TODAYS NEWS IS REPORTING STORIES ABOUT NOTHING NEW.
AND WASHINGTON'S STATISTICS THAT AREN'T EVEN CLOSE TO TRUE.
"THE CRIME RATE'S DROPPING," BUREAUCRATS ARE SURMISING,
BUT IN MY OLD HOOD THE SYSTEM'S BLIND TO THE DEATH TOLL RISING.

SCREAMS IF YOU WANT TO, THE ECHOES WILL HAUNT YOU.
HOW CAN YOU TRUST A SYSTEM THAT JUST OPPRESSES AND TAUNTS YOU?
GOT THE POLICE CRUISIN' BY WITH THAT POWER GLEAM IN THEIR EYES:
ANOTHER MAN GONE TO THE PEN; ANOTHER FATHERLESS CHILD CRIES.
THEY PLAYED A 30-SECOND SOUND BYTE ON THE 6 0'CLOCK NEWS;
10 BILLION TO THE MILITARY AND THEY'RE CLOSING DOWN OUR SCHOOLS.

LAST NIGHT, MIDNIGHT, THE POLICE SWORE THEY SAW A KNIFE;
FIVE WARNING SHOTS TO THE CHEST TOOK THE YOUNG BOY'S LIFE.
HE WAS ONLY ELEVEN AND SHOULDN'T HAVE MET THIS DEADLY END;
IN HIS DYING WAS THIS MURDEROUS SLAUGHTER WITH THEIR IGNORANT SMALL TALK,
WHILE HIS POOR MOTHER STARES AND CRIES AT THE CHALK LINES ON THE SIDEWALK.

EYES ARE CLOSED AND BACKS ARE TURNED TO THE PLIGHT OF OUR KIND;
NOW I CAN CLEARLY SEE THE TRUE MEANING OF "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GREAT DIVIDE,
IN THE UPPER CLASS TOWN,
THEY EXCHANGE WHITE WASHED LIES WITH THAT DEATH GLEAMIN THEIR EYES...
WHILE THEY CLAIM...
"THE CRIME RATE'S GOING DOWN..."