The Prisoner - Gil Scott-Heron

Here I am after so many years
Hounded by hatred and trapped by fear
I'm in a box I've got no place to go
If I follow my mind I know I'll slaughter my own
Help me I'm the prisoner won't you hear my plea
I need somebody yeah to listen to me
I beg you brothers and sisters
I'm counting on you yeah
Black babies in the womb are shackled and bound
Chained by the caveman who keeps beauty down
Smacked on the a** when they're squalling and wet
Heir to a spineless man who never forgets
Never forgets that he's a prisoner can't you hear my plea
'Cause I need somebody Lord knows to listen to me
I'm a stranger to my son
Who wonders why his daddy runs yeah
On my way to work in the morning
When I don't give a d**n
Can't nobody can't nobody
Can't nobody can't nobody see just who in hell I am
Hemmed in by a suit yes all choked up in a tie
Ain't no wonder some times near morning I hear my woman cry
She knows her man is a prisoner won't you hear my plea
Yeah 'cause I need somebody to listen to me
My woman she don't say but she hates
To see her man chained this way yeah
Help me I'm the prisoner
Yeah yeah yeah yeah I'm the prisoner