Lyrics Chrisette Michele – No Political Genius
Text:
I am the black song that Spike Lee won’t sing
I am the black voice inauguration bells ring
I am the black sheep disguising the scared wolf
No, I am the black elephant in the red room, scared shook
White House invites me, you can call me their coon
I am the butterfly growing from history’s cocoon
I can carry the mantle with God as my goon
He provides the life support, I’m dying singing his tune
Church folks may not clap but I’ll sing their song
Hip hop for Jay Z, now you say you lost one
R&B for Def Jam, rich hipster for Brooklyn
But Spike won’t pay me, crook from Crooklyn
I’m still black girl magic
I’m still American, tragic
I’m still born again, miracle
And we’re still on the borderline, pinnacle
The brink or love or destruction, this is the junction
Will we divide in consumption of social media productions?
Or will be finally unite, win the 200 year fight
70 fists up, that’s right
Did MLK die for my rights or just spite?
And I’m no political genius
But I won’t let this defeat us
I refuse to back down
I’ll use my art as my crown
And you can call me your fool
Rehearse lines you didn’t learn in these schools
These schools
Your hateful words won’t be my definition
Or my defining moment, not my vision
I am the butterfly growing from history’s cocoon
I can carry the mantle with God as my goon
He provides the life support, I’m dying singing his tune
Church folks may not clap but I’ll sing their song
Hip hop for Jay Z, now you say you lost one
R&B for Def Jam, rich hipster for Brooklyn
But Spike won’t pay me, crook from Crooklyn
I’m still black girl magic
I’m still American, tragic
I’m still born again, miracle
And we’re still on the borderline, pinnacle
The brink or love or destruction, this is the junction
Will we divide in consumption of social media productions?
Or will be finally unite, win the 200 year fight
70 fists up, that’s right
Did MLK die for my rights or just spite?
And I’m no political genius
But I won’t let this defeat us
I refuse to back down
I’ll use my art as my crown
And you can call me your fool
Rehearse lines you didn’t learn in these schools
These schools
Your hateful words won’t be my definition
Or my defining moment, not my vision
Or my anger, I won’t own it
Or my prison, won’t condone it
They will be my ammunition to fight the system
We will win them, hope is alive
This is my standing for John Lewis and Ben Carsen
Quest Love, Spike Lee and before them
I won’t divide now, that’s not smart now
God before me, I won’t back down
This is my damn America now
Came on a boat, now I’ll rock it
Give me the mic, now I’ll rock it
Gave me the vote, didn’t profit
And I’m no political genius
But these ain’t politics as usual
I’m no mad dog, but I rebel
May I revel in the freedom of speech
And the art of standing for peace
Basquiat paint streets
On the front lines, let’s meet
We can sing when song victory
And one anthem, land of the free
As one army, you and me
Some political genius, though
I’ll never be
Or my prison, won’t condone it
They will be my ammunition to fight the system
We will win them, hope is alive
This is my standing for John Lewis and Ben Carsen
Quest Love, Spike Lee and before them
I won’t divide now, that’s not smart now
God before me, I won’t back down
This is my damn America now
Came on a boat, now I’ll rock it
Give me the mic, now I’ll rock it
Gave me the vote, didn’t profit
And I’m no political genius
But these ain’t politics as usual
I’m no mad dog, but I rebel
May I revel in the freedom of speech
And the art of standing for peace
Basquiat paint streets
On the front lines, let’s meet
We can sing when song victory
And one anthem, land of the free
As one army, you and me
Some political genius, though
I’ll never be