Mavis Staples - Nina Cried Power

It's not the wakin', it's the risin'
It is the groundin' of a foot uncompromisin'
It's not forgoin' of the lie
It's not the openin' of eyes
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'

It's not the shade we should be past it
It's the light and it's the obstacle that casts it
It's the heat that drives the light
It's the fire it ignites
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'

It's not the song, it is the singin'
It's the heaven of the human spirit ringin'
It is the bringin' of the light
It is the bearin' of the rhyme
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'

And I could cry power
Power
Power, Lord
Nina cried power
Billie cried power
Mavis cried power

And I could cry power
Power
Power
Curtis cried power
Patti cried power
Nina cried power It's not the wall, but what's behind it
Lord, the fear of fellow men is near assignment
And everythin' that we're denied
By keepin' the divide
It's not the wakin', it's the risin'

And I could cry power
Power
Oh, power, Lord
Nina cried power
Lennon cried power
James Brown cried power

And I could cry power
Power
Power
B.B. cried power
Joni cried power
Nina cried power

And I could cry power
Power has been cried by those stronger than me
Straight into the face
That tells you to rattle your chains, haha
If you love bein' free

Lord, I could cry power
Cause power is my love
When my love reaches to me
James Brown cried power
Seeger cried power
Marvin cried power

Power
James cried power
Millie cried power
Patti cried power
Billie, power
Dylan, power
Woody, power
Nina cried power