IAMe - Xmas In Gotham lyrics

[Malcolm X] This is why I say it's the ballot or the bullet, it's liberty or d**h, it's freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody. America today finds herself in a unique situation. Historically, revolutions are bloody. Oh, yes they are. They have never had a blood-less revolution, or a non-violent revolution; that don't happen even in Hollywood. You don't have a revolution in which you love your enemy, and you don't have a revolution in which you're begging the system of exploitation to integrate you into it. Revolutions overturn systems, revolutions destroy systems [Verse 1] We're seeking vengeance like Batman with the vision of Burton It's Christmas in Gotham, something sinister lurking No Penguin, just pigs gone berserk It's nothing new but lately there's been a surge Citizens march peaceful but teetering on the verge Of putting down the picket signs and picking up burners If there's no consequences, no indictments Just donations and paid leave What's the point of keeping triggers on safety? I've seen the homie talking reckless on Facebook Like these protests are aimless, need to take this to phase B If you're down to sacrifice, let's make a change, please Meet me at the crib, peep the mission in HD That's when I'm like dang dude You know what the NSA do What happens when they show up to HQ? Educated radical, Islam the faith too Just ask ThunderThief That white van posted up the street On the flip side of the same concern for him Wonder what he's prepared to sacrifice in the name of furthering the cause Cause I don't want to see him lose his life But the odds are against him anyways cause his skin So the mental juggle begins I want peace but at the end of the day, change is historically a violent affair Smell denial in the air In a country founded on bloody revolution, slave labor, and general barbarian terror [Hook] Seasons (hands up) Greetings (don't shoot) Holiday lights above the riot squad This is not a silent night Seasons (hands up) Greetings (don't shoot) Holiday cheer to fuel consumers But the stores have been looted He's not (hands up) Breathing (don't shoot) And they won't loosen their grip, but refuse to admit they're wrong He's not (hands up) Even (doing sh**) With these pigs it's submit or die We up against the empire [Verse 2] Let's keep this race sh** out in the open It's black art, black culture, I'm a guest and I'm hoping My good intention and love get me a pa** for respect But I'm not about to sound as earnest as a Macklemore text Look, say what you'll say but facts don't lie This system's built to fail black lives And across the board, the common thread, those saying it's not about race Just happen to be the least qualified to make such claims Back to my dilemma: do I reach out to dude and say chill? Forgot to mention he's an artist that's incredibly sk**ed And I don't want to see him trade his truthful voice for brute force But perhaps it's not my place to intervene Staring at the screen, social chaos the scene Stumble on the page of a white cop who praised Wilson's “nice shot” This wasn't a shock But on the same page, he praised a song by Black Star (Damn) Mind blown, how such message is lost [Hook] Seasons (hands up) Greetings (don't shoot) Holiday lights above the riot squad This is not a silent night Seasons (hands up) Greetings (don't shoot) Holiday cheer to fuel consumers But the stores have been looted He's not (hands up) Breathing (don't shoot) And they won't loosen their grip, but refuse to admit they're wrong He's not (hands up) Even (doing sh**) With these pigs it's submit or die We up against the empire