New Agenda

[Chuck D's Intro:]

It ain't nothin but an us thang

And it's time for us to step it up and respect

That level of sisterhood

That's been holding up our neighborhood

And if it wasn't for our mothers

There would be no brothers

And if it wasn't for our sisters

There would be no misters

So it ain't nothin but a us thang

She's strong and that's a fact

Now it's time for us to take up the slack

Step it up, step it up, time to go to work

History hidden from me

To hide my identity

So I'd never feel

I am somebody

You've gouged my eyes

I see more clearly

You've tried to rob

My humanity

My spirit you tried to break

My soul you tried to take

There's no need to be afraid

Cause I won't do unto you now

[CHORUS:]

Amen

All that we've been through

Our time has come to rejoice

A new agenda's due

Amen

It's time to know the truth

Our time has come to rejoice

A new agenda's due

(no no)

Because of my gender

(no)

I've heard no too many times

Because of my race

I've heard no too many times

But with every no

I grow in strenght

That is why

African-American woman

I stand tall with pride

You want to know what it takes

To rid yourself of me now

There's nothing you can do

Accept me for who I am now

[CHORUS]

Chuck D's Rap:

Time to step it up, step it up

Better check yourself

I get vexed to protect what we got

Left her alone

Lookin for your own

Here it is I know what I'm sayin

But the klan ain't playin at the range

Gotta step it up us to discuss a must

It ain't nothin but an us thang

Rewind back to the time

Where the color of our mother

Had 'em call it a crime

Brother what in the world?

And the world says where is the black man

Support the woman and children

Time to step it up, step it up, it's playoff time

And the rhyme go to check, so check yourself

Amen

A new agenda's due

[CHORUS (2x)]