"Fight the Power" incorporates various samples and allusions to African-American culture, including civil rights exhortations, black church services, and the music of James Brown.
As a single, "Fight the Power" reached number one on Hot Rap Singles and number 20 on the Hot R&B Singles. It was named the best single of 1989 by The Village Voice in their Pazz & Jop critics' poll. It has become Public Enemy's best-known song and has received accolades as one of the greatest songs of all time by critics and publications. In 2001, the song was ranked number 288 in the "Songs of the Century" list compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2021, the song was ranked number two in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All-Time list.
Fight the Power
Public Enemy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Best prepared troops refuse to fight
As a matter of fact, it's safe to say
That they would rather switch than fight
1989 the number, another summer (get down)
Sound of the funky drummer
Music hitting your heart 'cause I know you got soul
Listen if you're missing y'all
Swinging while I'm singing (hey)
Giving whatcha getting
Knowing what I know in
While the Black bands sweatin'
And the rhythm rhyme rollin'
Got to give us what we want (uh)
Gotta give us what we need (hey)
Our freedom of speech is freedom of death
We got to fight the powers that be
(Lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
We've got to fight the powers that be
As the rhythm's designed to bounce
What counts is that the rhymes
Designed to fill your mind
Now that you've realized the pride's arrived
We got to pump the stuff to make ya tough
From the heart
It's a start, a work of art
To revolutionize make a change nothing's strange
People, people we are the same
No, we're not the same
'Cause we don't know the game
What we need is awareness, we can't get careless
You say what is this?
My beloved let's get down to business
Mental self defensive fitness
Bum-rush the show
You gotta go for what you know
To make everybody see, in order to fight the powers that be
(Lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
We've got to fight the powers that be
(Lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
(Lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
Fight the power (lemme hear you say)
Fight the power (lemme hear you)
We've got to fight the powers that be
Elvis was a hero to most but he
Elvis was a hero to most (yeah)
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant sh-- to me you see
Straight out racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Motherf--- him and John Wayne
'Cause I'm Black and I'm proud
I'm ready, I'm hyped plus I'm amped
Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps
Sample a look, bet you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for four hundred years if you check
Don't worry, be happy
Was a number one jam
Damn, if I said "You can slap me right here"
(Get it) let's get this party started right
Right on, c'mon
What we got to say (yeah)
Power to the people, no delay
Make everybody see
In order to fight the powers that be
Fight the power (yes, yes, yes, yes y'all)
Fight the power (yes, yes, yes, yes y'all)
Fight the power (yes, yes, yes, yes y'all)
Fight the power (yes, yes)
We've got to fight the powers that be
What have we got to say? (Yeah)
Fight the power (yeah, yeah, yeah)
What have we got to say? (Yeah)
Fight the power (come on)
What have we got to say? (Yeah)
Fight the power (yeah, yeah, yeah)
What have we got to say? (Yeah)
Fight the power (come on)
Yo, check this out man
Ok, talk to me about the future of Public Enemy
The future of Public Enemy gotta
be the next generation of people to fight the power. The lyrics in this song are a call to arms for people to stand up against the powers that be, to fight against prejudice and inequality. The first verse highlights the irony of having the “best trained, best educated, best equipped, best prepared troops” who refuse to fight, implying that even those who have the best resources and opportunities are disillusioned with the system.
The second verse further challenges the status quo by asserting the need to revolutionize and make a change. The lyrics speak to the necessity of awareness and self-defense in order to fight against oppressive forces. The chorus is a powerful, repetitive statement urging listeners to join the fight against the powers that be.
The third verse takes it a step further by calling out racism in popular culture, specifically referencing Elvis Presley and John Wayne. The lyrics proclaim a sense of pride in being Black and acknowledge the absence of representation for marginalized voices. The song ends with a final call to action, urging people to fight the powers that be and giving power to the people with no delay.
Overall, Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" is a powerful anthem that continues to inspire and incite activism for social justice. It highlights the struggles faced by marginalized communities and encourages individuals to fight against systemic oppression.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James Henry Boxley III, Keith M Boxley, Eric T Sadler, Carlton Douglas Ridenhour
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@phlegmbuoyant
AMEN brother in Christ 💯🙌🏽🙌🙌🏼🙌🏽🙌🏿--
Our Great God and Saviour Jesus is the Head over Every Power and Authority --
Even these corrupt powers-that-be --
HE ALONE is the King of Everything.
To quote the currently LOST 🙏🏼🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏🏿😔🥺Kanye,
from 2019--
Who may still One Day get to the Politically beneficial Level of Hard Hitters, LIKE Public Enemy --
"Jesus is King" 💯❣️
@jaimesmith2266
This is the absolute definition of true hip hop public enemy truly stood for something.
@lebonmarchandhernandezhern545
THATS WHAT UR MOMMA SAID DUDE
@robg4472
That flavour flave really fought the power didn’t he…
@jaimesmith2266
@@lebonmarchandhernandezhern545 What you mean 🤔
@N355-Smash
Maybe they meant later in his career? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEfD0UNHCYo @@jaimesmith2266
@tuulafai4046
Yup
@youngtone00
That's my generation right there. My generation wasn't ready for this message but the seed was planted.
@jovitasimmons8041
Absolutely.... They had me tears when they preformed on BET.
@lance11zenithoftheparamoun80
Come On With It.
@daisychainmilk
This generation got it!