A bunch of revolutionary manumission abolitionists
A colony that runs independently
An endless cycle of vengeance and death with no defendants?
And I am not throwin' away my shot
And I am not throwin' away my shot (my shot)
And I am not throwin' away my, not throwin' away my shot
And I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis
And I'm not throwin' away my shot [1]
And I'm not throwin' away my shot [2]
And I'm not throwin' away my shot [3]
And I'm not throwin' away my shot [4]
And I'm not throwin' away my shot [5]
And I'm not throwin' away my shot [6]
And if we win our independence?
Are we a nation of states? What's the state of our nation?
Ask anybody why we livin' fast, and we laugh, reach for a flask
Ayo, I'm just like my country [1]
Ayo, I'm just like my country [2]
Ayo, I'm just like my country [3]
Ayo, I'm just like my country [4]
Ayo, it's time to take a shot, time to take a shot (whoa, whoa)
Burr, check what we've got
But damn, it's getting dark, so let me spell out the name
But Jesus, between all the bleedin' and fightin'
Don't be shocked when your history book mentions me
Eh, but we'll never be truly free
Enter me (he says in parentheses)
Essentially, they tax us relentlessly
Eventually, you'll my ascendancy
Every action's an act of creation
Every burden, every disadvantage I have learned to manage
Everybody sing! Whoa, whoa, whoa
Foes oppose us, we take an honest stand
For the first time, I'm thinkin' past tomorrow
Geniuses, lower your voices
Give me a position, show me where the ammunition is
Have another shot
He ain't never gonna set his descendants free
Hey, whoa (whoo), whoa
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country [1]
Hey, yo, I'm just like my country [2]
I am not throwin' away my shot (shot)
I am not throwin' away my shot [1]
I am not throwin' away my shot [2]
I am not throwin' away my shot [3]
I am not throwin' away my shot [4]
I am not throwin' away my shot [5]
I am not throwin' away my shot [6]
I am not throwin' away my shot [7]
I am not throwin' away my shot [8]
I am not throwin' away my shot [9]
I am the A-L-E-X-A-N-D-E-R
I don't have a gun to brandish, I walk these streets famished (whoo)
I dream of life without a monarchy
I gotta holler just to be heard
I imagine death so much, it feels more like a memory
I know the action in the street is excitin'
I never had a group of friends before
I probably shouldn't brag, my dang, I amaze and astonish
I promise that I'll make y'all prowd
I think your pants look hot, Laurens, I like you a lot
I will lay down my life if it sets us free
I'm a diamond in the rough, a shiny piece of coal
I'm gonna take a shot
I'm joining the rebellion, 'cause I know it's my chance to socially advance
I'm laughing in the face of casualties and sorrow
I'm passionately smashin' every expectation
I'm past patiently waitin'
I'm with you, but the situation is fraught
I'm young, scrappy, and hungry [1]
I'm young, scrappy, and hungry [2]
I'm young, scrappy, and hungry [3]
I'm young, scrappy, and hungry [4]
I'm young, scrappy, and hungry [5]
I'm young, scrappy, and hungry [6]
I'ma get a scholarship to King's College
I've been readin' and writin'
If I see it comin' do I run, or do I let it be?
If you talk, you're gonna get shot
Instead of sewing some pants (whoo)
Is it like a beat without a melody?
Is that a guarantee of freedom for our descendants?
It's time to take a shot
Let's get this guy in front of a crowd
Let's hatch a plot blacker than the kettle callin' the pot
Meanwhile, Britain keeps shittin' on us endlessly
Mr. Lafayette, hard rock like Lancelot
Oh, am I talkin' too loud?
On-archy? How you say? How you - oh, anarchy!
Only 19, but my mind is older
Or will the blood we shed begin
Poppin' a squat on conventional wisdom, like it or not
Rise up
Rise up, rise up (it's time to take a shot)
Rise up, take a shot, shot, shot (whoa)
Rise up, when you're living on your knees, you rise up
Rise up, whoa (it's time to take a shot)
Said let 'em hear ya! Let's go! (Yeah)
Scratch that, this is not a movement, it's the movement
See, I never thought I'd live past 20
So there will be a revolution in this century
Sometimes I get overexcited, shoot off at the mouth
Tell your brother that he's gotta rise up
Tell your sister that she's gotta rise up
The plan is to fan this spark into a flame
The problem is, I got a lot of brains, but no polish
The unrest in France will lead to on-archy
Then King George turns around, runs a spendin' spree
These New York City streets get colder, I shoulder
Tryna reach my goal, my power of speech, unimpeachable
Until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me (that's right)
Wait till I sally in on a stallion with the first black battalion
We are meant to be
We have to make this moment last, that's plenty
We need to handle our financial situation
We roll like Moses, claimin' our promised land
We're gonna rise up, rise up (it's time to take a shot)
We're gonna rise up, time to take a shot (I am not throwin' away my shot) [1]
We're gonna rise up, time to take a shot (I am not throwin' away my shot) [2]
What are the odds the gods would put us all in one spot?
When are these colonies gonna rise up?
When are these colonies gonna rise up? (Whoa) [1]
When are these colonies gonna rise up? (Whoa) [2]
When are these colonies gonna rise up? (Whoa) [3]
When I fight, I make the other side panicky with my shot
When's it gonna get me? In my sleep? Seven feet ahead of me?
Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went?
Where I come from, some get half as many
Whoa (oh, come one), yeah (come on, let's go)
Whoa (said to the rooftops)
Whoa, whoa, whoa (I said shout it to the rooftops)
With every word I drop knowledge
Yo, I'm a tailor's apprentice
You and I, do or die (whoo, whoo!)
You keep out of trouble and you double your choices
You've got to be carefully taught