Umi Says Lyrics - Black On Both Sides - Mos Def

I don't wanna write this down 

I wanna tell you how I feel right now 

I don't wanna take no time to write this down 

I wanna tell you how I feel right now, hey 

Tomorrow may never come 

For you Umi 

Life is not promised 

Tomorrow may never show up 

For you Umi 

This life is not promised 

I ain't no perfect man 

I'm trying to do, the best that I can, 

With what it is I have 

I ain't no perfect man 

I'm trying to do, the best that I can, 

With what it is I have 

Put my heart and soul into this song (yes yes) 

I hope you feel me 

From where I am, to wherever you are 

I mean that sincerely 

Tomorrow may never come 

For Umi 

Life is not promised 

Tomorrow may never appear 

You better hold this very moment very close to you (right now) 

Very close to you (right now) 

So close to you, So- close to you (your moment in history is right now!) 

Don't be affraid, to let it shine 

My Umi said shine your light on the world 

Shine your light for the world to see 

My Abi said shine your light on the world 

Shine your light for the world to see 

(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free) 

My Abi said shine your light on the world 

(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free) 

Shine your light for the world to see 

(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free) 

My Umi said shine your light on the world 

(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free) 

Shine your light for the world to see 

(Want black people to be free, to be free) 

Sometimes I get discouraged 

I look around and, things are so weak 

People are so weak 

Sometimes, 

Sometimes I feel like crying 

Sometimes my heart gets heavy 

Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away [fly fly fly, like a dove] 

Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself [ow!] 

Passion takes over me 

I feel like a man 

Going insane 

Losing my brain 

Trying to maintain 

Doing my thing 

Hey hey hey hey hey 

Put my heart and soul into this y'all 

I hope you feel me 

Where I am, to wherever you are 

Sometimes I don't want to be bothered 

Sometimes I just want a quiet life, with 

Me and my babies, me and my lady 

Sometimes I don't want to get into no war 

(Black people to be free, to be free) 

Sometimes I don't wanna be a soldier 

Sometimes I just wanna be a man, but 

Umi said shine your light on the world 

Shine your light for the world to see 

My Abi said shine your light on the world 

Shine your light for the world to see 

(I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free) 

My dreamers said shine your light on the world 

(Want black people to be free, to be free, to be free) 

Shine your light for the world to see 

(Want black people) 

My elders said shine your light on the world (Hey hey) 

Shine your light for the world to see 

I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free 

All my people to be free, to be free, to be free 

Oh black people to be free, to be free, to be free 

Oh black people to be free, to be free, to be free 

That's all that matters to me 

Black people unite and let's all get down 

Gotta have what, 

Gotta have that love 

Peace and understanding 

One God, one light 

One man, one voice, one mic 

Black people unite come on and do it right 

Black people unite come on and do it right 

Black people unite come on and get down 

Gotta have what, 

Love, peace and understanding 

One God, one voice, one life 

One man, gon' shine my light 

Black people unite, now hop up and do it right 

Black people unite, now come on and do it right 

Yeah baby that's what I like 

Yeah baby that's what I like 

Yeah baby that's what I like, 

Black people, my people