FIGHT
(in memory of brother Frederick)
those who profess they want the ocean
without the awful roar of the waves
those who profess they want the rains
without the thunder or the lightening
those who profess they want the harvest
without plowing up the earth
they don’t understand
no, they don’t understand
they don’t understand
they just don’t understand
that power
concedes nothing
without a struggle
it never did
and it never will
those who profess they want a better life
but they are not ready to rise
those who profess they want a change
and yet they are not willing to struggle
those who profess they want a revolution
and still they’re afraid to fight
they don’t understand
no, they don’t understand
they don’t understand
they just don’t understand
that power
concedes nothing
without a struggle
it never did
and it never will
I say the limits of oppression
are defined by the willingness
of our people to endure
the injustice of tyrants
when our people rise
oppression is over
when our people struggle
exploitation is ended
when our people fight
tyrants die
organize our people
to rise
organize our people
to struggle
organize our people
to fight
cause power
concedes nothing
without a struggle
it never did
and it never will
—kalamu ya salaam