somber sister

this is a strange and bitter fruit

because you taught me to sing

and the rhythm in my heart

and the rhythm in my feet is-



Why are the rainbows

stolen from the sky

and locked up in boxes

yellow, black, red and white

like birds in their cages

beating their wings on the bars

and there's a song that they're singing

it's a word in the world

it's a word in their hearts



a part hate

I heard a man say

tear apart hate

and I saw hope in his face

a part hate

where the color of love

slips away



Why are the children

carrying guns, not books

drug dealing, not learning

the golden rule

and the idea of freedom

not just some castle

in the sky

haunted by white-sheeted ghouls

filled with hate me

and hate you

and proud of it too



a part hate

heard a woman saying

tear apart hate

and I saw hope in her face

a part hate

where the color of love

slips away



Why are the people

running down the block

rock throwing, not knowing

what else to do

but I'm just a spectator

and I can never know the pain

but when I hear

that whip cracking

I cry out tears of anger

I cry out tears of shame



a part hate

I heard myself say

tear apart hate

and I saw hope in my face

a part hate

where the color of love

slips away...



tear apart hate tear apart hate

tear apart hate tear apart hate

tear apart hate tear apart hate