Get Up 2 Get Down
This is for
All the cats
In college
With no place to go
For break
Taking winter and summer classes
Just for the housing
Driving around
With a dorm room
In their car
Selling narcotics
On any block
Sliding down poles
Keeping up their GPA
For that financial aid
Giving out email
Rather than home address
Cell phone rather than home
Doing homework at work
Sleeping on couches
Floors and in cars
In the back of class
The computer lab
Or the student union
Just trying to make it
To a degree
And a better life
With more drive
Than the average savage
Climbing out of poverty
The slums
The third world
And second class
Be you black, brown, yellow
Red or white
Blue blood or collar
If it make you wanna holler
Scream
The American dream
Is a nightmare
Fueled by speculation and fear
That never lets you know
When you get there
Or even if itÕs near
ItÕs a revolving door
That shows you a peek
But no more
WonÕt let you explore
Like a brand new restaurant
That only serves
The ones whoÕve been there before
Blood on the dance floor
The roof is on fire
9-11, whatÕs your emergency
The people could fly
So why canÕt I
Reserved for the bluest eye
Jump back black
Stick around brown
Fight for the right
To white power
Black to blue
We all bleed red
Martin had a dream
So they left him
Resting in peace
Diallo was shot by the police
But who shot the sheriff
And left us the deputy
The rat race
DoesnÕt have a finish line
It has a ladder to climb
And a glass ceiling
Life in an aquarium
Bubbleishous fish eye lense
Extends welcome
To a warped world
Where bullshit is delicious
And truth is an advertisement
For abstinence
When high heels make dollar bills
And cigars make wrapping paper
Going to fast to
See you later
Catch up, keep up or give up
Drop out
Fall back
Settle down
Ease on down the road
E-z Street goes to Oz
And the school of hard
Knocks down over achievers
Dream weavers
Fairytale believers
And naive pleasure seekers
Only the strong get up
Scratched and bleeding
Limping but not retreating
Marching toward the Promised Land
Where rights are equal
Freedom is a given
And the melting pot
Feeds hungry bellies
Graduation day is coming
Walk limp crawl
They canÕt defeat us all
Stand tall
Even as it all falls down
To the ground
And another one bites the dust
by Empress Nzingha
Contents
Palace