[Verse 1: Joell Ortiz] Sorry mother, I don't mean to be this color I don't mean for people who don't really mean it to call me brother I don't mean to be hara**ed by undercovers or beat up Like that trucker by them s**er a** police that one summer Violated like they did to Louima in '97 Get my wallet confused for reachin' for my weapon Or get k**ed after the bachelor party before my wedding 50 shots, not guilty in a New York Times heading I told mom, "we movin' to a nice neighborhood, watch" But even then, we not safe from the neighborhood watch And there's a million other cases not as famous, the cops Just lookin' more and more racist though they claimin' they not We just a car full of minorites they waitin' to stop Night stick action, when it's late and it's dark Or just a bunch of bullseyes when they aimin' them Glocks Why do I really feel I grew up on a dangerous block? I think about it every night when I lie down And the news kinda looks like a re-run with live sound I'm not Puerto Rican speakin' on behalf of blacks Look closer my people, I'm light brown... I don't know [Hook: Mary Lambert] And I can't change Even if I tried Even if I wanted to And I can't change Even if I tried Even if I wanted to My love, my love, my love She keeps me warm [x4] [Verse 2: Macklemore] If I was gay I would think hip-hop hates me Have you read the YouTube comments lately? "Man, that's gay" gets dropped on the daily We've become so numb to what we're saying Our culture founded from oppression Yet we don't have acceptance for 'em Call each other f*ggots Behind the keys of a message board A word rooted in hate Yet our genre still ignores it "Gay" is synonymous with the lesser It's the same hate that's caused wars from religion Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment The same fight that led people to walk-outs and sit-ins It's human rights for everybody, there is no difference Live on! And be yourself! When I was in church they taught me something else If you preach hate at the service, those words aren't anointed That Holy Water that you soak in has been poisoned When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen I might not be the same but that's not important No freedom til we're equal Damn right I support it [Hook: Mary Lambert] [Verse 3: Macklemore] We press play, don't press pause Progress, so march on! With a veil over our eyes, we turn our back on the cause 'Till the day that my uncles can be united by law Kids are walking around the hallway Plagued by pain in their heart A world so hateful Some would rather die Than be who they are And a certificate on paper Isn't gonna solve it all But it's a damn good place to start No law's gonna change us We have to change us Whatever god you believe in We come from the same one Strip away the fear, underneath, it's all the same love About time that we raised up! [Hook: Mary Lambert] [Outro: Mary Lambert] Love is patient, love is kind Love is patient (not crying on Sundays) Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) Love is patient (not crying on Sundays) Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) Love is patient (not crying on Sundays) Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) Love is patient (not crying on Sundays) Love is kind (not crying on Sundays) Love is patient (not crying on Sundays) Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)