I look around and things are so weak
Gotta have what? Love, peace and understanding
Sometimes I don't want to be bothered
My Abi said, "Shine your light on the world
With what it is I have
(World premiere)
Black people unite, come on and do it right
(World premiere)
My elders said, "Shine your light on the world"
Tomorrow may never show up
With me and my babies, me and my lady
That's all that matters to me
Sometimes I don't wanna be a soldier
Going insane, losing my brain
(Your moment in history is right now, now!)
All my people to be free, to be free, to be free
(Right now)
Black people unite, now hop up and do it right
I ain't no perfect man
(Right now)
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Trying to maintain, doing my thang
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away
(World premiere)
One man, one voice, one mic
Shine your light for the world to see"
Don't be afraid, to let it shine
That's all that matters to me, that's all that matters to me
I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
Sometimes, sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes I don't want to get into no war
Black people unite, now come on and do it right
(Yes, yes)
Passion takes over me, I feel like a man
I don't wanna take no time to write this down
(Hey, hey)
You better hold this very moment very close to you
I'm trying to do the best that I can
Gotta have what? Gotta have that love
My dreamers say, "Shine your light on the world"
(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
(Fly fly fly, like a dove)
(Want black people to be free, to be free)
My Umi said, "Shine your light on the world
Peace and understanding, one God, one light
Black people unite, come on and get down
Tomorrow may never come
(Black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Put my heart and soul into this y'all
My Umi said, "Shine your light on the world"
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Black people unite, come on and do it right
Very close to you
Sometimes I just want a quiet life
Hey hey, hey hey, hey
People are so weak
"Shine your light for the world to see"
I wanna tell you how I feel right now, hey
Sometimes I just wanna be a man, but
Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
(Want black people)
I mean that sincerely, tomorrow may never come
Sometimes I get discouraged
My Abi said, "Shine your light on the world"
(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
For you or me life is not promised
I wanna tell you how I feel right now
With what it is I have
"Shine your light for the world to see"
"Shine your light for the world to see"
I hope you feel me from where I am, to wherever you are
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
Shine your light for the world to see"
Black people, my people, black people, my people
That's all that matters to me, that's all that matters to me
I hope you feel me where I am to wherever you are
My Abi said, "Shine your light on the world
All black people to be free, to be free, to be free
"Shine your light for the world to see"
All black people to be free, to be free, to be free
For you and me life is not promised, tomorrow may never appear
Shine your light for the world to see"
One God, one voice, one life, one man, gon' shine my light
(Ow)
Black people unite and let's all get down
Put my heart and soul into this song
(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
So close to you, so close to you
Umi said, "Shine your light on the world
For you and me this life is not promised
Shine your light for the world to see"
I ain't no perfect man
I'm trying to do the best that I can
That's all that matters to me, that's all that matters to me
