Am                      C
Young black intelligent, this is not a first
        G                           Am
But it feels like it's curse and it weighs like a elephant
Am                          C
Heavy on my mind, 'cause I feel so irrelevant
G                                Am
Heavy on my heart, it's like I'm smart for the hell of it
Am                           C
Heavy on my soul, it's our stroll through the 'ville again
G                        Am
Stranded on this island, feel like I'm Gilligan
Am                     C
Friends got jailed and then they got bailed
N.C.
Stress that I'm under, I just wonder when they kill again
Am                          Em
Please understand that I'm living in the concrete
G                              Am
Jungle where I stumble is the crumble under my feet
Am                    Em
In the building lobby, see my man Bobby
G                             Am
Puffing on a joint that's the point where our eyes meet
Am                             Em
Asked what's the weight on the books in my knapsack
G                       Am
He's so amused, I'm confused why he asked that
Am                    Em
Then I understand the motive and the plan
     G                             Am
He's trying to be the man while I stand getting laughed at
Am                  Em
Dudes got jokes but very little hopes
        G                          Am
That's why they trying to bring me down like a halfback
Am                      Em
But I got balanced, my moms made a promise
N.C.
If I get the grades, I'll be praised like Thomas
Am                             Em
Clarence; but I don't know if law's in my future
G                            Am
Cops in the war and they'll sure try to shoot ya
Am                      Em
All I wanna do is get a B in geometry
G                      Am
Lose my virginity and live my life drama free

[Chorus: Pav Bundy & Masta Ace]
Am          Em                  G       Am
(sing) As I sit and count these clouds
Am         Em           G        Am
   I sure hope my ma is proud of me
        Am          Em
(Why be I?)  why be I?
        G             Am
(Why be me?)   why be me?
      Am           Em
(If I fly) - if I fly
           G                Am
(They gon' see) - they gon' see
          Am            Em
(I might die) - I might die
             G                   Am
(But I'll be free) - but I'll be free
           Am         Em
(So why be I?) why be I?
        G             Am
(Why be me?) - why be me?  Young Black Intelligent

[Refrain]
Am Em              G   Am
     (intelligent)        Young Black Intelligent
Am Em              G   Am
     (intelligent)        Young Black Intelligent
Am Em                         G   Am
     Young Black Intelligent         Young Black Intelligent
Am Em                         G   Am
     Young Black Intelligent         Young Black

[Verse 2: Masta Ace]
Am                          Em
Penny for your thoughts, a nickel for your dreams
  G                         Am
A dime for your goals and a quarter in your jeans
Em                            Em
Trying to make a dollar outta forty-one cents
G                              Am
Caught up in the barbed wire, shorty on the fence
Am                        Em
I can be a knife-packing, gun-toting hooligan
G                         Am
But I can't decide so I'm on my way to school again
Am                       Em
On my way to duel again, me against the world
    G                        Am
But all I can think about is me against a girl
Am                   Em
Youthful exuberance, busting at the seams
G                          Am
Look at all the other kids cussing at the deans
Am                            Em
Looking at all the other kids cutting 8th period
G                         Am
But I'm on a team and my coach won't hear of it
Am                     Em
He's well aware of it, I ain't getting pinched
G                         Am
Y'all dummies go ahead I ain’t getting benched
Am                        Em
Whole lot of right and a little bit of wrong
     G                           Am
And everything you've worked for?    Gone

[Chorus: Pav Bundy & Masta Ace]
Am          Em                  G       Am
(sing) As I sit and count these clouds
Am         Em           G        Am
   I sure hope my ma is proud of me
        Am          Em
(Why be I?)  why be I?
        G             Am
(Why be me?)   why be me?
      Am           Em
(If I fly) - if I fly
           G                Am
(They gon' see) - they gon' see
          Am            Em
(I might die) - I might die
             G                   Am
(But I'll be free) - but I'll be free
           Am         Em
(So why be I?) why be I?
        G             Am
(Why be me?) - why be me?  Young Black Intelligent

[Refrain]
Am Em              G   Am
     (intelligent)        Young Black Intelligent
Am Em              G   Am
     (intelligent)        Young Black Intelligent
Am Em                         G   Am
     Young Black Intelligent         Young Black Intelligent
Am Em                         G   Am
     Young Black Intelligent         Young Black

[Bridge: Chuck D]
Am          Em                     G               Am
   In this state of emergency and sense of urgency
Am                Em               G            Am
Just how young is young? Cause the youth be not youth for long
      Am                             Em                    G               Am
Young society might be afraid of you, But you continue to be you
        Am         Em           G               Am
We are you, so we feel you, for that those that see you
   Am              Em                 G           Am
We salute you, continue to find like minds, brah
               Am                   Em            N.C.
Design your inside, concentration, desire  Dedication, inspiration, perspiration
N.C.
Is the hard work
   Am                   Em          G     Am
Doesn't guarantee anything
     Am       Em                    G     Am
But without it, you don't stand a chance
                   Am     Em       G    Am
Intelligence will save you, And us too,    peace

[Outro]
Am          Em                  G       Am
-     As I sit and count these clouds
Am         Em           G        Am
   I sure hope my ma is proud of me