The Music

from Understand What Black Is by The Last Poets

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lyrics

Backing {the music, the sound of life all around}

I am the master of song
I am the music,
No you can’t use it

I started out with the blues because I had been abused
So I created medicine to ease the pain,
So I wouldn’t go insane
I found a way to heal my soul,
In spite of what I was being told
I created a new world of sound,
To pick me up when I was down.
You see I have a relationship with god.
So creating spirituals isn’t odd,
It is as natural as the land
For me to try and understand
Why every day I’m crucified.
But my dreams won’t be denied.
I sang and prayed the day would come
When I’d be shining like the sun
I gave the world a song
That everyone could sing along.
I am the living faith.
Dreams come true,
You don’t have to wait.
Everyone wants to sing like me.
I guess they think it will set them free.

So I created rag time, when money made us poor.

Then I created jazz, and opened a brand new door.
I was Joplin and Satchmo,
Creative geniuses of my day.
Creating sounds to enhance the moment
Of what where trying to say.

I am the master of sound.
The whole world hears me well.
The love I shares clear.
I’m the soundtrack of heaven not from hell.
Through my music
I can take to a place where life is bliss
And all that I’ve created I have sealed it with a kiss

I can scat and rap, sing gospel, reggae,
Rock n roll, bebop and hip-hop too.
Salsa, samba or rumba,
Is what I was born to do.
You see I put some rhythm with my blues,
Because the drum is part of it too.
I come from Mother Africa,
Where music is how we speak.
The drum is my heart beat.

I am the music
No you can’t use it

credits

from Understand What Black Is, track released May 18, 2018
A Nostalgia 77 & Prince Fatty Production. Written by Umar Bin Hassan (ASCAP 335581655), Abiodun Oyowele (ASCAP 128761658), Benedic Lamdin, Mike Pelanconi, Dub Judah, Winston "Horseman" Williams & Riaan Vosloo.

Mike Pelanconi Published by Because Music. Umar Bin Hassan, Abiodun Oyowele, Benedic Lamdin, Dub Judah, Winston "Horseman" Williams & Riaan Vosloo Published by Copyright Control.

Produced by Benedic Lamdin & Mike Pelanconi.

The Musicians:

Drums - Winston "Horseman" Williams. Bass - Dub Judah. Guitar - Kashta Menilek Tafari. Piano & Hammond - Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie. Piano - Ross Stanley. Percussion - Lenny Edwards & Afla Sackey. Trumpet - Percy Purseglove & Rory Simmons. Flute - Gareth Lockrane. Alto & Baritone - Jason Yarde. Tuba - Andy Grappy. Tenor Saxophone - James Allsopp. Trombone - Trevor Mires.

P 2018 Studio Rockers
C 2018 Studio Rockers

www.studiorockers.net
www.thelastpoets.net

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The Last Poets New York, New York

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