Avalanche
New Power Generation/Prince Lyrics

He was not or never had been in favor
He did not support or approve of the cause

Of setting are people free
Of granting freedom to our people so that we could have equal rights and opportunities

If it wasn't for the thirteenth Amendment
If the thirteenth amendment to the constitution had not been passed

We woulda been born in slavery
We would have been born and raised as slaves, deprived of our basic human rights

He was not or never had been in favor
He did not support or approve of the cause

Of letting us vote so you see...
Of granting us the right to vote

Abraham Lincoln was a racist who said
Abraham Lincoln, who was considered a hero and champion for the abolition of slavery, made prejudiced comments

"You cannot escape from history"
A phrase uttered by Lincoln, indicating that history cannot be forgotten or erased, rather everyone is responsible for their actions

Like the snow comin' down the mountain
An analogy to describe the impact of events that are initially small but grow rapidly like a snowball

That landed on Wounded Knee
Refers to the Wounded Knee massacre, a tragic event in American history in which hundreds of unarmed Native Americans were killed by the US Army

Nobody wants to take the weight
No one wants to take responsibility

The responsibility
The accountability or the burden of taking action

Hear the joyous sound of freedom
The celebratory sound of liberation

The Harlem Renaissance
A notable cultural movement during the 1920s that celebrated the artistic, literary, and intellectual contributions of African Americans

Hear Duke Ellington and his band
Listen to the music of Duke Ellington and his band, a prominent group during the Harlem Renaissance

Kick another jungle jam
Play another upbeat, lively tune

Ooh, do you wanna dance?
A playful and enthusiastic invitation to dance

Who's that lurking in the shadows?
Who is that person hiding or waiting unnoticed?

Mr. John Hammond with his pen in hand...
John Hammond, a record producer and talent scout, ready to sign musical artists to his record label

Sayin' "Sign you're kingdom over to me
Asking the artist to sign with his label

And be known throughout the land!"
Promising to promote the artist's music across the country

But, you ain't got no money, you ain't got no cash
Refers to the financial struggles artists often face

So you sign yo name and he claims innocence
Describes the music industry's history of exploiting artists by offering them unfavorable deals and contracts

Just like every snowflake in an avalanche...
Similar to how each snowflake contributes to an avalanche, every person's actions and decisions can contribute to larger societal issues

Like the snow comin' down the mountain
Repetition of the previous analogy to emphasize the idea that events can have a snowball effect

That landed on Wounded Knee
Reiteration of the previous meaning of the phrase

Nobody wants to take the weight
Reiteration of the previous meaning of the phrase

The responsibility
Reiteration of the previous meaning of the phrase