[Verse 1: Ceelo Green & Stephen Marley]
The dark-brown shade of my skin
Only adds colour to my tears
That splash against my hollow bones
That rocks my soul
Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew
Wondering why all my dreams never came true
Ooh! Is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me, what can I do
Oh something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?

[Verse 2: Anthony Hamilton & Black Thought]
In this world of no pity
I was raised in the ghetto city
You said, Momma, she worked so hard
To earn every penny
Oh Lord, something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
Like a child stealing his first piece of candy, and get caught
Thieving around life's corner somewhere I got lost
Oh, something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me what can I do
Will I survive, or will I die?
Oh it keeps on holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
[Verse 3: Syleena Johnson]
The dark-brown shade of my skin
Only adds colour to my tears
That splash against my hollow bone
That rocks my soul, oh Lord!
Looking back at my false dreams that I once knew
Wondering why all my dreams never came true
Is it because I'm black?
Somebody tell me, what can I do?
Oh something's holding me back
Is it because I'm black?

[Outro: Ceelo Green, Stephen Marley, Black Thought, Anthony Hamilton]
Oh something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Oh something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Oh something's holding me back
I wonder, is it because I'm black?

Oh it keeps on holding me back
Is it because I'm black?