Mr. Africa Poetry Lounge!
JOHANNESBURG
What's the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
from Johannesburg?
What's the word?
Sister/woman have you heard
from Johannesburg?
They tell me that our brothers over there
are defyin' the Man
We don't know for sure because the news we
get is unreliable, man
Well I hate it when the blood starts flowin'
but I'm glad to see resistance growin'
Somebody tell me what's the word?
Tell me brother, have you heard
from Johannesburg?
They tell me that our brothers over there
refuse to work in the mines,
They may not get the news but they need to know
we're on their side.
Now sometimes distance brings
misunderstanding,
but deep in my heart I'm demanding;
Somebody tell me what's the word?
Sister/woman have you heard
'bout Johannesburg?
I know that their strugglin' over there
ain't gonna free me,
but we all need to be strugglin'
if we're gonna be free
Don't you wanna be free?
Written by Gil Scott-Heron (1949–2011)
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