1989 the number, another summer (Get down) Sound of the funky drummer Music hittin' your heart 'cause I know you got soul Brothers and sisters Listen if you're missin', y'all Swingin' while I'm singin' (Hey), givin' what you're gettin' Knowin' what I know and while the Black band's sweatin' And the rhythm-rhyme's rollin' Got to give us what we want (Uh) Got to give us what we need (Hey) Our freedom of speech is freedom of death We've got to fight the powers that be Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power We've got to fight the powers that be As the rhythm designed to bounce, what counts Is that the rhyme's designed to fill your mind Now that you've realized the pride's arrived We got to pump the stuff to make us tough From the heart, it's a start, a work of art To revolutionize, make a change, nothing's strange People, people, we are the same No, we're not the same 'cause we don't know the game What we need is awareness, we can't get careless You say, "What is this?" My beloved, let's get down to business, mental self-defensive fitness Bum-rush the show You got to go for what you know To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power In order to fight the powers that be Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power Fight the power In order to fight the powers that be Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me You see, straight-out racist, that sucker was simple and plain Motherfuck him and John Wayne I'm ready, I'm hyped, plus, I'm amped Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps Sample a look back, you look and find nothing But rednecks for four hundred years if you check "Don't Worry Be Happy" was a number-one jam Damn, if I say it, you can slap me right here Get it, let's get this party started right Right on, come on What we got to say? Power to the people, no delay To make everybody see In order to fight the powers that be Fight the power