From the Moment You Awake

Verse
When you're born on the wrong side of town
And the color of your skin is brown
You're a refugee in your own home
Where the cops never leave you alone

And a night stick sometimes finds you
As you're walking down the street
It's another blunt reminder
That you aren't really free

Chorus
FROM THE MOMENT YOU AWAKE, 'til the time you die
You are caged in without knowing why
From a schoolyard with an armed guard
To a lifetime behind prison bars
You're prayin' 'til you think your hands are gonna break
To end the nightmare that begins
FROM THE MOMENT YOU AWAKE

Verse
In the schools there's a murder a day
And there aren't any jobs anyway
In the streets there is danger and fear
You could die just to get out of here

And escape is sold in a bottle
At the local corner store
The only way out takes you deeper in
Than you ever were before...and

Chorus
FROM THE MOMENT YOU AWAKE, 'til the time you die
You are caged in without knowing why
From a schoolyard with an armed guard
To a lifetime behind prison bars
You're prayin' 'til you think your hands are gonna break
To end the nightmare that begins
FROM THE MOMENT YOU AWAKE

Verse
Now outside there is smoke in the sky
Any spark lights the wood when it's dry
So they put more police on the street
Using violence for keeping the peace

They're out every night, in patrol cars
To make sure the lid's on tight
Their lights flash onto the ceilings
Where the children sleep at night...and

Chorus
FROM THE MOMENT YOU AWAKE, 'til the time you die
You are caged in without knowing why
From a schoolyard with an armed guard
To a lifetime behind prison bars
You're prayin' 'til you think your hands are gonna break
To end the nightmare that begins
FROM THE MOMENT YOU AWAKE

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