America Is My Home, Pt. 2

Looka here
In Augusta, Georgia, my hometown, you know
On the auditorium steps where I used to shine shoes
Now, I go there, Jack, fill up the joint
Don't sing a thing but Rhythm & Blues
You see, I kept the faith
Because I believed that I could succeed
And now I'm a proud member of the brand new breed
You can make it, Jack, if you try
Like a good friend of mine, Gene Allison, said
If you make it—you can make it if you try
Just keep on pushin', Jack, like Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions
Don't give up
Now dig this
Quit dreaming all night and stop pitying yourself
Don't sit back, get up and fight
See, a cat can make it if he get up and try to do something
Don't worry about them handouts, go out there and earn it yourself
Don't be telling a cat to give you nothing, be a man
Just like I said before, this is a man's world
I didn't have nothing, I had to go out and get it
But thanks to all you people because you made me what I am
But I showed some initiative
You seen that I was trying to do something, I was trying to be a man
And when a cat is trying to make it, you've gotta give him a hand
A cat that's not trying to make it, don't be holding other people back
Get out the way and let somebody else make it
But be ready
That's why I want the kids to stay in school and get a good education
So you'll know what you're talking about
You don't have to say what I think and scratch your head
And go through that routine, don't go through that thing
Know what you're talking about
Turn your back and say, "I know I'm right"
You know, that's the way I feel
When I hear that fan standing in the party singing and dancing
I may not be the best, but I know I know what I'm doing at that time
I don't have to ask nobody if I'm doing the right thing
'Cause I know I'm trying to entertain the people
Because they come to see the show
And that's what I wanna give 'em, a show
Now remember this, all right
Now, the band, myself, The Flames, the dancers, a whole entourage of people
We got tours from Florida to Rome
But we won't forget one thing, ha:
The United States of America is still our home
Now hit it one more time, band\
You hear that?
Don't send me no other place, I don't know nothin'
Talking about my home, just give me some Georgia, some Alabama
Some Mississippi, some New York, and some California
Some Texas and some North Carolina, some South Carolina and Virginia
Some Illinois and some West Virginia, some Dakota—South Dakota, North Dakota
See, I can name all these different places now
If I leave anybody out, don't get mad because I, you know
Just a cat trying to keep it going—some Ohio, too, yeah
Some Indiana, Michigan, yeah, I'm coming pretty good
Kentucky, Tennessee, I'll get it together, you know
Just give me a little time
Y'all can take it out when you get ready, brothers
I done said what I had to say
(Hey! Don't forget Washington, D.C.!)