Which Side Are You On? Lyrics

Verse 1:
Who let the torch passed fall in the tall grass?
Fire alarm wire's disarmed, what do you call that?
Call it predictable political cliche
So when the movie ends, the revolution's dead. Replay
the sequence of events that led to these deep divisions;
I've realized that all the wrong people are in prison.
The children wanna know if I believe in the Reptilians!
I tell em ‘I don't know' but on the TV I see lizards.
When action was in fashion you were such an easy mimic!
Bumpersticker quote lifting, crib note statistics,
Grasp for the straw man, born again cynics
Fair-weather firebrand; spark my suspicion.
We knew you were the type to take the fight like a gimmick,
and rock the t-shirt when your sweat wasn't in it.
The clock is still ticking for the victim of the future,
You're waiting til' they look like you to ever choose but–
Chorus:
Which Side Are You On?
Which Side Are You On?
(Damn)
Which Side Are You On?
(Ask the Industry.)
Which Side Are You On?
(Ask an Emcee.)
Verse 2:
Who wrote the greatest lines of our generation,
but couldn't get from under their own small-minded hate trip?
The same rappers say they're trooping the frontlines,
and casually use the word ‘Faggot' as a punchline.
That's not a man, that's not a tough guy.
That is a sucker and a fraud to the culture!
Hip Hop is folk music grown from the struggle and
half these fools could put the mic down and run as a Republican.
Fuck ‘em then; they learn from their own wrong.
Homophobes don't go to my shows, we too strong!
And if you're in the front row, harassing girls during a song
I will reach and ask you exactly–
Chorus:
Which Side Are You On?
Which Side Are You On?
Verse 3:
I'm on the side of poor people getting organized;
I'm on the side of Choice where it is in short supply;
I'm on the side of those the system doesn't authorize;
L-G-B-T We are on the side of Pride,
Justice and Equality;
Egypt to Wisconsin when they march against the Policy;
If you bringing down a King I'm on your side probably.
Kids'll give me shit for this it really doesn't bother me.
They were not around when we were wrestling with poverty.
So I follow none and ask no-one to follow me
Use your own mind, use your heart and your anger
Check yourself because Apathy is a cancer
And let your action be the answer.
Chorus
Which Side Are You On?
(Ask your government)
Which Side Are You On?
(Ask your media)
Which Side Are You On?
(Ask yourself)
Which Side Are You On?
Sample:
Don't scab for the bosses,
Don't listen to their lies.
Us poor folks haven't got a chance
Unless we organize.