Sons and Daughters

Young man on his way home from the market, Just enjoying a beautiful afternoon Gets kinda dark, sun just set There's these other young men standing On the corner, nothing to do, just hangin' around They're passing out their weapons to each other: Brass knuckles - pipes - chains - half a bricks - Broken bottles - switchblades Young man lands in jail for some crime he did not commit 352 years hard labor in Angola prison - 352 years at hard labor Sleepless nights between sugar cane and cotton It's where he learns the ropes and pays with his soul For some crime he did not commit We think we're safe at home with our bumper stickers saying - Just say no - We give up a few freedoms here and there in the name of a - Squeaky clean America - Now they've got us hypnotized and hysterical Now they've got us hypnotized and hysterical Screaming for blood and justice Now they've got us hypnotized and hysterical Screaming for blood and justice They show us the faces of hatred over and over - a new one every week Could be Manuel Noriega Could be the Ayatollah Any old scapegoat 'll do The young man will be our sacrificial lamb Pro choice - no choice We're sending our sons and daughters to their slaughter Pro choice - no choice Slogans mean nothing to a young man facing 352 years hard labor in Angola To a young man facing 352 years hard labor in Angola For a crime he did not commit It's freedom of speech - as long as you don't say too much You can't stop running water You can't kill the fire that burns inside Don't deny our flesh and blood And don't forsake our sons and daughters You can't stop running water You can't kill the fire that burns inside Don't deny our flesh and blood And don't forsake our sons and daughters It's freedom of speech - as long as you don't say too much I think we're all runnin' thinkin' that we can hide I think we're runnin' tryin' to get away But sooner or later we gonna realize We gonna meet up with the truth face to face