Lyrics:

Well, Martin's dream
Has become Rodney's worst
Nightmare
Can't walk the streets
To them we are fair game
Our lives don't mean a thing
Like a king, like a king, like a king
Rodney king, Rodney king, Rodney king
Like a king, like a king, like a king
How I wish you could help us, Dr. King
Make sure that it's filmed
Shown on national TV
They'll have no mercy
A legal lynch mob
Like the days strung up from the tree
The L.A.P.D.
Like a king, like a king, like a king
Rodney king, Rodney king, Rodney king
Like a king, like a king, like a king
How I wish that you could help us, Dr. King

Catch yourself
Thinking it has changed for the best
You are like all the rest
'Cause Martin's dream
Has become Rodney's worst
Nightmare
Like a king, like a king, like a king
Rodney King, Rodney King, Rodney King
Like a king, like a king, like a king
How I wish that you could help us, oh, Martin, Martin King

I see, when will they look to the past, look to the past and learn?
How much has to burn?
And by and by
We will be with the king
By and by they must go to face the king
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

So you may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the dust I'll rise
Does my happiness upset you?
Why are you best with gloom?
'Cause I'm laughing like I got an oil well
Pumping in my living room?
So you may you shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise
I'll rise, I'll rise, rise, rise
Out of the shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise, I'll rise, rise, rise
Now, did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes
Shoulders fallen down like teardrops
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my confidence offend you?
Don't you take this awful hard
'Cause I'm walking like I've got a gold mine
Diggin' up in my backyard
So you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise
I'll rise, I'll rise, rise
Out of the shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise, rise, rise
So you may write me down in your history
You better trust it last
You may trod me down in the very dirt
And still like the dust I'll rise
Does my confidence upset you?
Why are you best with gloom
'Cause I'm laughing like I've got an oil well
Pumpin' in my living room?
So you may shoot me with your words
You may cut me with your eyes
And I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise, I'll rise, rise, rise
Out of the shacks of history's shame
Up from a past rooted in pain
I'll rise
I'll rise, I'll rise, rise, rise
And still I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise, rise, rise
And still I'll rise
I'll rise
I'll rise, rise, rise, rise, rise

Thank you very much indeed
Thank you all for being here tonight, thank you