Same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
America’s a better place than it was fifty years ago
There’s been a whole lotta change, but we gotta long way to go
When we used to have a problem, we used to call the police
But who we gonna call when the police make a problem?
I’m not sayin’ that they’re all bad, I’m not sayin’ that I’m any better
All I’m just tryin’ to say is we could all do a lot better
I say it in my own house, and I say it on the street
I say it on a record, y’all, and I say it on the beat
I paint it on the wall, y’all, so everybody sees:
When we all see justice, then we’ll all see peace
It’s the same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
A revolution is a battle between the future and the past
The battle’s never over, but the future’s gonna last
Malcolm had an X, y’all, and The King had a dream
And like Spike Lee said, y’all, you should always do the right thing
If the world’s full of anger, and everybody’s gotta gun
Then what should I say, y’all, to my teenage son?
Mandela did lock down for twenty-eight years
But there’s billions more, y’all, it’s still rainin’ down tears
I say it in my own house, and I say it on the street
I say it on a record, y’all, and I say it on the beat
I paint it on the wall, y’all, ‘till everybody sees:
When we all see justice, then we’ll all see peace
It’s the same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
They can try to divide us, they can try to increase
All the pain and suffering, but this is everybody’s street
There is just ONE LOVE, y’all, there is just ONE BEAT
And when we all see justice, then we’ll all see peace
Same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
It’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
America’s a better place than it was fifty years ago
There’s been a whole lotta change, but we gotta long way to go
When we used to have a problem, we used to call the police
But who we gonna call when the police make a problem?
I’m not sayin’ that they’re all bad, I’m not sayin’ that I’m any better
All I’m just tryin’ to say is we could all do a lot better
I say it in my own house, and I say it on the street
I say it on a record, y’all, and I say it on the beat
I paint it on the wall, y’all, so everybody sees:
When we all see justice, then we’ll all see peace
It’s the same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
A revolution is a battle between the future and the past
The battle’s never over, but the future’s gonna last
Malcolm had an X, y’all, and The King had a dream
And like Spike Lee said, y’all, you should always do the right thing
If the world’s full of anger, and everybody’s gotta gun
Then what should I say, y’all, to my teenage son?
Mandela did lock down for twenty-eight years
But there’s billions more, y’all, it’s still rainin’ down tears
I say it in my own house, and I say it on the street
I say it on a record, y’all, and I say it on the beat
I paint it on the wall, y’all, ‘till everybody sees:
When we all see justice, then we’ll all see peace
It’s the same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
They can try to divide us, they can try to increase
All the pain and suffering, but this is everybody’s street
There is just ONE LOVE, y’all, there is just ONE BEAT
And when we all see justice, then we’ll all see peace
Same as it ever was, but there’s gotta be a better way
It’s the same as it ever was, but today’s a different day
You and me could make that change
But it’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
It’s the same as it ever was, we better start today
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Scritta come risposta alla decisione del grand jury di neanche processare l'agente di polizia responsabile della morte di Eric Garner. La canzone è destinata a fare discutere perché, pur essendo esplicita nel dire che non ci può essere pace senza giustizia e non risparmiando le critiche alla polizia (quando avevamo problemi chiamavamo la polizia / ma chi chiameremo quando la polizia è il problema?) contiene anche un appello al dialogo tra la comunità nera e le forze dell'ordine che potrebbe sembrare quantomeno ingenuo nella situazione attuale.
Vedi anche We Gotta Pray e Hands Up