[Intro]
Peace, love an' unity, my desire for the African community
So without any apology, we dal integrity
Give thanks an' praise unto his majesty
[Verse 1]
Because they took us from a world of bliss
Then they put us on a long slave ship
Some were di Dutch, some were di British
Portuguese, French an' di other Spanish
But I an' I did a chant di Amharic
Di Amharic di Ethiopian language
Di Amharic the first language
[Chorus]
But Africans, you know we must be free
Africans, you know we must be free
Got to give thanks to his majesty
Say, we don't own apology
Cah, do you know, do you know, do you know-know-know?
A do you know, no you know, no you know-know-know
[Verse 2]
Say, dem carry us through di Middle Passage
Di ship was di only carriage
It start to rock it overload
The crew just throw some overboard
But what a wicked sight to see, my brothers in a sea
An' no help they could a get from me
An' no help they could a get from me
[Chorus]
But Africans, you know we must be free
Africans, you know we must be free
Got to give thanks to his majesty
Say, we don't own apology
Cah, do you know, do you know, do you know-know-know?
A do you know, no you know, no you know-know-know
[Verse 3]
From Africa they carry us beyond
To work they should a plantation
As fi step there, man a no self
You have to obey [?]
Di missionary tell me how we can get saved
The slave master tell me 'bout a shallow grave
[Chorus]
But Africans, you know we must be free
Africans, you know we must be free
Got to give thanks to his majesty
Say, we don't own apology
Cah, do you know, do you know, do you know-know-know?
A do you know, no you know, no you know-know-know
[Interlude]
[Verse 4]
Say, we goin' to the mountains an' find di maroon
But too much [?]
They put me under deep meditation
Under nuff consecution, we must have a revolution
Man, I say we need liberation, we need liberation (Hey-a!)
A so mi follow di army, hey, di general's army
The plantation must be empty
Say, peace an' love must be plenty
[Outro]
Mi say, away with slavery
Mi say, away with slavery
Cah, do you know, do you know, do you know-know-know?
A do you know, no you know, no you know-know-know
Africans, you know we must be free
Afrikan Must Be Free was written by Michigan & Smiley.
Afrikan Must Be Free was produced by Joseph Hoo Kim.