at thirty eighth and chicago
just so you all know
it’s still closed to traffic, it’s still a crossroads
of speeches of dreams of piles of flowers of words to read
of all we need to believe that this never happens once more
our list is long our hearts are strong we not about to go
at thirty eighth and chicago
yeah it’s time that we all know
how racism a chokehold
it’s no jury it’s no trial it’s no lawyer
no ticket no arrest no parole
no friendly hello no how are you no tell me what’s wrong
just suspicion just discrimination just death
just a knee on the neck of george floyd
where one man can’t breathe
cuz the other man can’t let go
choked up on racist hatred long ago
thirty eighth and chicago
yeah it’s time that we all know
the corner stores, gas stations, apartments, and homes
where poverty’s pressures never on hold
that suffocating knee on the neck
of thriving humans, strong families, healthy communities
how no one sees that the poor in america are working full time
how the poor in america hold down two full time jobs
how the wealthy’s welfare wages so low
yet they dare calling poor people lazy so
now the world is watching this story unfold
yeah so now it’s time that we all go
and keep marching keep speaking keep working keep pushing keep breathing
’til justice comes home
to thirty eighth and chicago
heat flow 