We the People - The Staple Singers

Little smokey, little bandit Little getting out of handed If you're going where we're going get going or get out of our way Mixing Crowes hard to handle, burning Willie, Rockin' Randall If we're gonna do it then we ain't Gonna do it halfway cause we don't play... If you need a little turn it up Friday night A crowd with their hands and their cans up high Wanna raise one with the raise hell kind We the people We the people with the needle in the red on cruise Out setting fire to a neon moon Wrecking them back roads, reppin' our roots We the people We front row, we back porch We dirt stomp, we dance floor We're the party and the party don't start 'til we roll up That's when everybody shows up If you need a little turn it up Friday night A crowd with their hands and their cans up high Wanna raise one with the raise hell kind We the people We the people with the needle in the red on cruise Out setting fire to a neon moon Wrecking them back roads, reppin' our roots We the people We the ones that preacher done warned you bout We the ones that'll get ya kicked out We the ones drink way too loud We the people We're the jokers, and tokers In the land of the free Got some hot ones, some cold ones What more do you need If you need a little turn it up Friday night A crowd with their hands and their cans up high Wanna raise one with the raise hell kind We the people We the people with the needle in the red on cruise Out setting fire to a neon moon Wrecking them back roads, reppin' our roots We the people If you need a little turn it up Friday night A crowd with their hands and their cans up high Wanna raise one with the raise hell kind We the people We the people with the needle in the red on cruise Out setting fire to a neon moon Wrecking them back roads, reppin' our roots We the people

If you're feelin' shut down May my thoughts be with you If you're a black man bein' beat down and shoved all around May my thoughts be with you If your world's gettin' a little too tough You know our thoughts are with you Hey, I know that it's crazy out there And my thoughts are with you We are the people And we live forever We are the people And our future's written on the wind On the wind If you are one of the homeless May our thoughts be with you If you are scared and alone You know our thoughts are with you If you are one of the fortunate ones We all know it's lonely up there We understand that nobody's got it made So our thoughts are with you We are the people, oh yeah And we live forever We are the people And our future's written on the wind On the wind You see yourself as a leader May my thoughts be with you If you try to divide and conquer We'll rise up against you We know only the strong will survive But the meek will inherit So if you've got a coat of arms, oh friend I suggest we wear it We are the people And we live forever We are the people Oh, and our future's written on the wind On the wind

We are the people without land We are the people without tradition We are the people who do not know how to die peacefully and at ease We are the thoughts of sorrows Endings of tomorrows We are the wisps of rulers And the jokers of kings We are the people without right We are the people who have known only lies and desperation We are the people without a country, a voice, or a mirror We are the crystal gaze returned through the density And immensity of a berzerk nation We are the victims of the untold manifesto Of the lack of depth Of full and heavy emptiness We are the people without sorrow Who have moved beyond national pride and indifference To a parоdy of instinct We are the people who are desperate Beyond emotion because it defies thought We are the people who conceive Our destruction and carry it out lawfully We are the insects of someone else's thought A casualty of daytime, nighttime, space, and God Without race, nationality, or religion We are the people, and the people, the people

I pulled into Nazareth, I was feelin' 'bout half past dead I just need some place where I could lay my head Hey mister, can you tell me where I can find a bed? He just grinned and shook my hand, "no", was all he said Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and), and put the load right on me (Put the load right on me) I picked up my bag and went lookin' for a place to hide When I saw ol' Carmen and the Devil walkin' side by side And I said, "Hey Carmen, c'mon let's go downtown" She said, "I gotta go, but my friend here can stick around" Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and), and put the load right on me (Put the load right on me) Go down, Miss Moses, there ain't nothin' you can say It's just ol' Luke and Luke's waitin' on the Judgment Day Well, Luke, my friend, what about young Anna Lee He said, "Do me a favor now Won't you stay and keep Anna Lee company?" Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and), and put the load right on me (Put the load right on me) Why don't you put the load on me? C'mon now Crazy Chester followed me and he caught me in the fog He said, "I will fix your rack, if you'll take ol' Jack, my dog" I said, "Wait a minute, Chester, you know I'm a peaceful man" He said, "That's okay, won't you feed him when you can?" Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and), and put the load right on me (Put the load right on me) Catch a cannon ball now to take me down the line My bag is sinkin' low, I do believe it's time To get back to Miss Fanny, oh, you know she's the only one Who sent me here with her regards for everyone Take a load off, Fanny Take a load for free Take a load off, Fanny And (and) (and), and put the load right on me (Put the load right on me) Put the load on me (put the load on me) C'mon now Put the load on me (put the load on me) It's all right Put the load on me right now (put the load on me) Why don't you', why don't you- Why don't you put the load on me? (Put the load on me) Put the load on me, yeah Put the load on me (put the load on me)

Since the Holy Ghost took control I got a new way of praying, a new way of saying Thank God, I've got a new born soul I've got a new born soul Since the Holy Ghost took control I've got a new born soul Since the Comforter made me whole My hands look new, my feet did too My head got wet in the midnight dew But oh, all I know, thank the Lord I've got a new born soul I got a new way of preaching, a new way of teaching Since the Holy Ghost took control Souls are winning, a new beginning Thank the Lord, I've got a new born soul I've got a new born soul Since the Holy Ghost took control I've got a new, new born soul Since the Comforter made me whole My hands look new, my feet did too My head got wet in the midnight dew But oh, all I know, thank God I've got a new born soul I've got a new born soul Since the Holy Ghost took control I've got a new, new born soul Thank the Lord, I've got a new born soul Since the Holy Ghost took control I got a new way of praying, a new way of saying