(T. Harris / D. O'Brien)
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As a dog with a bone is always
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In danger, so's a woman with a
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Bag when meeting dark strangers
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She holds it just a little bit tighter
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Which she wouldn't do if my skin were lighter
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It's not in my mind, I've been around the block a few times
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Every time she crosses to the other side
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Women supposedly got that intuition
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So they should no better, but that's a dubious distinction
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It's not a figment of my imagination it happens a lot
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When I flag down a cab it doesn't stop
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Not because I look dangerous or nothing like that
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It's not 'cause he's off duty it's cause I'm black
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The police come flying around
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The corner with the red light screaming
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I pulled over to let them pass, they pulled over too,
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I thought that I was dreaming
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I'm scared to death of our men in blue
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It must be cold over there in your shoes
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So close your eyes
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In silent night
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Bet you can't tell
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If I'm black or white
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Turn out the lights
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Stand here by my side
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Cause we're all alike
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On the inside
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One step up
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Then two to the side
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One more man
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Let the sleeping dog lie
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From the back of the bus
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To screams in the night
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Planting flowers of fire
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With these 89 lines
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Doesn't it bring back some terrifying memories
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There goes the president making more enemies
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If he's doing to his wife what he's doing to the country
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She'd be happy, we could stand up and dump the monkey
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I ask not what I can do for my country
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Cause I wonder sometimes if it cares for me
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The government could change a lot with education
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And catching kids before they start to think in races
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And eliminate a lot of infuriating situations
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Your blindness not of eyes you go public with your lies
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Then as to prove you have a heart in private you apologize
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Seems my history is a set of lies agreed upon by you repeated
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So many times and for so long accepted as the truth
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Like an unfriendly takeover attempt
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I get in you hold on fuckin' coincidence
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Like a nicotine stain it won't go away
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And it won't if you raise your kids this way
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So close your eyes
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In silent night
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Bet you can't tell
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If I'm black or white
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Turn out the lights
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Stand here by my side
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Cause we're all alike
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On the inside
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One step up
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Then two to the side
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One more man
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Let the sleeping dog lie
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From the back of the bus
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And screams in the night
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Planting flowers of fire
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With these 89 lines
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What's your favorite color
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What's your favorite color?
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For those victimized by this ultimate violence
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We now observe a moment of silence
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-----------------
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89 Lines
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Berlin |