When our towns were in flame and yet we got the blame
I wasn`t surprised
When police stormed the streets and no one came to our needs
I wasn`t surprised
Well it wasn`t our last and it wasn`t our first
My people are killed even right in our church
And maybe I`m wise from too many cries
But I wasn`t surprised.
When they shot Fred and Mark as they slept in the dark,
I wasn`t surprised
When the commission contends it was in self defense
I wasn`t surprised
Well it wasn`t our last and it wasn`t our first
My people are killed in their sleep, in the church
And maybe I`m wise from hearing his cries,
But I wasn`t surprised.
In a Southern jail cell, a guard gave a girl hell, and
I wasn`t surprised
She fought back and defied, became an outlaw statewide
And I wasn`t surprised
And I wasn`t surprised
Well it wasn`t our last and it wasn`t our first
My people are killed in the prisons and church
And maybe I`m wise from too many cries
But I wasn`t surprised.
Well right down the block, a young boy picked a lock
And I wasn`t surprised
The police shot him dead, he was hungry, how he bled!
I wasn`t surprised
It wasn`t our last and it wasn`t our first
My people are killed down the block, in the church
And maybe I`m wise from hearing his cries
But I wasn`t surprised.
When they shot down my son, nothing wrong had he done
I wasn`t surprised
He was walking to class `cross the Jackson State grass
And I wasn`t surprised
Well it wasn`t our first and it wasn`t our last
My family is killed even crossing the grass
And maybe I`m wise from hearing his cries
But I wasn`t surprised.
I`ve seen your children fall and I grieve for you all,
But I wasn`t surprised
I have known all along that they`re mean and they`re strong
So don`t be surpriseed
Well it wasn`t your last, it was only your first
The day will come round that they`ll kill you in church
And maybe I`m wise from too many lies
But I wasn`t surprised.
Well I`m bitter as hell, but one thing I`ll tell you
You might be surprised
If we stand side by side to stop this genocide
They will be surprised
For as long as we`re silent, as long as we`re still
They`ll gun us and shun us, you know that they will
So raise your voices high in one unified cry
And we`ll see who`s surprised!
words and music by Kristin Lems c MCMLXXIX Kleine Ding Music (BMI)
chorus:
Oh Mama, it`s hurtin even worse
Love is such a blessing and love is such a curse
Startin is so easy, partin is a pain
Always gettin this heart involved will drive me insane
Oh Mama, I never seem to learn
You told me more than once how much a soul can burn
But standin by the fire`s heat felt so good
I burned myself just like you knew I would
chorus
When the end comes, you know it hurts so bad
But I try to keep in mind the beauty that I had
Mama, I inherited this heart from you
And now that I`ve got it, tell me what to do
chorus
words and music by Kristin Lems c MCMLXXIX Kleine Ding Music (BMI)
