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Tiken Jah Fakoly - Is It Because I'm Black
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Featured In

Listen to Racines by Tiken Jah Fakoly
ALBUMRacinesTiken Jah Fakoly
Listen to Tiken Jah Fakoly Essentials featuring Tiken Jah Fakoly
PLAYLISTTiken Jah Fakoly EssentialsApple Music Reggae

Top Songs By Tiken Jah Fakoly

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Vocals
Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe
Vocals
Sly Dunbar
Sly Dunbar
Drums
Robbie Shakespeare
Robbie Shakespeare
Electric Bass Guitar
Mikey Chung
Mikey Chung
Guitar
Robbie Lyn
Robbie Lyn
Keyboards
Carol Dexter
Carol Dexter
Background Vocals
Althea Layne-Hamilton
Althea Layne-Hamilton
Background Vocals
Lisa Davis
Lisa Davis
Background Vocals
Petit Condé
Petit Condé
Guitar
Mamah Diabaté
Mamah Diabaté
Lute
Madou Sidiki Diabate
Madou Sidiki Diabate
Harp
Zoumana Terata
Zoumana Terata
Violin
Daniel Coulibaly
Daniel Coulibaly
Guitar
Adama Diarra
Adama Diarra
Tambourine
Yacouba Sissoko
Yacouba Sissoko
Drums
Baba Diabaté
Baba Diabaté
Percussion
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Syl Johnson
Syl Johnson
Songwriter
Glenn Watts
Glenn Watts
Songwriter
Jimmy Jones Leonard
Jimmy Jones Leonard
Composer
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Tiken Jah Fakoly
Translation
Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe
Translation
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Jonathan Hugh Quarmby
Jonathan Hugh Quarmby
Producer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
My people, dark brown shade of my skin
Only add color to my tears
That splash against my hollow bones
That rocks my soul
[Verse 2]
Looking back over my past dreams that I once knew
Wondering why my dreams never came true
Somebody tell me what can I do, ah yeah
[Verse 3]
Something is holding me back (holding me back)
Is it because I'm black?
Yeah, in this world of no pity
I was raised in the ghetto of the city
[Verse 4]
Momma, she worked so hard
To earn every penny
Something is holding me back (holding me back)
Is it because I'm black?
(Is it because I'm black?)
[Verse 5]
Something is holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
Yeah
[Verse 6]
Tell me, is it because of my color
Something is holding me back
[Verse 7]
Like a child stealing his first piece of candy and got caught
Wandering 'round life's corner, somewhere I got lost
[Verse 8]
Something is holding me back
Is it because I'm black?
I wanna know, I wanna know, yeah
Something is holding me back (people)
Is it because I'm black?
Tell me, can't you see
Somebody, please tell me
Is it because I'm black?
(Is it because of my color?) Hey
Written by: Glenn Watts, Jimmy Jones, Jimmy Jones Leonard, Syl Johnson

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