F#m
From the slaveship to the chain
Bm
From the task master's whip to my brain
F#m
Kidnapped, enslaved, raped, and killed by the lynch clan again and again
Bm
Is it the origin of the skin or the face of a race
F#mEF#m
Why you don't care about me?
[Chorus]
F#m
Now, I know you don't care about me
Bm
I'm just a nigga walking down the street
F#m
The brother did nothing wrong
Bm
But now his life is gone
F#mEF#m
So, I know you don't care about me
[Verse 1]
F#m
Code of silence you say
Bm
Yet your actions speak so loud and clear
F#mBm
Diallo's killers going free paid by society
F#mEF#m
Now I know you don't care about me
[Verse 2]
F#m
Ey, we should be burning and looting believe me, start exchanging 41 for 90
Bm
Our ancestors've built this country and all sticks and whips and kicks and punches
F#m
Meanwhile you're living like some bird in bunches
Bm
Tell me where is the justice, much less the dances?
F#mEF#m
My world must know that man is still in darkness [?]
[Verse 3]
F#m
Rapings, torture, kill and maim
Bm
Their injustice remains the same
F#m
Killing the people in the Queen's name
Bm
No one will get the blame
F#mEF#m
And my people keep going down the drain
[Verse 4]
F#m
And all these crimes we've come to read
Bm
They'll be written in black history
F#m
Crimes of injustice and inhumanity
Bm
Perpetrated by society
F#mEF#m
And my people are living in poverty
[Verse 5]
F#m
My struggle for survival is to be accepted
Bm
And treated as a member of the human family
F#m
Whose practices should reveal the fundamental right and duty to be humane
Bm
In all judgement and action to all humanity
F#mEF#m
So, why don't you care about me?
[Chorus]
F#m
Say I know you don't care about me
Bm
I'm just a nigga walking down the street
F#m
The brother did nothing wrong
Bm
But now his life is gone
F#mEF#m
And I know you don't care about me
[Verse 6]
F#m
Code of silence you say
Bm
But your actions is so loud and clear
F#m
Are Diallo's killers going free?
Bm
Paid by society
F#mEF#m
And I know you don't care about me
[Verse 7]
F#m
Well, Amadou Diallo, they killed him for nuttin', no crime he did not do!
Bm
And just like him there were others who suffered for what they didn't do
F#m
We're living in a system
Bm
We are the victims and that is so true
F#mEF#m
Amadou Diallo, reggae music knows your name!
[Verse 8]
F#m
Amadou Diallo, ey!
Bm
Amadou Diallo, ey!
F#mBm
Amadou Diallo, woy!
F#mEF#m
Reggae music knows your name
[Verse 9]
F#m
Code of silence you say
Bm
Yes your actions speak so loud and clear
F#m
Diallo's killers going free?
Bm
Paid by society
F#mEF#m
And I know you don't care about me
[Verse 10]
F#m
Yo, Ziggy, check this out! It's kinda strange how the same things're happening
Bm
Over and over again, over and over again
F#m
And they say their constitution's
Bm
For the benefit of all
F#mEF#m
It's all a lie again, it's all a lie again
[Verse 11]
F#m
Tell me when will this injustice change (tell me when!)
Bm
Tell me when will we stop feeling pain (feeling pain)
F#m
Just the way we survive
Bm
In their eyes it's a crime
F#mEF#m
You're to blame for all that's bleeding this way
[Verse 12]
F#m
Yes, we know you don't care about we (yes we know!)
Bm
Yes, we know you don't care about we (yes we know)
F#mBm
Yes, we know you don't care about we
F#mEF#m
Yes, we know (yes we know), yes we know (yes we know)
[Chorus]
F#m
Now, I know you don't care about me
Bm
I'm just a nigga walking down your street
F#m
The brother did nothing wrong
Bm
But now his life is gone
F#mEF#m
So, I know you don't care about me
[Outro]
F#m
We want to talk right down the earth
Bm
In a language that everybody here can easily understand
F#m
We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed
Bm
That America has a very serious problem
F#mEF#m
Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem