Opposites
The Last Poets Lyrics


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Understand, said the old black man
that everything works in opposites
The sun and the moon, left and right
Hot and cold, black and white
Understand, said the old black man
who is the opposite of you
Understand
so that you will know what you have to do
Understand
that black is true and false is white
Understand
that black is right and white is wrong
Understand
that white is weak and black is strong
Understand
that white is suffocation and black is a deep breath
Understand
that black is life and white is death
Understand
that blacks will live in glory while whites will die in shame
Understand
that blackness is reality and whiteness but a game
Understand
that blacks were here first and will be here last
Understand
that whitey steals your future and lies about your past
Understand
that before we were sold as slaves
the black man walked in temples of glory
while the white man crawled in caves
So understand, young black man
who is the opposite of you
Understand
so that you will know what you have to do
Understand
that black is the beginning of white's end
Understand
that whiteness is your enemy and blackness is your friend
Understand
the height and weight of your mental depth
Understand
that you're the original man as quiet as it's kept
Understand
that blacks will rise and whites will fall
Understand
that white equals nothing and black equate all
Understand
that our climate is hot and theirs is cold
And you are young and I am old
But all lies die when the truth is told
So understand, young black man
who is the opposite of you
Understand
so that you will know what you have to do
Understand
that black is love and white is hate
Understand
why our freedom cannot wait
Understand
that white is war and black is peace
Understand
that black is beauty and white the beast
Understand
that black is happiness and white is sorrow
Understand that I was a slave yesterday
But you'll be free tomorrow
And the second after Before
The minute after Before
The hour after Before
The day after Before
The week after Before
The month after Before
The year after Before
The decade after Before
The century after Before




The eternity after Before
you understand what it means to be a free black man

Overall Meaning

The Last Poets's song Opposites is a powerful commentary on the issue of race, oppression, and the need for black people to understand their identity in contrast to the white man. The lyrics are spoken by an old black man who tries to impart wisdom to the youth about the natural balance of opposites in life. He emphasizes that everything works in opposites, such as the sun and the moon, left and right, hot and cold, black and white. He urges them to understand that black represents truth, right, and strength while white represents falsehood, weakness, and suffocation.


Moreover, the old black man highlights the historical fact that black people were here first and will be here last, and that the white man has stolen their future and erased their past. He reminds them that before they were sold as slaves, black people walked in temples of glory while the white man crawled in caves. Through the ages, black people have suffered under the hands of white dominance, but the old man still hopes for a better future where black people will rise and white people will fall. He wants them to understand that their mental depth is immeasurable and their identity as black people is beautiful, powerful, and worthy of love.


Line by Line Meaning

Understand, said the old black man
Pay attention, young black man, to what I'm about to tell you


that everything works in opposites
The world is split into two opposing forces that work in balance with each other


Understand
Listen and comprehend the message I'm presenting to you


so that you will know what you have to do
If you understand the truth, you'll know what actions you need to take


that black is true and false is white
Black represents the honest reality while white represents falsehood


that black is right and white is wrong
Black represents justice while white represents oppression


that white is weak and black is strong
White represents weakness while black represents strength


that white is suffocation and black is a deep breath
White represents oppression and confinement while black represents freedom and relief


that black is life and white is death
Black represents vitality and growth while white represents decay and destruction


that blacks will live in glory while whites will die in shame
Black people will prosper while white people face downfall and humiliation


that blackness is reality and whiteness but a game
Blackness represents the truth while whiteness is just a false construct


that blacks were here first and will be here last
Black people were the original inhabitants of the world and will exist until the end


that whitey steals your future and lies about your past
White people rob black people of their prospects for tomorrow and falsify the history of their past


Understand, young black man
Pay attention, young black man, to what I'm about to say next


that black is the beginning of white's end
Black people will be the cause of white people's downfall


that whiteness is your enemy and blackness is your friend
White people are the opposition and black people are the ally


the height and weight of your mental depth
Understand the extent of your intellectual capabilities


that you're the original man as quiet as it's kept
Remember that black people were the first humans to exist, despite attempts to suppress that fact


that blacks will rise and whites will fall
Black people will rise to prominence and white people will decline in power


that white equals nothing and black equate all
White people do not have any worth, while black people represent the entirety of humanity


that our climate is hot and theirs is cold
Black people represent warmth and hospitality while white people represent coldness and hostility


And you are young and I am old
There is a generational gap between us, and I have more experience than you


But all lies die when the truth is told
Eventually, all falsehoods will be exposed and the truth will prevail


that black is love and white is hate
Black people represent compassion and affection while white people represent animosity and disdain


why our freedom cannot wait
We must act quickly to secure our liberation


that white is war and black is peace
White people represent war and violence while black people represent peace and harmony


that black is beauty and white the beast
Black people embody elegance and grace while white people are crude and unpleasant


that black is happiness and white is sorrow
Black people experience joy and contentment while white people feel grief and despair


that I was a slave yesterday
I was a victim of slavery in the past


But you'll be free tomorrow
Despite the oppression we've faced, you will be liberated in the future


And the second after Before
The moment after the past


The minute after Before
The passage of time only goes forward


The hour after Before
Time does not stop for anyone


The day after Before
Every day presents new opportunities for progress and change


The week after Before
Even in a week, significant events can occur that alter our destiny


The month after Before
The passage of a month represents a chance to review and reassess our efforts


The year after Before
The completion of a year allows for reflection and goal setting


The decade after Before
A decade provides ample time to make impactful changes


The century after Before
We must think beyond our own lifetimes to create lasting change


The eternity after Before
Our actions will have consequences that extend beyond our comprehension


you understand what it means to be a free black man
If you internalize these concepts, you will comprehend what it truly means to be a liberated black person




Contributed by Hunter P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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