I Cry
Millie Jackson Lyrics

Uhm, uuhm, uhuhm; I Cry
Millie Jackson begins the song with a vocalization that indicates she is about to express herself emotionally.

I saw a man lying on the Street
Millie Jackson witnessed a man lying on the street.

I could not figure it out why
She couldn't understand the reason for the man's state.

People walked pass without seeing
People turned a blind eye to the man's condition.

That the man was about to die
The man's life was in danger.

When I called for help, no one came
Despite her efforts to intervene, no one came to assist her.

Because they did not want to get involved
People refused to help because they did not want to become involved.

The problem seemed that no one believed
The issue was that no one believed the situation could be resolved.

The situation can be solved and
The situation is resolvable.

I cry - baby, I cry
Millie expresses her sadness about the situation.

When you try to do for your child
She reflects on the struggles of raising children.

Whatever you can do
Parents often do everything they can to provide for their children.

The problem is you cannot
Despite their best efforts, there are some things they cannot do.

Because you know,
It's a painful realization for parents.

The kids are not smiling to you
Children may not fully appreciate what their parents do for them.

Now, we bring our kids up here
Parents prioritize education for their children.

Because we know that, they need education
Education is essential for children's future success.

They come home and telling us there are no schools
However, there are still challenges and obstacles to overcome.

Because people do not want integration
Discriminatory attitudes and practices prevent access to resources.

We read the news everyday
She reflects on the current events she consumes daily.

You do not think that happens to you
People often think they won't be affected by unfortunate events.

But nobody reads about the blues
However, nobody wants to hear the sad stories.

That heals the things that we go through
Acknowledging and expressing our pain can help us heal.

We did not ask to be on the Welfare
No one wants to be in a situation of dependency on others.

We did not ask to be on the streets
Many people who find themselves homeless did not wish to be so.

Our babies did not ask us to come here
Children born with a difficult upbringing did not ask for it.

But here got to we - Now, I cry; I cannot help but cry
Despite their circumstances, they have to face them head-on and sometimes, like now, it's emotionally overwhelming.

Every morning I cry - why do not you see what is going on - you all?
The situation is frustrating and nobody seems to listen or pay attention.

No - no; I cannot help but cry
Her sadness is overpowering and she can't help but cry.

Why do not you listen what I am saying this evening?
She wishes people would pay attention and listen to what's being said.

Why do not you get yourself together?
People need to take action and contribute to creating a better society.

I cry, no - no; I cry
Millie reiterates her sadness and frustration in the face of difficult situations.