The Prisoner Lyrics - Pieces Of A Man - Gil Scott-heron

Here I am after so many years 

Hounded by hatred and trapped by fear 

I'm in a box, I've got no place to go 

If I follow my mind, I know I'll slaughter my own 

Help me, I'm the prisoner won't you hear my plea? 

I need somebody, yeah, to listen to me 

I beg you, brothers and sisters 

I'm counting on you, yeah 

Black babies in the womb are shackled and bound 

Chained by the caveman who keeps beauty down 

Smacked on the ass when they're squalling and wet 

Heir to a spineless man who never forgets 

Never forgets that he's a prisoner, can't you hear my plea? 

'Cause I need somebody, Lord knows, to listen to me 

I'm a stranger to my son 

Who wonders why his daddy runs, yeah 

On my way to work in the morning 

When I don't give a damn 

Can't nobody, can't nobody 

Can't nobody, can't nobody see just who in hell I am? 

Hemmed in by a suit, yes, all choked up in a tie 

Ain't no wonder some times near morning I hear my woman cry 

She knows her man is a prisoner, won't you hear my plea? 

Yeah, 'cause I need somebody to listen to me 

My woman, she don't say but she hates 

To see her man chained this way, yeah 

Help me, I'm the prisoner 

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm the prisoner