WHAT DO PRISONERS WANT TO HEAR?

 What we want to hear should be plain to see

If you look at the situation in which we be.

We are trapped on a 20th century plantation

Our souls are filled with dreams of liberation,

So when you drop by to see us

Please have a plan about how you can help free us.

Now you see, we are not interested in words alone,

‘Cause our primary interest is in going home.

So, we really don’t care to hear you speechify and pound on your chest;

Unless you can show us how to put these chains to rest.

Just ‘cause you walk in here from the promised land,

Smelling of freedom and looking grand,

Don’t expect us to be impressed with what we hear or see

Unless you have a strategy to set us free.

By the way, have you taken the time to analyze our situation?

Do you know that we are in chains all across this nation?

Do you know that building prisons has become a national pastime,

And demands for human rights and freedom have been declared a high crime?

Politicians and the media want to have freedom outlawed;

All they talk about is getting tough on crime and passing mo’ laws.

Together they work hand in hand

To spread fear and mistrust of prisoners all across this land.

Thanks to them, our unborn children have reservations

For every concentration camp in this whole damn nation?

The last thing we needs is some feel good rap

That will only leaves us standing in this same damn trap.

Bottom line...

If you are not talking about how to end this nightmare

You sure ain’t talking about what prisoners want to hear.

                                               By: Joseph “Jazz” Hayden