my knuckles all bruised up from knocking on heaven's door
my body still aching from sleeping on cement floors
i was taught to be non-violent when i'm at war
but it's so hard to move in silence when the lions roar
cuz i was born in shackles
you lift me up when i was down
lift me up when all of y'all were against me
now you'd come back to scarlet
a fight and i fight and i fight until i can't no more
you see these whips and these chains around my neck just might be my flaw
but these whips on my back represent what i endured
cuz i was born in shackles
you lift me up when i was down
lift me up when all of y'all were against me
now you'd come back to scarlet
and i will never surrender
and i will never surrender
you lift me up when i was down
lift me up when all of y'all were against me
now you'd come back to scarlet