More songs by KIRBY
Description
Choir: Tennessee Mass Choir
Producer: Thomas Brenneck
Mixing Engineer: Rob Kleiner
Mastering Engineer: JJ Golden
Composer: Thomas Brenneck
Lyricist, Composer: Kirby Dockery
Composer: Will Schalda
Lyrics and translation
Original
It's time for a new Mississippi, a Mississippi where we don't just walk towards the future, but we make amends for the wrongs of the past.
And it is in that spirit that the state of Mississippi has decided to award those that are direct descendants of slavery and racial injustice in this state their due: reparations.
Granddaddy was a farmer with skin as dark as night.
He picked the cotton.
My granny was a teacher with European features, skin was lighter.
And they had worry, worry, worry for their portion.
They had no money, money, money for their toil.
'Cause I got one hand on the cross and the Bible. Devil comes like a thief when you're idle.
Take the land, take the man and the title. Mm. Reparations.
I ain't talking 'bout no dollars. Reparations.
Yeah, my people want their power. Reparations.
When I'm gone, don't give me flowers. Reparations.
We know what's yours is ours.
Ooh.
My people want no favors.
Ain't asking for no handouts from my neighbors.
Don't need no conversation. Just proper compensation for our labors.
Yeah.
'Cause I got one hand on the cross and the Bible. Devil comes like a thief when you're idle.
Take the land, take the man and the title. Mm. Reparations.
I ain't talking 'bout no dollars. Reparations.
Yeah, my people want their power. Reparations.
When I'm gone, don't give me flowers. Reparations.
We know what's yours is ours. Reparations. Oh, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair.
Reparations. Oh, it's just fair, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair. Reparations.
Oh, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair. Reparations.
It's fair, it's fair, it's fair, and it's fair.
English translation
It's time for a new Mississippi, a Mississippi where we don't just walk towards the future, but we make amends for the wrongs of the past.
And it is in that spirit that the state of Mississippi has decided to award those that are direct descendants of slavery and racial injustice in this state their due: reparations.
Granddaddy was a farmer with skin as dark as night.
He picked the cotton.
My granny was a teacher with European features, skin was lighter.
And they had worry, worry, worry for their portion.
They had no money, money, money for their toil.
'Cause I got one hand on the cross and the Bible. Devil comes like a thief when you're idle.
Take the land, take the man and the title. Mm. Reparations.
I ain't talking 'bout no dollars. Reparations.
Yeah, my people want their power. Reparations.
When I'm gone, don't give me flowers. Reparations.
We know what's yours is ours.
Ooh.
My people want no favors.
Ain't asking for no handouts from my neighbors.
Don't need no conversation. Just proper compensation for our labors.
Yeah.
'Cause I got one hand on the cross and the Bible. Devil comes like a thief when you're idle.
Take the land, take the man and the title. Mm. Reparations.
I ain't talking 'bout no dollars. Reparations.
Yeah, my people want their power. Reparations.
When I'm gone, don't give me flowers. Reparations.
We know what's yours is ours. Reparations. Oh, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair.
Reparations. Oh, it's just fair, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair. Reparations.
Oh, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair, it's fair. Reparations.
It's fair, it's fair, it's fair, and it's fair.