[Intro: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
I get down to what it is
And if it ain't funky (Yeah), see ya
People askin' me what's goin' on in my mind (Hey)
Wait a minute
The true worth of a race
Must be measured by the character of its woman

[Verse 1: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
Just a matter of race
'Cause a Black male's in their face
Step back for the new jack swing
On the platter, scatter, huh
(We got our own thing)
Yes, just jam, let the rhythm run (Boy)
Day to day, America eats its young
And defeats our women
There is a gap so wide, we all can swim in
Drown in, uh, get down and get it
Got it goin' on with it
Sister (Hey), soul sister, we gon' be all right
It takes a man to take a stand
Understand it takes a woman to make a stronger man
As we both get strong
They'll call me a crazy Asiatic while I'm singin' a song
Oh my God, oh my Lord, I can't hold back
So I get exact on a track
It's an eye for eye, tooth for tooth
Forget about me, just set my sister free, huh
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
My sister's not my enemy
'Cause we'll be stronger together to make 'em all say, "Damn"
(This generation)
[Verse 2: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
They don't know what we got goin' is sound
To turn it all around
To my sisters, I communicate with the bass and tone
Through speakers and the microphone
'Cause I'm tired of America dissin' my sisters (Yeah)
For example, like they dissed Tawana
And they try to say that she's a liar
My people don't believe it, but even now, they're getting higher (Uh)
Off the feeling, inspiration
We must know that in this nation
Every single generation
They teach us how to diss our sisters
Strange as you say, I say revolution
Need for change brings a revolution
The great book, look, see solution
God chooses what and who for the bruisin' (What, man, what?)
There's been no justice for none of my sisters
Just us been the one that's been missin' her
Now we got to protect to get together and damn
(This generation)

[Pre-Chorus: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
I said so to what it is, where it is
She needs a lil' respect (There it is)
I would say she needs a lotta
Brother from a mother like me has gotta
Give it up (Give it now)
And pass it all around (Hey), to my soul sister
[Interlude: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
Come on (Thank you, baby, huh)
(Hey), soul sister (Hey, huh)
Sister (Hey), soul sister (Hey, huh)
Hey
I'm comin'
(Hey), soul sister
(Hey), soul sister
Yeah
Let's go

[Verse 3: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
They disrespected mama and treated her like dirt
America took her, reshaped her, raped her
No, it never made the paper
Beat us, mated us
Made us attack our woman in black
So I said sophisticated B (Don't be one)
Not to heed the warning, crack of dawn
Or is it the dawn of crack? Uh-oh
Stop the talk, they say, but we talk and say what's right or wrong
Some say we wastin' time singin' a song
But why is it that we're many different shades?
Black woman's privacy invaded years and years
You cannot count my mama's tears
It's not the past, the future's what she fears
Strong, we be strong, the next generation
It's not what, who we're facin'
The fingers pointed to us in our direction
The blind state of mind needs correction
Word to the mother, we tighten connection
To be a man, you need no election
This generation generates a new attitude (Yeah)
Sister, to you, we should not be rude (Uh)
So we come together, make 'em all say, "Damn"
(This generation)
[Interlude: Chuck D & Flavor Flav]
Oh, huh
Come on
Ayy, oh, oh
Hey
Thank you, baby

[Outro]
I know that this country
I know they try to divide
But it's a prop, it's a trick
We are not in competition together
Don't get caught up in this mess
Black woman took care of her children as if she took care of white woman's children
She can't take care of them together
How can we get caught up in this mess?
"Well, I wouldn't go to that emotion
But they gave it to the Black woman
They're putting the Black man down"
Yes, they're putting the Black man down, but it's not the Black woman
And if it is the Black woman, then we take them to the 'splainin' room
Because we are all in the family
We don't need to let folks from outside who don't care about you, who don't care about me
Who don't care about your children, who don't care about your mama, who don't care about your grandparents
Don't let them solve your problems
Mary McLeod Bethune said the true worth of a race
Must be measured by the character of its woman