“Revolution” was written in response the the Beatles' famous song by the same name, released a year earlier. The lyrics of Simone’s song respond to the themes of the Beatles'. Simone expresses the urgency of the civil rights movement and the necessity of change in contrast to the Beatles' critique o...
[Part 1:]
And now we got a revolution
'Cause I see the face of things to come
Yeah, your Constitution
Well, my friend, it's gonna have to bend
I'm here to tell you 'bout destruction
Of all the evil that will have to end
(It will, oh, yes, will end
Don'tcha know it's gonna be) All right
(It will end) Well, all right
Well, all right
Some folks are gonna get the notion
I know, they'll say I'm preachin' hate
But if I have to swim the ocean
Well, I would just to communicate
It's not as simple as talkin' jive
The daily struggle just to stay alive
(Alive and well on Earth
Don'tcha know it's gonna be) Well, all right
(Stay alive) Alive and well
Sing about a revolution
Because I'm talkin' 'bout a change
It's more than just air pollution
Well, you know you got to clean your brain
The only way that we can stand, in fact
Is when you get your foot off our back
(Get off our backs, get back
Don'tcha know it's gonna be) All right
(Well, get back) Get back
Well, all right
[Part 2:]
(What to do) What to do now
(I'm tellin' you) I'm tellin' you
(Soon you'll know) Soon you'll know
(It will be through) Will be through
(1, 2, 3) 1, 2, 3
(What do you see?) What do you see, now?
(4, 5, 6) 4, 5, 6
(I've got my stick) You know I've got my stick
(Do your thing) Do your thing
(Whenever you can) Whenever you can, now
(When you must) When you must, now
(Do take your stand) Take a stand
Well, all right
(It will end) It will end
(Well, all right) Well, all right
(Stay alive) Stay alive
(Well, all right) Well, all right
(Well, get back) Back
(Well, all right) Well, all right
(We'll all know) All right
(Well, all right
Well, all right
Well, all right)
Revolution was written by Weldon Irvine & Nina Simone.
Revolution was produced by Danny Davis.