Paula cole & t-boz
(appears on paula cole's album "amen")

I want to be somebody
I want to make a difference

Little boy caught in a drive-by
Witnessed the killer who made his daddy die,
And 'cause he identified and signed the dotted line,
He could feel it in his stomach, he signed away his life
Little boy who once was the leader of his class
The little source of joy, always neatly dressed
Now would hang his head and be left crying at his desk,
Was found with his mother, lying in her lap
With two bullets in his chest

Bridge:
And, oh my god, what is this madness? I will not let it kill my gladness
And, oh my god, what is this madness?
My joy inside will send this message

Chorus:
I want to be somebody
I want to make a difference,
For we all are children of the mother

I want to be somebody
I want to make a difference,
For we all are children of the father

Outspoken man, leading sisters and brothers,
Picked himself up from hustling, drugs and gutters
Doing time on the inside, he found a higher power
Now, back with a mission to help us help each other
Respected from bourgeoisie to homeless in the street
From universities, africa, the middle east
And through the threats of death he spoke truth and set men free
But the power of the truth made enemies of the weak
He was killed by his own people

Bridge

Chorus

Ignite this fire inside, this light that is the truth
Shake off the system's chains, no longer be their fool
In the face of brutality, show the other cheek
Trigger-happy policing will never kill our dignity

Bridge

Chorus