The Message
Victor Wooten/Bela Fleck & The Flecktones Lyrics

One day I'd like to be rich and famous
I aspire to be recognized and wealthy

Maybe be funny like Andy and Ames
Possibly have a sense of humor like Andy Kaufman and Woody Allen

Be on TV and sing like Stevie
Appear on television and perform with the musical skillset of Stevie Wonder

And have a girl who'd never leave me
And have a loyal partner

But I'd really like a place
However, I truly desire a location

Where there could be no war
Where conflict doesn't exist

A bright and shiny world where there ain't no poor
A utopia with prosperity for all

Where there's opportunity, peace and unity
A place where every individual has a chance while peace and solidarity thrive

Where people can be what they want to be
A society that allows every person to pursue their dreams and passions

And where Apartheid could never happen again
Where segregation and discrimination is absent

Where people don't judge you by the color of your skin
Where people don't form opinions based on ethnicity

Where I hold your hand and you hold mine
Where individuals can connect with one another through affection and support

Where a helpful hand is never hard to find
Where assistance is readily available to those in need

A place where people care
A location where individuals possess empathy

Where no one could bear
Where no one tolerates

When someone's hungry, with nothin' there
When someone is malnourished and lacks resources

Where the heart is never cold
Where people possess compassion

The young are never needy,
The youth don't face poverty

The old are never poor,
The elderly do not experience financial hardship

And the rich are never greedy
And the affluent aren't avaricious

So bring the power to the people
Grant the power to the citizens

The people to the power
Give the authority to the people

Cuz now is the time, this is the hour
Because this is the moment

To stop thinkin' about war start thinkin' about peace
It's time to cease focusing on conflict and concentrate on harmony

So on this life, we can get another lease
So we can extend our duration on this earth

With a lesson to learn
With a valuable experience

A new direction to turn
A novel path to take

So we can take it to the sky where we belong
To elevate ourselves to our rightful place

Cuz 'fore to long, we been to wrong
Because, for too long, we have erred

We've got the right notes
We have the proper knowledge

But we play the wrong song
However, we apply it incorrectly

Stop thinkin' with your wallet
Cease prioritizing finances

Think with your mind
Utilize one's intellect

So we can move ahead
So we can progress

Instead of behind
Rather than trailing

We got the people selling drugs
We have individuals vending narcotics

People are dying
People are perishing as a result

Politicians talking and we know they're lyin'
Political figures frequently employing falsehoods

Taxes for the poor, none for the rich
Taxes placed on the indigent, disregarded for the wealthy

People starvin' here in American
Individuals without nourishment in the United States

Now ain't that a bummer
Now isn't that unfortunate

And now my heats been turned off
At present, my heating supply has been halted

From my job, I've been laid off
I have been terminated from my occupation

What am I gonna do?
What course of action should I take?

Well, is the shape I'm in
That's my current situation

Because of my dark skin?
Because of the color of my complexion?

Now I know that can't be true
Now I understand that can't be the reason

But since we're all down here
However, since we all inhabit this realm

Let's work to make it better
We should put in effort to enhance it

Do our best for what it's worth
Attempt to achieve the maximum possible outcome

But you know the rules are bent
But you're aware the regulations are manipulated

When you have to pay rent
When the expense of lodging is mandatory

Just to live on earth
Just to exist on this planet

Talk about justice
Converse about fairness

We're gonna do something now
We're going to undertake some action now

That's gonna be really slick
That's going to be incredibly impressive

We're gonna listen to Mr. Fleck and Chick
We will heed the advice of Mr. Fleck and Chick Corea

I'm gonna say one more thing
I'm going to allege one final point

Then I'll get outta your face
Then I'll leave you to it

How 'bout a sound
How about a certain audible sensation

With a little bass
Involving some low-frequency sounds

And we got missles on the ground
And we have explosives positioned on land

Lasers in space
High-powered beams of light implemented in orbit

Underground shelters, just in case
Subterranean dwellings, as a precautionary measure

That something goes boom
If something erupts

Certain doom
Possible destruction

Cuz in our hearts we didn't make enough room
Because in our emotional beings, we did not allocate adequate space

For the love
For feeling affection

It comes from up above
Which originates from a higher power

Let's stop talking war
We should cease discussing conflict

And let's offer the dove
And let's propitiate through offering a dove

Cuz when it's done it's over
Because once something concludes, it's finished

When it's over, it's done
Once it is concluded, it's completed

We look back at the wars
We reminisce on the conflicts of the past

And see nobody won
And realize that nobody succeeded

It's time to make a better place
We must create an improved environment

For out daughters and our sons
For our female and male offspring

Or life will be a blast
Or existence will be enjoyable

Pardon the pun
Excuse my play on words