Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday, happy birthday Happy birthday to you A few years ago on my birthday I had just become twenty one (I remember) I had a lot to live, said I had a lot to give Til a man comes to give me a gun And though that war he sent me to Didn't claim me If I'm bitter don't blame me It's just my soul responding Don't you try to tell me I'm un-patriotic I deserve an explanation I can't help but wonder if you really got it It's just my soul responding Soul responding, soul responding This land once belonged to my father And to his father before him too Let me tell you now, I'm on a reservation Living in a state of degradation What's a soul suppose to do? 'Cause I'm out, pushin', right? I'm not in doubt When it's just my soul responding To seeing little hungry children In the land of plenty Just my soul responding To doing lots of deeds But never having any It's just my soul responding Soul responding, soul responding I was born and raised in the ghetto On the run down side of the track And there are forces who do everything they can do To hold me back because my skin is black Oh but more and more I mind Hell, it's about time It's just my soul responding To being second-cla** in a land I helped to form Just my soul responding To too many roaches and not enough heat To keep my babies warm In this land I helped to form I've got too many roaches and not enough heat To keep my babies warm It's just my soul responding Soul responding, soul responding