Bruises

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

Nuff whip lashing, yeah

Skin peeled and cracking

Black Friday sale outs, yeah

Nuff picnic days out

You made us heavy, yes

Whip chains and sorrow

Oh, how we cried out, yeah

'Til our eyes dried out

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

Like seh you nuh use me like a tool

Abuse me like a mule

Refuse me inna your school

Then accuse mi seh mi fool

Beat me 'til mi wail up

Screaming while you rail up

Peel your sugar cane

Free me, then you jail us

It's always the Black that pay the penalties

Scars on my back, they bear the memories

Bodies found, no grave, we nah no cemeteries

All we got a these verses and these melodies

And trauma inna mi DNA weh pass down

Chronic diseases, diabetes, and gallstone

Cycle repeat, and now you treat we like a rass clown

Is like a target 'pon mi back when mi a walk 'round

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

Take it from the eyes

That have seen the inner child

Many try to run from the pain they left behind

Trying to forgive is removal of my pride

I've been tryna cope with these voices in my mind

Once upon a time, I'd wanna hear your side

But I've come to know your mouth is full of lies

Taken all I've got, but you're not satisfied

Slavery isn't something you can justify

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)

I've got the bruises to prove

How could you pretend you never used and abused (yeah)

And yes, you scorned and refused

To treat me equally, don't wanna hear your excuse (yeah)