History No Mystery

BACKGROUND CHANT
Don’t want my history to be no mystery
Don’t want my history to be no mystery
Don’t want my history to be no mystery
Don’t want my history to be no mystery

VERSE
When I’m feelin’ beat, I think of Mary
And all the children she taught
When I’m feelin’ defeat, I think of Ghandi
And peaceful messages he brought.

CHORUS
Without books to read the lessons, feed our minds and feed our souls.
With just a funny video our children they will never know.

They won’t know their history
It will remain a mystery.
They won’t know their history.
They won’t be able to foresee.

BACKGROUND:
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me.
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me.

VERSE
When I’m feelin’ mad, I think of Mr. Rogers
And to children how kind he always was.
When I’m feelin’ sad, I think of Maynard Jackson
And all his brilliance and his love.

When I’m feelin’ down, I think of our leaders
And with heart and mind, oh how they lead
When I’m feelin’ under the ground
I think of Harriet Tubman
and all the people she helped free.

Without speakers doin’ speaking, feeding minds and feeding souls.
With just a music video, our children, they will never know,

They won’t know their history
It will remain a mystery.
They won’t know their history.
They won’t be able to foresee.

BACKGROUND (simultaneous):
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me.
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me.

BRIDGE - GUEST VOCALIST / RAP ARTIST
‘Cause our history can’t be mystery
It’s for us to know
Our story
It’s our clock for time
Without it there’s no rhyme
Or reason to align with those who shine.
It gives each one of us
Something to touch
And hold and make us feel inspired
Makes us feel inspired.
That is our history

BACKGROUND:
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me. No not to me.
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me. No not to me.
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me. No not to me.
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me. No not to me.

Nelson Mandela is a man who had a plan
He’d stay in jail until apartheid fell/failed

Mary Bethune, she changed the rules. She built a school. Without many tools.
She made it possible to have a hospital
When some folk weren’t hospitable to us.
I know just what you’re thinking
I need to know my leaders
More than I know Adidas, Nike, Phat Farm and salt peanuts.

BACKGROUND:
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me.
I don’t want my history to be no mystery to me.

Without books to read the lessons, feed our minds and feed our souls.
With just a music video our children they will never know.

They won’t know their history
It will remain a mystery.
I don’t know ‘bout you, but I know ‘bout me.
I wanna know my history.