How did we arrive here almost out of time
How did we ever come to this
Was it an evil star which guided us here
Or was it the envious mark of Cain
We seem like a people forgotten in history
We seem like a people who never had a past
Didn't we build the houses of Pharaoh
Didn't we show king Solomon the way to Sheba
Indeed-if the wise men rose from the East
Then-how did we as a people become so foolish






You tell me that the Black race would soon rise
And I believe you but when and how
The Black man is unwanted every where he goes
Blues is the only song he sings and knows
He prays to Jesus every night and day
Yet his prayers return to him without relief
The Black man can't even make himself a home
Now even in his own home-you see
I know that there is something wrong somewhere
But I just cannot put my finger on it







What kind of sleep did we awaken from
And how did we fall asleep without dreaming
When did our lives become such a nightmare
How did the Black man fall so low
You tell me that things would soon get better
And I ask you when and how
The Black man is still running on empty
On a street paved with pearls, diamonds, and gold
The black man is still a modern day slave
Always following the White man with a beggar's cup







Some say that Blacks are cursed by an angry God
Others say that Blacks are forsaken by their own Gods
Poverty seems to follow us where ever go
We cannot even seem to unite as a people
You tell me that things would surely change
And I believe you but when and how
We cannot stop ourselves from betraying one another
We cannot stop ourselves from working against our own kind
I asked time to-please-give us some time
All I got was a silent reply