| QUICK & FOR THE CASH | |
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Trevor Gerard | |
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Pay me five dolla's maybe even fo' hold a parade downtown so that everybody know all these shallow gestures they won't stop the ebb or flow... Announce the news on CNN maybe even discuss some sort of UN sanction yes, I'll entertain - hold a press conference & a banquet fill my gran'ma's basket up with greens & cornbread make sure graddaddy's well fed put a zoot suit on Uncle Clyde & tell me about the change in tide then tell me to hang on "just a little bit longer"... such a noble savage, lick your fingers & go home But somebody tell me please cause I really, really wanna know who'll pay reparations for my soul? My tears fall hard on the cellar stairs Old hands feel their way through Union Square out of step with the showbiz vibe all alone to wander the evening dives & all along they've gassed me up made provisions for the lame welfare, gentri - share, affirmative action & the Harlem Dream... but what about these wounds they can't take? what about the handicaps unseen? what about me & the memories for which a dollar or two can't treat? or my future or my vote or a warm meal in from the snow... There is no prosthetic arm for the soul no "I'm sorry" will ever let these nightmares go. Shades of chains & darkness addictions & crosses, dogs & fires & guerilla crime bosses... black face & white masks on horses, no & all my blood and anger will not the seeds of healing sow... So still I wonder, when I gaze into the mirror when I smile & I wanna let go but feel my Love grow ever so cold I wonder, I really, really wonder... who'll pay the reparations for my soul? who'll pay the reparations for my soul? eh? it's not you or you... but I will, Father. I will. | |