Black Dawn
Wu-Tang Clan Lyrics

For many though, this birthplace
This birthplace was significant to many

Of the automobile and organized labor
Due to the presence of automobile and organized labor

Was seen as a promised land
It was considered a land of promise

For twenty-five years
For a quarter of a century

Sudden Blacks migrated North, seeking middle-class prosperity
A large number of Black individuals moved North in search of middle-class success

But by the summer of 1967
However, as the summer of 1967 arrived

Much of that hope had turned to hopelessness (yo)
A great deal of that hope had transformed into despair (yo)

Yo, you that wrong, I crack a sky, a black dawn
Hey, you are mistaken, I will bring about a major change, a new beginning

Put your Wallabies back on, it's time for a swarm
Put on your shoes and be prepared for an overwhelming force

You that wrong, get your Timberlands blacked on
You are mistaken, wear your Timberland boots

Jungle fatigues bulletproof vests back on
Wear jungle fatigues and put on bulletproof vests

Yo, I blow dimes all up in your way
Hey, I am wasting money recklessly in your presence

Spit a dart in your face
I aggressively insult you

You don't know me in the first place
You never truly understood me

My birth date equivalent to forty earthquakes
My birth date was as significant as forty earthquakes

I smirk gray, poli' on streets where the motors leak
I confidently navigate dangerous streets where cars break down

Kids hold heat 'cause they place is cold
Young individuals carry weapons because their environment is hostile

My weight's in gold, turn about face behold
I am incredibly valuable, look closely and you'll see

The street scroll, never work slow, said wise old
The streets are constantly changing and unpredictable, as a wise old person once said

Elder, I hear beats like Helen Keller
I understand music on a deep level, just like Helen Keller understands the world through touch

Feel 'em straight out the speaker to my animated blood flow
I feel the beats directly from the artists, flowing through my veins

Pass records around like contaminated needle, heave-ho
I share records like a dangerous needle being passed around

My sound heavy like tree fall, I flee halls, bleed through gauze
My music has a powerful impact, like a falling tree. I quickly escape dangerous places while still leaving a mark

Carry Grim Reaper in millimeter form and spill a liter for him
I carry death in a small form and spill a significant amount of alcohol for him

Born to take any soul
I am destined to take anyone's life

Relentless Henny flow, chops heads like guillotines
I have a nonstop flow of Hennessy alcohol and I destroy my enemies like guillotines

Smoke Philly's with my queen, I'm still in the machine
I smoke Philadelphia brand cigarettes with my partner while still being involved in the dangerous lifestyle

Dt's at my day job, talking bout the date room
Detectives are present at my regular job, discussing criminal investigations

They may drown me, my shadow too vicious
They may try to overwhelm me, but my influence and presence are too dangerous

Can't keep 'em around me, hide 'em under the hoody
I can't have them close to me, I conceal them under my hoodie

He live like Whitney, intelligent like Eli
He lives a lifestyle similar to Whitney Houston and possesses intelligence like Eli Whitney

We ride like the Jitney
We travel swiftly and smoothly, just like a Jitney (local transportation)

Pass time like a clock used for a Frisbee
We spend time casually, even using a clock as a Frisbee

George Roll, Wallstreet, that's the shoes that fit me
I fit into the world of finance and Wall Street, that's where I belong

Burn a building, Wu-Tang bats all in the sky
Set a building on fire, and the Wu-Tang members emerge powerfully

Causing a black day, I see through the eye
Resulting in a day of darkness, I have deep insight

Of a tornado, false feed with greater ladles
Like a tornado, I consume false information with large amounts

Tower of Babel labels, follow room when I call the chrome
Various labels and organizations follow my lead when I reach for my gun

Go home, lord, I slice you
Go back to where you came from, I will attack and harm you

I engineer trains of thought, diabolical molecules
I construct complex ideas and thoughts, manipulating them like diabolical molecules

Light skin marksmen, part ten in your follicles
As a light-skinned individual, I am skilled with weapons and my impact is deeply felt

Twelve men equipped, seven rappers can vouch too
I am surrounded by twelve capable individuals, even seven other rappers can testify

About you fuckin' with me, my Clan emblem
Warning about the consequences of messing with me and my Wu-Tang Clan symbol

Remember where it came from 'fore I cock and aim one
Recall the origins of the symbol before I prepare and shoot a gun

Dart at the cranium, fuck up your suit coat
Strike at your head, causing damage to your suit

These rhymes I wrote, aimed at the Ivory Coast
These lyrics I wrote are directed towards the Ivory Coast region

Piano keys I tap like a nervous child's knee
I play the piano with skill and finesse, likened to a nervous child tapping their knee

I served in the streets for the army of God
I dedicated my time and efforts to the streets in service of God

Bring your bomb squad, national guard, I'm passin' through bars
Bring your experts and military forces, I will surpass any obstacles

Escapin' prison, armed with great vision
Breaking free from confinement, armed with a powerful vision

God-given heredity, better be
Inherited traits from God, it's better to acknowledge it

The armed bank robber with pedigree
The bank robber with a distinguished family background

Think Differently
Approach things with a unique perspective