The Roots - Why (What’s Goin On?) lyrics

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Sky's the limit so you know
I'm gonna rise and shine
I gotta do my thing
I'm kinda getting a little tired
Of all that's hidden
That's the reason I'm a speak my mind
Keep from going insane
Now work with it, we in the last innin'
The world keeps spinnin'
My peoples steady losin' while
The rich keep winnin'
It's like we never smilin' and
The devil steady grinnin'
Killin' what we representin'
Even our children and women, 2K4
Livin' above and under the law
Young teen joins the marines
Says he'll die for the corps
Inducted up into the government's war
Is it for land or money or oil
Funny how ain't none of it yours
I can't sleep yo I'm paranoid
It's code orange it's far from right
I guess that's why it feels so wrong
To see the world get stripped
Out of every resource
And people pray to Coca-Cola now
Instead of the gods what's goin' on?

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Keepin' your head above water
Hustlin' to survive
Some people chasin' a dream
Others just chasin' a high
Some people blind leading the blind
They chasin' a lie
Some people chokin' backs broken
Barely makin' it by
But still, they workin' all they live
They pushin' for the light
Givin' everything they got to stitch
Them swishes on ya Nike's
Puttin' pockets on our jeans
Mining diamonds for them rings
Rewarded with small change and
Bullets in the brains
And it make me feel strange
Everything we take for granted
At times I feel stranded on
This planet of mine
Now should I pull the hammer, clap it out
And laugh about it or stand up
Be counted while I cast my ballot
When the undertaker's busy and
The prisons is crowded
People livin' in fear because
They vision is clouded
But the sky's the limit
I ain't cryin' you a river
Gotta move me a mountain
I'm a get up and shout it

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

When I dream it's hounds on
My heels gainin' momentum i'm tired
Can't get uninspired or quit runnin'
I can feel they only inches behind, I escape
I survive
Some how I gotta decide how much I want it
Or is anybody listenin' without a
Pot to piss in
If I disappear I wonder if the
World will know I'm missin'
Who my support system
It's not the court system
Gotta letter it said that
You're not avoiding prison
People 'neath the microscope cause
We defining the culture
They smile and insult you like
You shinin' their loafers
Them old heads say we need a modern day Moses
When the leaders is posers
We needing some soldiers
It's the X generation
The anger in the nation
Got the writing on the wall so
Clear that I can taste it
Like a kid sniffing glue
Somewhere trying to escape
Cause we vulnerable and naked
Gotta show 'em we can make it

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?