Gil Scott-Heron - The New Deal lyrics

I have believed in my convictions And have been convicted for my beliefs Conned by the constitution And hara**ed by the police. I've been billed for the bill of rights And been treated like I was wrong. I have become a special amendment For what included me all along. Like "All men are created equal." (No amendment needed here) I've contributed in every field including cotton From Sunset Strip to Washington Square. Back during the non-violent era. I was the only non-violent one. As a matter of fact there was no non-violence 'cause too many rednecks had guns. There seems to have been this pattern That a lot of folks failed to pick up on. But all black leaders who dared stand up Wuz in jail, in the courtroom or gone. Picked up indiscriminately By the shocktroops of discrimination To end up in jails or tied up in trails While dirty tricks soured the nation. I've been hoodwinked by professional hoods. My ego has happened to me. It'll be alright, just keep things cool!" "And take the people off the street. We'll settle all this at the conference table. You just leave everything to me." Which gets me back to my convictions And being convicted for my belief 'cause I believe these smiles in three piece suits with gracious, liberal demeanor took our movement off of the streets and took us to the cleaners In other words, we let up the pressure And that was all part of their plan And every day we allow to slip through our fingers Is playing right into their hands