Higher Level
KRS-One Lyrics


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After seven years of rockin'
How do you rate me?
Poorly or greatly?
Everybody seems to be goin' for their's lately
Yo mad heads be needin' money
So listen very close as I conduct this little study
See it's, funny to me, you can watch TV
And give up your life trying to be all you can be
In the Army
Not knowin' your history
You either fight and die or come back home in misery
Yo get with me, I deal with reality
Loosen your mind to the truth, and don't get mad at me
No politician can give you peace
If you trust Jesus, why do you vote for a beast?
Emancipation is long over due
So overcome procrastination
Because freedom is within you
For some reason we think we're free
So we'll never be
Because we haven't recognized slavery
You're still a slave, look at how you behave
Debatin' on where and when and how and what Massa gave
You want to know how we screwed up from the beginning?
We accepted our oppressor's religion
So in the case of slavery it ain't hard
Because it's right in the eyes of THEIR God
Where is our God, the God that represents us?
The God that looks like me, the God that I can trust?
A God of peace and love, not mass hysteria
I don't want a God that blesses America
I could never really vote for the devil
Let me take you to a higher level

Title, take the title from the Bible we can get there
Rip the title from off the front of the Bible, God don't live there
Too many inconsistencies, too many mysteries
Picture the Pope and the Vatican, laughing and drinking and singing and
Kissing me
I stand with God whether I'm paid or whether I'm cryin' broke
I like to ask these politicians would Jesus vote?
The way we view God is a freakin' shame
Church is to blame
We trust God, but bomb Hussein
We simply lovin' the scripture
Same scripture that whipped 'cha
Sooner it'll hit 'cha
Religion's gettin' richer
With that European version of Christ made into a picture
Our society's gettin' sicker, and sicker, and sicker...
Like liquor, we are God-Intoxicated
Not to the true God, but the one the government created
The same governments tellin' people to vote
I pray to God because the people have lost hope
You either vote for the mumps or the measels
Whether you vote for the lesser of two evils, you vote for evil
Politics and God are not equal
But the education if you don't guard, is really lethal
People have more respect for a holy book
Than they do for a cow on a meat hook
Believers of Jesus be denouncing Satan on every level
But every Halloween they're dressin' like devils
I pray to you for the light you might give them
Mother make them know that you're livin' with them
You begin them and end them in silence
Frankly, if they knew you, they would understand violence
I pray to you for the Pope and the Vatican
Have mercy Mother, cause I know that you're mad at them
The White Jesus deceived us awhile ago
And Pope Julius the Second paid Michaelangelo
I know this happened in 1519 yet
This is the image we can't seem to forget




Vote for God, don't vote for the Devil
Let me take you to a higher level

Overall Meaning

In KRS-One's song "Higher Level," the artist reflects on the state of society and the role of religion and politics. He reflects on the fact that many people have given up their lives trying to achieve success and wealth, ultimately becoming slaves to the system. KRS-One believes that true freedom comes from knowledge and self-awareness, and he encourages listeners to loosen their minds to the truth. He questions the idea of politicians being able to provide peace and asks why those who trust in Jesus would vote for a beast. KRS-One sees emancipation as "long overdue," and urges listeners to overcome procrastination and recognize the slavery that still exists in society.


The lyrics also express KRS-One's disappointment in the way people view God, religion, and politics. He doesn't want a God that blesses America or a religion that is getting richer. KRS-One sees a society that is becoming sicker by the day, and he blames it on being God-intoxicated with the government's version of God. He urges listeners to vote for God, not the devil, and to take their thinking to a higher level.


Line by Line Meaning

After seven years of rockin'
After seven years of performing


How do you rate me?
What is your opinion of me?


Poorly or greatly?
Did you enjoy my music or not?


Everybody seems to be goin' for their's lately
Everyone is focused on achieving their own goals right now


Yo mad heads be needin' money
People are desperate for money


So listen very close as I conduct this little study
Pay close attention while I share my observations


See it's, funny to me, you can watch TV
It's amusing to me that you can watch TV


And give up your life trying to be all you can be
And devote your life to trying to reach your potential


In the Army
By enlisting in the military


Not knowin' your history
Without knowing your own culture and heritage


You either fight and die or come back home in misery
You either die in battle or return home traumatized


Yo get with me, I deal with reality
Join me in facing the truth of the situation


Loosen your mind to the truth, and don't get mad at me
Be open minded and don't be angry with me for speaking the truth


No politician can give you peace
Politicians cannot bring true peace


If you trust Jesus, why do you vote for a beast?
If your faith is in Jesus, why do you support evil politicians?


Emancipation is long over due
We should have abolished slavery a long time ago


So overcome procrastination
Don't delay in making change happen


Because freedom is within you
You have the power to be free


For some reason we think we're free
We have a false sense of freedom


So we'll never be
Therefore we will never truly be free


Because we haven't recognized slavery
Because we as a society haven't acknowledged the existence of slavery


You're still a slave, look at how you behave
You are still being controlled, look at how you act


Debatin' on where and when and how and what Massa gave
Arguing over what your oppressor has given you


You want to know how we screwed up from the beginning?
Do you want to know where we made mistakes in the past?


We accepted our oppressor's religion
We adopted the religion of those who oppressed us


So in the case of slavery it ain't hard
So it's easy to see why slavery existed


Because it's right in the eyes of THEIR God
Because they believed in a God who sanctioned slavery


Where is our God, the God that represents us?
Where is the God that reflects us and our values?


The God that looks like me, the God that I can trust?
A God that I can identify with and rely on


A God of peace and love, not mass hysteria
A God of harmony and affection, not of chaos


I don't want a God that blesses America
I don't want a God that favors one country over another


I could never really vote for the devil
I could never support evil politicians


Let me take you to a higher level
Let me help you reach a deeper understanding


Title, take the title from the Bible we can get there
Remove the label from the Bible and we can make progress


Rip the title from off the front of the Bible, God don't live there
Remove the name from the Book and you will see that God is not limited to it


Too many inconsistencies, too many mysteries
The Bible has too many discrepancies and unknowns


Picture the Pope and the Vatican, laughing and drinking and singing and
Imagine the Pope and the Vatican celebrating while the people suffer


Kissing me
Foolishly expecting me to believe their lies


I stand with God whether I'm paid or whether I'm cryin' broke
I remain true to my faith regardless of my financial situation


I like to ask these politicians would Jesus vote?
I often question whether Jesus himself would approve of political candidates


The way we view God is a freakin' shame
The manner in which we conceive of God is disgraceful


Church is to blame
The Church is responsible for perpetuating this view of God


We trust God, but bomb Hussein
We profess faith in God yet engage in disastrous acts of war


We simply lovin' the scripture
We are too focused on the words of the Bible alone


Same scripture that whipped 'cha
The same Bible used to subjugate us


Sooner it'll hit 'cha
You'll soon realize the truth


Religion's gettin' richer
Religion is becoming more prosperous


With that European version of Christ made into a picture
With a European depiction of Jesus, presented as an object of worship


Our society's gettin' sicker, and sicker, and sicker...
Our society is declining rapidly


Like liquor, we are God-Intoxicated
Like alcohol, we are under the influence of God


Not to the true God, but the one the government created
Yet it's not the true God, but the one that the government has designed


The same governments tellin' people to vote
The dichotomy between preaching democracy and executing totalitarianism


I pray to God because the people have lost hope
I pray that people become inspired and have hope again


You either vote for the mumps or the measels
You're choosing between two bad alternatives


Whether you vote for the lesser of two evils, you vote for evil
Even if you choose the better of two evils, you're still supporting wrong


Politics and God are not equal
Politics should not be equated with faith


But the education if you don't guard, is really lethal
If you don't protect your education, the consequences can be deadly


People have more respect for a holy book
People hold a greater reverence for a religious text


Than they do for a cow on a meat hook
Than they do for a slaughtered animal


Believers of Jesus be denouncing Satan on every level
Believers of Jesus condemn Satan at every turn


But every Halloween they're dressin' like devils
Yet every Halloween they're dressing up as depicted villains


I pray to you for the light you might give them
Grant them enlightenment and wisdom, I pray to you


Mother make them know that you're livin' with them
Let them know that you are always present


You begin them and end them in silence
You give us birth and take us away in quietness


Frankly, if they knew you, they would understand violence
In reality, those who truly knew you would comprehend the justification for violent acts


I pray to you for the Pope and the Vatican
I beseech you to bless the Pope and the Vatican


Have mercy Mother, cause I know that you're mad at them
Show them compassion, even though I know you are angry with them


The White Jesus deceived us awhile ago
The concept of a Caucasian Jesus has long misled us


And Pope Julius the Second paid Michaelangelo
And Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to create art for him


I know this happened in 1519 yet
Although this occurred in 1519, it still affects us now


This is the image we can't seem to forget
This image is deeply ingrained in our minds


Vote for God, don't vote for the Devil
Choose good over evil, choose God


Let me take you to a higher level
Let me guide you to a more profound understanding




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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