural clock, Then act shocked when the suicide numbers rock. Care like a razor, shiny on the shelf, Cut both ways when you love ideology more than health. [Verse 6 – Biology Blues] XX, XY—carved in the bone, But the lecture hall say “gender’s just a tone.” Eyes tell the truth, chromosomes don’t bend, Still they call me bigot for callin’ it men. Biology’s a mirror, darlin’, Some folks just hate what they see. [Verse 7 – Family Fade] Swipe right, hookup, no strings in sight, Pair-bond broken by the morning light. Preach “do you” till the cradle stay bare, Then wonder why the village got no kinfolk there. Freedom’s a chain when it leave you alone, Family’s the blues when the heart got no home. [Final Chorus – full band, crowd clap, harmonica, saxophone] Woke levee done broke, water black and thick, Drownin’ common sense, movin’ mighty quick. Call it justice, call it pride, call it what you want— But the truth don’t float when the facts all sunk. When that water recede, what’s left on the ground? Just a mirror showin’ we all let it drown. [Outro – harmonica, piano rolls to silence] “Your time’s over,…back to common sense”
Tags
Male, dark, New Orleans deep blues, harmonica, saxophone, soul
4:11
No
11/2/2025