No Knock (breakdown Alt Take) Lyrics - Gil Scott-heron

You explained it to me I must admit 

But just for the record you were talkin' shit 

Y'all rap about no knock bein' legislated 

For the people you've always hated 

In this hell hole you, we, call home 

No knock, the man will say 

To keep that man from beating his wife 

No knock, the man will say 

To protect people from themselves 

No knockin', head-rockin', inter-shockin' 

Shootin', cussin', killin', cryin', lyin' 

And bein' white 

No knock 

No knocked on my brother Fred Hampton 

Bullet holes all over the place 

No knocked on my brother Michael Harris 

And jammed a shotgun against his skull 

For my protection? 

Who's gonna protect me from you? 

The likes of you? 

The nerve of you? 

Your tomato face deadpan 

Your dead hands ending another freedom fan 

No knockin', head rockin', inter-shockin' 

Shootin', cussin', killin', cryin', lyin' 

And bein' white 

But if you're wise, no knocker 

You'll tell your no-knockin' lackeys 

Ha! 

No knock on my brother's head 

No knock on my sister's head 

No knock on my brother's head 

No knock on my sister's head 

And double lock your door 

Because soon someone may be no-knockin' 

Ha, ha! 

For you 

(No knock: To be slipped into John Mitchell's suggestion box.)