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michael friedman - the ballad of mingus rude lyrics

[mingus]
this is the story of mingus rude
this is the story of what happened to mingus rude
this is the story of what really happened to mingus rude
after he shot his granddad
shot his granddad
and went to jail
[ensemble women]
rich man, poor man, bad man, good
who will save the neighborhood?
big man, little man, who you gonna be?
will you ever sing…

[mingus]
play that music
play that music
play that music [ensemble men]
ba dums…

ba dums…

now this is a story of a boy you know
who’s been in and out of jail four times or so
for different offenses from the bottom to the top
since the time he shot his grandpop
stop, stop, stop, stop

what do you do
with no mingus to protect you
what do you do
with no mingus to protect you
what do you do

first stop: spofford prison, learner’s prison, baby prison
13 year old kids who were dealing smack
14 year old transvest-tes who would shiv you in the back
12 year old kids who took kids and beat them dead
one k!ller said he heard “bugs bunny in my head”

[mingus and ensemble]
i’m running
running, running

[mingus]
but i can’t get away

[mingus and ensemble]
running
running, running

[mingus]
but i can’t get away

step 2: rikers, where you grow up fast
forget the past, figure out how you can last
you better get yourself a reputation as a hard case
lift weights, keep pace, harden your face
tim that past is erased, effaced, that sp-ce is replaced
when you get in, check jewish and get matzoh for holidays
share it with the nation of islam for protection
a fake black jew sharing bread with the muslims

[ensemble]
lawyer, muslim, player, pimp
latin king, crip, blood, hood, and wimp
watches, jewelry, cigarettes, drugs
haircuts, f-ggots, dealers, and thugs

[mingus]
you all think you’re working the system
but the system is working you

[ensemble]
can you see the light

[mingus]
it’s blinding

[mingus and ensemble]
can you see the light

[mingus]
oh, it’s blinding

[mingus and ensemble]
i’m running
running, running

[mingus]
but i can’t get away

[mingus and ensemble]
running
running, running

[mingus]
next stop: elmira
boys’ prison
the you ain’t seen nothing yet prison
you better get pumped up quickly prison
or you won’t make it

and the flying
flying is for the sky
and in elmira there is no sky
no sky
so why think about it at all

now dose is making his mark for those
who can protect him
they say
“draw me something sweet for my girl
’cause dose knows what girls like”
trading his art
to be smart
to survive
until his mark is just a way to stay alive

and it feels like i could be superman
i could come and save you
if only
if only
if only
what do you do with n-body to protect you
what do you do with n-body to protect you [ensemble]
oohs…

step 4: you get out and smith street is changing
to bistros and botanicas and baby stores
all your tags and burners no more
you don’t belong here no more
in a m-ssacre
your run is done
everything stops
you’re pulled over by cops

[ensemble]
hey you

[mingus]
is that an open beer?

[ensemble]
hey you
[mingus]
do you live around here?
miss parole call
make your tag on a wall
is that a spray paint can?
is that a joint in your hand?
you’re a guilty man
without a doubt
because now it’s just [ensemble]

hey you!

[mingus & ensemble]
3 strikes, you’re out
i’m running
running, running

[mingus]
but i can’t get away

[mingus & ensemble]
running
running, running

[ensemble]
but i can’t get away

[mingus]
d-man
where are you?
d-man
where are you?
[mingus]
step 5: watertown prison
learn to be invisible
learn to be invisible
learn to be invisible
like the show, barely visible
you’ll see what evil lurks
inside
what do you do
with n-body to protect you
what do you do
with n-body to protect you [prisoners]

learn to be invisible
learn to be invisible
learn to be invisible

oohs…

[robert]
you know my name, read it off the liner notes
you know my name, p-ssy rappers with v-g-n- throats
you know my name, same as my mother gave me
my name is my fame, but my mother couldn’t save me
n-body handing me a microphone
n-body telling me i deserve a sing of my own
never gonna fly
never gonna kiss the sky
never gonna be king
n-body kissing my ring
why did n-body ever give me anything
you know my name
[mingus]
can you see the light
it’s blinding

can you see the light
oh, it’s blinding [ensemble]
can you see the light

can you see the light [robert]
will you remember me
somebody’s got to remember me
somebody’s got to protect me
remember me please

[mingus]
what do you do with n-body to protect you
what do you do with n-body to
with n-body
n-body
n-body
[mingus]
i’m running, running, running
but i can’t get away
running
but i can’t get away
play that music
play that music
til you die
til you die
til you die
til you die
play that music
play that music
til you die
til you die
til you die
til you die
til you [ensemble]
i’m running, running, running

running, running, running
play that music
play that music
play that music
til you die
til you die
til you die
til you die
play that music
play that music
til you die
til you die
til you die
til you die
til you

- michael friedman lyrics

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