[Verse 1: Gil Scott-Heron]
In my lifetime, I've been in towns
Where there was no freedom or future around
I've been in places where you could not eat
Or take a drink of water wherever you pleased
And now that I meet you in the middle of a mountain
Well, I'm reaching on out from within
And all I can think of are chapters and scenes of
All of the places we've been

[Verse 2: Gil Scott-Heron]
I'm not such an old man, so don't get me wrong
I'm the latest survivor of the constantly strong
I've been to Mississippi and down city streets
I've seen days of plenty and nights with nothing to eat
But I'm not too happy 'bout the middle of a mountain, so
Soon I'll be climbing again
‘Cause all I can think of are chapters and scenes of
All of the places we've been

[Verse 3: Gil Scott-Heron]
Raised up in a small town in the country down south
So I've been close enough to know what oppression's about
Placed on this mountain with a rare chance to see
Dreams once envisioned by folks much braver than me
And since their lives got me to the middle of a mountain
Well, I can't stop and give up on them
‘Cause their lights that shine on inspire me to climb on
From all of the places we've been
From all of the places we've been
From all of the places we’ve...
Been a lot of places, yeah
From all of the places we've been
Been down, been down, been down a lot of roads and places
All of the places, from all of the, all of the, all of the, all of the places we’ve
Been down, been down, been down a lot of roads, yeah, together
Together