I get a call from vance he's an old friend He's got some you-won't-believe-story to share He's the place that i go when i need someone who knows me He brings the smile of a billionaire And i laugh when he pretends he's a white guy 'cause he knows how bad i fail playing black He says, "if even you could, i don't advise that you should 'cause once you go there you might not want to turn back" (chorus) There isn't a thing In this god-all-mighty world that i wouldn't do To help him outta trouble Seein' as how we're friends and That goes deeper than skin can go To a translucent soul Deeper than color will show Translucent soul He says, "now, you and i, i know we look a little different, But, i was raised middle cla**, same as you. But, let's make it clear even on the way here, I had to watch for blue lights in the rear view " He says, "last week, i was visiting l.a., Walking the streets where the riots went down. You got black k**ing black k**ing black k**ing black, While all the whites were sweating bullets across town" (chorus) He says, "in l.a., they're whispering race war, Like it's something that has yet to begin Like they can plug up the cracks In four hundred years of history And prove that the melting pot's not broken" He says, "in the event of some unlikely disaster, We find ourselves armed, and face to face " I said, "i'd turn around, i would protect your ground" He said, "i'd do the same thing for you at your place" (chorus) There isn't a thing In this god-all-mighty world that he wouldn't do To help me outta trouble . . . Embrace what you have in common, Celebrate what sets you apart It takes more than the color That you find on a palate To turn humanity into an art Into the form of an art Translucent soul Translucent soul Soul