1989 the number another summer, get down Sound of the funky drummer Music hittin your heart, 'cause I know you got soul Brothers and sistersListen if youre missin yall Swingin while Im singin Givin whatcha gettin Knowin what I know andWhile the black bands sweatin And the rhythm rhymes rollin Got to give us what we want Gotta give us what we needOur freedom of speech is freedom or death We've got to fight the powers that beLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the powerLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the powerLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that beAs the rhythm designed to bounce What counts is that the rhymes designed to fill your mind Now that youve realized the prides arrived We got to pump the stuff to make us toughFrom the heart, its a start, a work of art To revolutionize, make a change, nothins strange People, people, we are the same No, were not the same, 'cause we dont know the gameWhat we need is awareness, we cant get careless You say what is this? My beloved, let's get down to business Mental self defensive fitnessYo, bum rush the show You gotta go for what you know To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that beLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you Fight the powerLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you Fight the powerLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you Fight the powerLemme hear you say Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that beLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you Lemme hear you say Fight the powerLemme hear you say Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the powerLemme hear you Fight the power Lemme hear you say Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that beElvis was a hero to most But he never meant shit to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plainMother fuck him and John Wayne 'Cause Im black and Im proud Im ready and hyped plus Im amped Most of my heroes dont appear on no stampsSample a look back you look and find Nothing but rednecks for four hundred years if you check Dont worry be happy was a number one jam Damn, if I say it you can slap me right hereLet's get this party started right Right on, cmon, what we got to say Power to the people, no delay Make everybody see in order to fight the powers that beFight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that be