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8 Minutes 46 Seconds


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)

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