Burniss Earl Travis II - Letter to the Free lyrics

[Verse 1: Common] Southern leaves, southern trees we hung from Barren souls, heroic songs unsung Forgive them Father they know this knot is undone Tied with the rope that my grandmother died Pride of the pilgrims affect lives of millions Since slave days separating, fathers from children Institution ain't just a building But a method, of having black and brown bodies fill them We ain't seen as human beings with feelings Will the U.S. ever be us? Lord willing! For now we know, the new Jim Crow They stop, search and arrest our souls Police and policies patrol philosophies of control A cruel hand taking hold We let go to free them so we can free us America's moment to come to Jesus [Chorus: Bilal] Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) [Verse 2: Common] The caged birds sings for freedom to bring Black bodies being lost in the American dream Blood of black being, a pastoral scene Slavery's still alive, check Amendment 13 Not whips and chains, all subliminal Instead of 'n***a' they use the word 'criminal' Sweet land of liberty, incarcerated country Shot me with your ray-gun And now you want to trump me Prison is a business, America's the company Investing in injustice, fear and long suffering We staring in the face of hate again The same hate they say will make America great again No consolation prize for the dehumanized For America to rise it's a matter of Black Lives And we gonna free them, so we can free us America's moment to come to Jesus [Chorus: Bilal] Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long) Freedom (Freedom) Freedom come (Freedom come) Hold on (Hold on) Won't be long (Won't be long)