The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread. Their name is taken from a poem by the South African revolutionary poet Keorapetse Kgositsile, who believed he was in the last era of poetry before guns would take over.
The original Last Poets formed on May 19, 1968 (Malcolm X's birthday), at Marcus Garvey Park (formerly Mount Morris Park, at 124th Street and Fifth Avenue) in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The original members were Felipe Luciano, Gylan Kain, and David Nelson.
The group continued to evolve via a 1969 Harlem writers' workshop known as "East Wind". Jalal Mansur Nuriddin, Umar Bin Hassan, and Abiodun Oyewole, along with percussionist Nilaja, are generally considered the primary and core members of the group, as they appeared on the group's 1970 self-titled debut (contracted by noted Jimi Hendrix producer Alan Douglas) and, in various combinations, on subsequent releases. Other early East Wind alumni, however -- Luciano, Kain, and Nelson -- recorded separately as "The Original Last Poets," gaining some renown as the soundtrack artists for the 1971 film "Right On!".
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Run Nigger
The Last Poets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I understand that time is running out.
I understand that time, is running out...
I understand that time is running out, I understand that time is running out.
Running out as hastily as niggers run from the Man.
Time is running out, on our natural habits
Time is running out, on lifeless serpents reigning over a living kingdom
Time is running out of talks, marches, tunes, chants, and all kinds of prayers
Time, is running out of time
Heard someone say, "Things were chaaaaaanging" (Changing - things are changing!)
Change, CHAN-CHAN-CHAN-CHANGINNNNNG... from brown to black
Time is running out on bullshit changes
Running out like a bushfire in a dry forest
Like a murder from the scene of a crime
Like a little roach from DDT
Running out like big niggers, running a football field - RUN NIGGER!
Screwing your woman (RUN NIGGERS!)
Whooping your ass (RUN NIGGERS!)
Stealing your culture (RUN NIGGERS!)
Taking your life (RUN NIGGERS!)
Killing your children (RUN NIGGERS!)
RUN NIGGER! - RUN like you run, when the liquor store's closing at Saturday night
Run nigger, cause time is running
Run like time never yielding or forgiving
Moving forward, in a direct pattern of percussive movement
Never warning or relinquinshing
Time, is running running running RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING
The Last Poets were a group of poets and musicians who originated in the late 1960s and paved the way for the emergence of hip hop through their fusion of poetry and percussion. Their song “Run Nigger” is a scathing critique of the oppression and violence that black people have faced throughout history. The repeated phrase “time is running out” reflects the urgency of the situation, with the poets noting that time is running out for natural habits, for black people and their rights, and for all forms of protest and prayer.
The line “Running out as hastily as niggers run from the Man” compares the passage of time to the way black people have had to run from their oppressors throughout history. The poets note that time is running out for all forms of resistance, signaling a sense of despair and hopelessness. The repeated refrain of “Run Nigger” reinforces this, as it echoes the fear and desperation felt by black people in the face of persecution and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
I understand that time is running out.
The singer acknowledges that time is limited and passing quickly.
Running out as hastily as niggers run from the Man.
Time is fleeting like how Black people run away from oppressors.
Time is running out, on our natural habits
Our way of life is threatened by time passing us by.
Time is running out, on lifeless serpents reigning over a living kingdom
Those in power are taking advantage of the limited time and ruining the world for those who live in it.
Time is running out of talks, marches, tunes, chants, and all kinds of prayers
Traditional methods of protest and demand for change are losing their effectiveness as time passes.
Time, is running out of time
The time available to us is itself running out.
Change, CHAN-CHAN-CHAN-CHANGINNNNNG... from brown to black
Black people are demanding a meaningful change from being treated as second class citizens to being treated as equals.
Time is running out on bullshit changes
Superficial and insignificant changes are no longer acceptable and time is fleeting.
Running out like a bushfire in a dry forest
Time is passing quickly like a destructive force that cannot be contained.
Like a murder from the scene of a crime
Time is fleeting like a criminal on the run from justice.
Like a little roach from DDT
Time is leaving quickly like a small creature running away from a poisonous substance.
Running out like big niggers, running a football field - RUN NIGGER!
Time is fleeting like Black athletes running on a football field, and the artist is encouraging people to embrace their Blackness rather than run from it.
Screwing your woman (RUN NIGGERS!)
Black people are being victimized and dehumanized because of their skin color.
Whooping your ass (RUN NIGGERS!)
Black people are being subjected to violence and abuse.
Stealing your culture (RUN NIGGERS!)
Black people are being robbed of their identity and heritage.
Taking your life (RUN NIGGERS!)
Black people are being threatened and killed because of their skin color.
Killing your children (RUN NIGGERS!)
Black children are being victimized and harmed because of their skin color.
RUN NIGGER! - RUN like you run, when the liquor store's closing at Saturday night
The singer is encouraging Black people to run and escape from oppression and racism like they would from a closing liquor store.
Run nigger, cause time is running
Time is fleeting and Black people need to take action to survive and thrive.
Run like time never yielding or forgiving
Time is unforgiving and unstoppable, and Black people need to fight against oppression while they still can.
Moving forward, in a direct pattern of percussive movement
The struggle for Black liberation is continuing in a rhythmic pattern of direct action.
Never warning or relinquinshing
The struggle for Black liberation will not relent or back down.
Time, is running running running RUNNING RUNNING RUNNING
The urgency of the situation is emphasized by repeating the idea that time is running out.
Writer(s): Abiodun Oyewole
Contributed by Reagan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.