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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Common
Common
Vocals
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins
Drums
Robert Glasper
Robert Glasper
Piano
Elena Pinderhughes
Elena Pinderhughes
Flute
Roy Hargrove
Roy Hargrove
Trumpet
Burniss Earl Travis II
Burniss Earl Travis II
Bass
Patrick Warren
Patrick Warren
Strings
Bilal
Bilal
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins
Songwriter
Robert Glasper
Robert Glasper
Songwriter
Lonnie Lynn
Lonnie Lynn
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins
Producer
Robert Glasper
Robert Glasper
Co-Producer
Beatriz Artola
Beatriz Artola
Recording Engineer
Manny Marroquin
Manny Marroquin
Mixing Engineer
Chris Galland
Chris Galland
Engineer
Jeff Jackson
Jeff Jackson
Assistant Mixing Engineer
Robin Florent
Robin Florent
Assistant Mixing Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Southern leaves, Southern trees we hung from
Barren souls, heroic songs unsung
Forgive them, Father, they know this knot is undone
Tied with the rope that my grandmother died
Pride of the pilgrims affect lives of millions
Since slave days, separatin' fathers from children
Institution ain't just a building
But a method of having black and brown bodies fill them
We ain't seen as human beings with feelings
Will the US ever be us? Lord willing
For now we know the new Jim Crow
They stop, search, and arrest our souls
Police and policies patrol philosophies of control
A cruel hand takin' hold
We let go to free them so we can free us
America's moment to come to Jesus
[Verse 2]
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Hold on)
Hold on
Won't be long (Won't be long)
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won't be long (Won't be long)
[Verse 3]
The caged bird sings for freedom to ring
Black bodies being lost in the American dream
Blood of black being, a pastoral scene
Slavery's still alive, check Amendment 13
Now whips and chains are subliminal
Instead of "****", they use the word "criminal"
Sweet land of liberty, incarcerated country
Shot me with your ray-gun
And now you want to trump me
Prison is a business, America's the company
Investin' into justice, fear, and long suffering
We starin' in the face of hate again
The same hate they say will make America great again
No consolation prize for the dehumanized
For American to rise it's a matter of black lives
And we gon' free them, so we can free us
America's moment to come to Jesus
[Verse 4]
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Yeah, hold on)
Hold on
Won't be long (Won't be long)
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won't be long (Won't be long)
[Verse 5]
Freedom (Won't be long)
Freedom come (Freedom)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won't be long (Won't be long)
Freedom (Freedom)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on
Won't be long (Won't be long)
[Verse 6]
Freedom (Won't be long)
Freedom come
Hold on (Hold on)
Won't be long (Won't be long)
Freedom (Won't be long)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on
Won't be long (Won't be long)
[Verse 7]
Freedom (Won't be long)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won't be long (Hold on)
Freedom (Won't be long)
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on
Won't be long (Freedom come)
[Verse 8]
Freedom
Freedom come (Freedom come)
Hold on (Hold on)
Won't be long (Won't be long)
[Verse 9]
Won't be long
Oh, freedom
Won't be long
Written by: Karriem Riggins, Lonnie Lynn, Robert Glasper
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