Martin Beyond Vietnam

lyrics by Do D.A.T.     music by Jacobo

Verse 1

It's not my intent to romanticize Martin Luther,

in many ways his legacy was used to maneuver

black population into a sedated stupor

I'm super apologetic if the statement offends, but

that's my opinion, and if he's listening,

I got a feeling he'd probably agree to some degree with what I'm penning.

Towards the ending

of his life, his focus shifting

to human rights and poor people's economic conditions.

Take for instance,

Beyond Vietnam

where he pointed out the problem of money and race in our armies;

sending impoverished

young men to fight for rights when they ain't even got ‘em.

So ironic.

Name a war that doesn't generate profit

the poor fight the conflict

the rich collect deposits

and rockets sail into a village cottage

all in the name of freedom--please stop it!

Hook

Churches and liquor stores, turfs in-between

men claim king but cash reign supreme.

Money, power, respect, that's the American dream

mourning at the wake of the king.

Churches and liquor stores, turfs in-between

men claim king but cash reign supreme.

War make money, that's what feed the machine

screaming out, “Let freedom ring!”

Verse 2

I can't get beyond Vietnam,

it's on my front lawn.

Same soldiers, different uniforms

in my hood night to morn.

I don't even notice any more,

‘cause I been militarized since I was four:

conditioned to consume more and more,

programed racism into my thoughts

so even my interactions with my self are so false.

War is war,

domestic to abroad,

external to the core.

Who’s that tugging on my cord, extorting me for fortune?

I can't even afford the cost living anymore, man.

See, I can’t get beyond Vietnam.

I can’t get beyond Vietnam.