Black Star — Thieves in the Night

[Intro: Talib Kweli & Mos Def] Yo D, what? Come on, yeah What? What? Come on, yeah [Verse 1: Talib Kweli & Both] "Give me the fortune, keep the fame" said my man Louis, I Agreed, know what he mean because we live the truest lie I asked him why we follow the law of the bluest eye He looked at me, he thought about it, was like, "I'm clueless, why?" The question was rhetorical, the answer is horrible Our morals are out of place and got our lives full of sorrow And so, tomorrow comin' later than usual Waitin' on someone to pity us While we find the beauty in the hideous They say money's the root of all evil, but I can't tell You know what I mean? — Pesos, francs, yens, cowrie shells Dollar bills, or is it the mind-state that's ill? Creatin' crime rates to fill the new prisons they build Over money and religion, there's more blood to spill The wounds of slaves in cotton fields that never heal What's the deal? A lot of cats who buy records are straight broke But my language universal, they be recitin' my quotes While R&B singers hit bad notes, we rock the boat of thought That my man Louis' statements just provoked Caught up in conversations of our personal worth Brought up through endangered species status on the planet Earth Survival tactics means bustin' gats to prove you hard Your firearms are too short to box with God Without faith, all of that is illusionary Raise my son — no vindication of manhood necessary [Chorus: Mos Def, Talib Kweli & Both] Not strong, only aggressive Not free, we only licensed Not compassionate, only polite Now, who the nicest? Not good, but well behaved Chasin' after death so we can call ourselves brave? Still livin' like mental slaves Hidin' like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice Hidin' like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice [Verse 2: Mos Def & Both] Yo, I'm sure that everybody out listenin' agree That everythin' you see ain't really how it be A lot of jokers out runnin' in place, chasin' the style Be a lot goin' on beneath the empty smile Most cats in my area be lovin' the hysteria Synthesized surface conceals the interior America — land of opportunity, mirages and camouflages More than usually Speakin' loudly, sayin' nothin', you confusin' me, you losin' me Your game is twisted, want me enlisted in your usury Foolishly, most men join the ranks cluelessly Buffoonishly accept the deception, believe the perception Reflection rarely seen across the surface of the looking glass Walkin' the street, wonderin' who they be lookin' past Lookin' gassed with them imported designer shades on Stars shine bright, but the light rarely stays on Same song — just remixed, different arrangement Put you on a yacht, but they won't call it the slave ship Strangeness, you don't control us, you barely hold this Screamin' "Brand new!", when they just sanitized the old shit Suppose it's just another clever Jedi mind trick That they been runnin' across stars through all the time with I find it's distressin', there's never no in-between We either niggas or Kings, we either bitches or Queens The deadly ritual seems immersed in the perverse Full of short attention spans, short tempers and short skirts Long barrel automatics released in short bursts The length of black life is treated with short worth Get yours first, them other niggas secondary That type of illin' that be fillin' up the cemetery This life is temporary, but the soul is eternal Separate the real from the lie — let me learn you Not strong, only aggressive 'cause the power ain't directed That's why we are subjected to the will of the oppressive Not free — we only licensed, not live — we just excitin' 'Cause the captors own the masters to what we writin' Not compassionate, only polite — we well trained Our sincerity's rehearsed in stage, it's just a game Not good, but well behaved, 'cause the cameras survey Most of the things that we think, do or say We chasin' after death just to call ourselves brave But everyday, next man meet with the grave I give a damn if any fan recall my legacy I'm tryin' to live life in the sight of God's memory Like that, y'all [Interlude: Mos Def & Talib Kweli] A lot of people don't understand the true criterion of things Can't just accept the appearance, have to get the true essence They ain't lookin' around [Chorus: Talib Kweli, Mos Def, & Both] Not strong, only aggressive Not free, we only licensed Not compassionate, only polite Now, who the nicest? Not good, but well behaved Chasin' after death so we can call ourselves brave Still livin' like mental slaves Hidin' like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice Hidin' like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice Hidin' like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice Hidin' like thieves in the night from life Illusions of oasis makin' you look twice [Outro: Mos Def & Talib Kweli] Stop hidin', stop hidin' Stop hidin' yo' face (Yes, c'mon) Stop hidin', stop hidin' (Celebratin' death) 'Cause ain't no hidin' place Stop hidin', stop hidin' Stop hidin' yo' face Stop hidin', stop hidin' 'cause ain't no hidin' place Not strong Not free Not compassionate We well trained Black Star (Ad libs to fade) Black Star keep shinin' We take the Black Star line right on home