Chuck D's Intro:

It ain't nothin but an us thang

And it's time for us to step it up and respect

That level of sisterhood

That's been holding up our neighborhood

And if it wasn't for our mothers

There would be no brothers

And if it wasn't for our sisters

There would be no misters

So it ain't nothin but a us thang

She's strong and that's a fact

Now it's time for us to take up the slack

Step it up, step it up, time to go to work



History hidden from me

To hide my identity

So I'd never feel

I am somebody



You've gouged my eyes

I see more clearly

You've tried to rob

My humanity



My spirit you tried to break

My soul you tried to take

There's no need to be afraid

Cause I won't do unto you now



CHORUS:



Amen

All that we've been through

Our time has come to rejoice

A new agenda's due

Amen

It's time to know the truth

Our time has come to rejoice

A new agenda's due



(no no)

Because of my gender

(no)

I've heard no too many times

Because of my race

I've heard no too many times

But with every no

I grow in strenght

That is why

African-American woman

I stand tall with pride



You want to know what it takes

To rid yourself of me now

There's nothing you can do

Accept me for who I am now



CHORUS



Chuck D's Rap:

Time to step it up, step it up

Better check yourself

I get vexed to protect what we got

Left her alone

Lookin for your own

Here it is I know what I'm sayin

But the klan ain't playin at the range -acap