Somber sister This is a strange and bitter fruit Because you taught me to sing And the rhythm in my heart And the rhythm in my feet is -
Why are the rainbows Stolen from the sky And locked up in boxes Yellow, black, red and white Like birds in their cages Beating their wings on the bars And there's a song that they're singing It's a word in the world It's a word in their hearts
A part hate I heard a man say Tear apart hate And I saw hope in his face A part hate Where the color of love Slips away
Why are the children Carrying guns, not books Drug dealing, not learning The golden rule And the idea of freedom Not just the same Castle in the sky Haunted by white-sheeted ghouls Filled with hate me And hate you And proud of it too
A part hate Heard a woman saying Tear apart hate And I saw hope in her face A part hate Where the color of love Slips away
Why are the people Running down the block Rock throwing, not knowing What else to do But I'm just a spectator And I can never know the pain But when I hear That whip cracking I cry out tears of anger I cry out tears of shame
A part hate I heard myself say Tear apart hate And I saw hope in my face A part hate Where the color of love Slips away...
Tear apart hate tear apart hate Tear apart hate tear apart hate Tear apart hate tear apart hate...