Michael Friedman - The Ballad of Mingus Rude lyrics

This is the story of Mingus Rude
This is the story of what
Happened to Mingus Rude
This is the story of what
Really happened to Mingus Rude
After he shot his granddad shot his granddad
And went to jail

Rich man, poor man, bad man, good
Who will save the neighborhood?
Big man, little man, who you gonna be?
Will you ever sing
Play that music play that music

Ba dums ba dums
Now this is a story of a boy you know
Who's been in and out of
Jail four times or so
For different offenses from the
Bottom to the top
Since the time he shot his Grandpop
Stop, stop, stop, stop what do you do
With no Mingus to protect you what do you do
With no Mingus to protect you what do you do

First stop: Spofford Prison
Learner's prison, baby prison
13 year old kids who were dealing smack
14 year old transvestites who would
Shiv you in the back
12 year old kids who took
Kids and beat them dead
One killer said he heard "Bugs
Bunny in my head"
I'm running running, running
But, I can't get away
Running running, running

But, I can't get away
Step 2: Rikers, where you grow up fast
Forget the past, figure out how you can last
You better get yourself a reputation
As a hard case
Lift weights, keep pace, harden your face
Tim that past is erased, effaced
That space is replaced when you get in
Check Jewish and get matzoh for holidays
Share it with the Nation
Of Islam for protection
A fake Black Jew sharing
Bread with the Muslims

Lawyer, Muslim, player, pimp
Latin King, Crip, Blood, hood, and wimp
Watches, jewelry, cigarettes, drugs
Haircuts, faggots, dealers, and thugs

You all think you're working the system
But the system is working you

Can you see the light it's blinding
Can you see the light oh, it's blinding
I'm running running, running
But, I can't get away
Running running, running

Next stop: Elmira boys' prison
The you ain't seen nothing yet prison
You better get pumped up quickly prison
Or you won't make it

And the flying flying is for the sky
And in Elmira there is no sky no sky
So why think about it at all

Now dose is making his mark for those
Who can protect him they say
"Draw me something sweet for my girl
'Cause Dose knows what girls like"
Trading his art to be smart to survive
Until his mark is just a way to stay alive

And it feels like I could be Superman
I could come and save you if only
If only if only

What do you do with nobody to protect you

Oohs step 4: you get out and
Smith Street is changing
To bistros and Botanicas and baby stores
All your tags and burners no more
You don't belong here no more in a massacre
Your run is done everything stops
You're pulled over by cops

Hey you is that an open beer?
Hey you

Do you live around here? Miss parole call
Make your tag on a wall
Is that a spray paint can?
Is that a joint in your hand?
You're a guilty man without a doubt

Hey you! Hey you!
Hey you! 3 strikes, you're out i'm running
Running, running

But, I can't get away
Running running, running
But, I can't get away d-Man where are you?
D-Man where are you?

Step 5: Watertown Prison
Learn to be invisible learn to be invisible
Learn to be invisible
Like the Show, barely visible
You'll see what evil lurks inside
What do you do with nobody to protect you
What do you do

Learn to be invisible learn to be invisible
Learn to be invisible

Oohs
You know my name, read it off the liner notes
You know my name
Pussy rappers with vagina throats
You know my name, same as my mother gave me
My name is my fame
But my mother couldn't save me
Nobody handing me a microphone
Nobody telling me I deserve a sing of my own
Never gonna fly never gonna kiss the sky
Never gonna be king nobody kissing my ring
Why did nobody ever give me anything
You know my name

Can you see the light it's blinding
Can you see the light can you see the light

Will you remember me
Somebody's got to remember me
Somebody's got to protect me
Remember me please

What do you do with nobody to protect you
What do you do with nobody to with nobody
Nobody nobody

I'm running, running, running
But, I can't get away running
But, I can't get away play that music
Play that music til you die
Til you die til you die
Til you die play that music
Play that music til you die
Til you die til you die til you die

I'm running, running, running

Running, running, running play that music
Play that music play that music
Til you die til you die
Til you die til you die
Play that music play that music
Til you die til you die
Til you die til you die til you