Runnin'

Sum mer time in Vir gin ia was an ov en.

All the kids eat ing ice cream with their cous ins.

I was stud y ing while you was play ing the doz ens.

Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.

From Run nin’ from the man (ex (man), run nin’ from the badge (badge).

Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.

And the Run nin’ t’ward our plans (plans) where in a were judge ’s hands (hands).

Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t I know they say, “Crawl ’fore you walk,”

but in my mind I al read y jog.

If I stand still, I can not get far.

They want the moon; I’m on Mars.

Some times my mind (F#7)dives

(F)deep

when I’m (Em)run nin’.

I don’t want no free (F#7)ride,

I’m just sick and tired of (Em)run nin’.

Some nights I cry

’cause I can see the day (Em)com in’.

To geth er we’ll (F#7)fly,

oh, but no more (Em)run nin’.

You and I are no dif f’rent from each oth er.

Shut our eyes when we slum ber; I see num bers.

Black and white y were com put was ers; I am col ored.

Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.

From run nin’ to ex ams (ex ams), to jobs for a man (man),

don’t act like you was there when you was n’t.

And the law nin’ of the land (land) where wom en were of ten banned (banned).

Don’t act like you was there when you was n’t I know they say, “Crawl ’fore you walk,”

but in my mind I al read y jog.

If I stand still, I can not get far.

They want the moon; I’m on Mars.

Some times my mind (F#7)dives

(F)deep

when I’m (Em)run nin’.

I don’t want no free (F#7)ride,

I’m just sick and tired of (Em)run nin’.

Some nights I cry

’cause I can see the day (Em)com in’.

To geth er we’ll (F#7)fly,

oh, but no more (Em)run nin’.

oh, but no more (Em)run nin’.

oh, but no more (Em)run nin’, no.