I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
(All my people to be free, to be free, to be free)
(All black people to be free, to be free, to be free)
(All black people to be free, to be free, to be free)

I don't wanna write this down
I wanna tell you how I feel right now
I don't wanna take no time to write this down
I wanna tell you how I feel right now, yeah

My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see

Tomorrow may never come
For you or me, life is not promised
Tomorrow may never show up
For you and me, this life is not promised
I ain't no perfect, man
I'm trying to do the best that I can
With what it is I have
I ain't no perfect, man
I'm trying to do the best that I can
With what it is I have
I put my heart and soul into this song
I hope you feel me
From where I am, to wherever you are
I mean that, sincerely
Tomorrow may never come
For you and me, life is not promised
Tomorrow may never appear
You better hold this very moment very close to you

My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see

Sometimes I get discouraged
I look around and things are so weak
People are so weak
Sometimes, sometimes I feel like crying
Sometimes my heart gets heavy
Sometimes I just want to leave and fly away
Sometimes I don't know what to do with myself
Passion takes over me
I feel like a man, going insane, losing my brain, trying to maintain, doing my thang
Put my heart and soul into this y'all (This y'all)
I hope you feel me where I am, to wherever you are
Sometimes I don't want to be bothered
Sometimes I just want a quiet life with me and my babies, me and my lady
Sometimes I don't want to get into no war
Sometimes I don't wanna be no soldier
Sometimes I just wanna be a man but

My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Abi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see
My Umi said shine your light on the world
Shine your light for the world to see

I want black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All my people to be free, to be free, to be free
All black people to be free, to be free, to be free
All black people to be free, to be free, to be free
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me
That's all that matters to me

Shine your light
Shine your light on the world to see
Shine your light for the world
Shine your light on the world to see