89 Lines - Terri Nunn

As a dog with a bone is always

In danger, so’s a woman with a Bag when meeting dark strangers

She holds it just a little bit tighter

Which she wouldn’t do if my skin were lighter

It’s not in my mind, I’ve been around the block a few times

Every time she crosses to the other side

Women supposedly got that intuition

So they should no better, but that’s a dubious distinction

It’s not a figment of my imagination it happens a lot

When I flag down a cab it doesn’t stop

Not because I look dangerous or nothing like that

It’s not 'cause he’s off duty it’s cause I’m black

The police come flying around

The corner with the red light screaming

I pulled over to let them pass, they pulled over too,

I thought that I was dreaming

I’m scared to death of our men in blue

It must be cold over there in your shoes

So close your eyes

In silent night

Bet you can’t tell

If I’m black or white

Turn out the lights

Stand here by my side

Cause we’re all alike

On the inside

One step up Then two to the side

One more man

Let the sleeping dog lie

From the back of the bus

To screams in the night

Planting flowers of fire

With these 89 lines

Doesn’t it bring back some terrifying memories

There goes the president making more enemies

If he’s doing to his wife what he’s doing to the country

She’d be happy, we could stand up and dump the monkey

I ask not what I can do for my country

Cause I wonder sometimes if it cares for me The government could change a lot with education

And catching kids before they start to think in races

And eliminate a lot of infuriating situations

Your blindness not of eyes you go public with your lies

Then as to prove you have a heart in private you apologize

Seems my history is a set of lies agreed upon by you repeated

So many times and for so long accepted as the truth

Like an unfriendly takeover attempt

I get in you hold on fuckin’coincidence

Like a nicotine stain it won’t go away

And it won’t if you raise your kids this way

So close your eyes

In silent night

Bet you can’t tell

If I’m black or white

Turn out the lights

Stand here by my side

Cause we’re all alike

On the inside

One step up Then two to the side

One more man

Let the sleeping dog lie

From the back of the bus

And screams in the night

Planting flowers of fire

With these 89 lines

What’s your favorite color

What’s your favorite color?

For those victimized by this ultimate violence

We now observe a moment of silence