We don't have to try hard dick to be authentic We treat our folks respectfully in our community We don't want anybody to be hurt or mistreated And we don't need to see the guns in the streets We don't need to see the guns in the streets We have a funny way of speakin' amongst our friends and family Tellin' tall tales and bad jokes and stretchin' old stories Still singing old protest songs and praying for peace After justice, why are we not all free to breathe? We don't have to try hard dick to be authentic We treat our folks respectfully in our community We don't want anybody to be hurt and mistreated And we don't need to see the guns in the streets And we don't need to see the guns in the streets All you hateful people, take yourself back home All you kindhearted people, you're not alone The old school guitar players took me under they wing Stompin' feet on front porches all night, we'd play and sing Now I'm nearly as old as the old timers were then Time to befriend the young players and do it again (Yeah) [Chorus] We don't have to try hard dick to be authentic We be funky naturally in our community We don't want anybody to be hurt and mistreated We don't need to see the guns in the streets On the American tree of musical roots Each branch bears a different fruit Music runs in the blood of our family In music and love is what I believe In music and love is what I believe all you hateful people, take yourselves back home All you kindhearted people, you're not alone We ain't got to try hard dick to be authentic We treat our folks respectfully in our community We don't want anybody to be hurt or mistreated And we don't need to see the guns in the streets We don't need to see the guns, the guns in the streets We don't need to see the guns, the guns in the streets Nobody needs to see the guns, the guns in the street