By Mydra L. Kelly
(Contact Mydra at mlkmskelly@gmail.com)
Help me, I can’t breathe
Officer please get your knee off my neck, I can’t breathe
Why do you hate me so? I can’t breathe
I’m a man just like you, stop holding me down, I can’t breathe
I am not going anywhere, I can’t breathe
Doesn’t anybody care? I can’t breathe
Can you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth? I can’t breathe
Systems please, I can’t breathe
Mr. Please, I can’t breathe
Can I not live in fear that my son or daughter may not come home just one day? I can’t breathe
Mamma I did not do anything, I promise, I can’t breathe
Daddy, why do people hate us so, I can’t breathe
Brother there must be a better way, I can’t breathe
Pastors are you taking time to pray, I can’t breathe
Mr. President, I am not a hoodlum, I am a woman, I am a man, I can’t breathe
Does anybody understand? I can’t breathe
For God sake I’m only seventeen! I can’t breathe
Grandma, you said if I just did the right thing and trusted God, but I can’t breathe
Why has my journey been so hard? I can’t breathe
I got my education, finished high school, and went to college, I have intellect and knowledge, but I can’t breathe
Man, I got three degrees, including a masters and a PhD, and I still can’t breathe
I make six figures, and I drive a BMW, but I can’t breathe
I got an Emmy, Grammy, and Oscar, but I can’t breathe
I’m snug away in the Hollywood hills, but I can’t breathe
Mommy, why is my daddy in jail? I can’t breathe
Brother how come this world feels like hell, I can’t breathe
I moved uptown, and I can’t breathe
I stay downtown, and I can’t breathe
I moved out of town, and I can’t breathe
God, I did no crime and I’m still sitting in this cell doing time, I can’t breathe
They cheer for me on the court, on the track and on the field, but I can’t breathe
When I sing the room goes silent and everybody feels, but I can’t breathe
I even made it to the palace, but I can’t breathe
I entertain them but this is for real, I can’t breathe
I treat their illnesses and try their cases, but I can’t breathe
Will I ever heal? Is anybody real? I can’t breathe
Lord, I am so tired, I can’t breathe...
I got hired and then got fired, would you please take your knee from off my neck, I can’t breathe
Can I get just a little bit of respect, I can’t breathe
I built this mug, but I get no love, I can’t breathe
I fight on the frontline in war time holding the American flag, but I can’t breathe
I’m on the force and I made captain too, but I can’t breathe
My uniform is blue, but because my face is another hue, I can’t breathe
I have been the HNIC, leading the country, but I can’t breathe
I OWN my own network, studio, and all my royalties, but I can’t breathe
I got Jesus and paper, but I am still not free, I can’t breathe
Brothers please, please stop killing me, I can’t breathe
Drug dealers please set me free, I can’t breathe
This happened fifty years ago, five months ago, two weeks ago, three days ago, just a minute ago and I still can’t breathe
Mama, please, I can’t breathe!
AIDS, Hypertension, and diabetes I can’t breathe
Exxon please, I can’t breathe
Cancer and COVID-19, I can’t breathe
Baby please, I can’t breathe
Boss please, take your knee off my neck, I can’t breathe
Mr. Governor I don’t get a welfare check, I can’t breathe
Sista, don’t you see, Brother please help me, I can’t breathe
White woman, Asian woman, Latino woman, where are you? I’m your son and daughter too, I can’t breathe
Mama please, I can’t breathe
Black People please, I can’t breathe
Dr. King, I can’t breathe
Mr. Policeman please, I can’t breathe!
I am a human being, I can’t breathe
White people please, I can’t breathe
Ancestors please, I can’t breathe
Church people please, I can’t breathe
America please, I can’t breathe
All over the world, little black boys and girls are crying, help me
Lord, please, I can’t breathe
God it’s not just George Floyd, but it’s me
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe
I can’t breathe...
All Rights Reserved © 2020 8 Minutes 46 Seconds
(Contact Mydra at mlkmskelly@gmail.com)