The Prisoner

Here I am after so many years

Hounded by hatred and trapped by fear

I'm in a box I've got no place to go

If I follow my mind I know I'll slaughter my own

Help me I'm the prisoner won't you hear my plea

I need somebody yeah to listen to me

I beg you brothers and sisters

I'm counting on you yeah

Black babies in the womb are shackled and bound

Chained by the caveman who keeps beauty down

Smacked on the a** when they're squalling and wet

Heir to a spineless man who never forgets

Never forgets that he's a prisoner can't you hear my plea

'Cause I need somebody Lord knows to listen to me

I'm a stranger to my son

Who wonders why his daddy runs yeah

On my way to work in the morning

When I don't give a d**n

Can't nobody can't nobody

Can't nobody can't nobody see just who in hell I am

Hemmed in by a suit yes all choked up in a tie

Ain't no wonder some times near morning I hear my woman cry

She knows her man is a prisoner won't you hear my plea

Yeah 'cause I need somebody to listen to me

My woman she don't say but she hates

To see her man chained this way yeah

Help me I'm the prisoner

Yeah yeah yeah yeah I'm the prisoner