Uncle Sam

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Whoa-ho-ooh-whoa-whoa)
Hear me, hear me
(Whoa-ho-ooh-whoa-whoa)
Oh-oh, yeah (Ooh-hoo-hoo)

[Verse 1]
Didn't I sail the water against my every will?
Didn't I fetch that water when your bucket needed a refill?
Where was all the water when the fire was burning up the cross?
I'm your nephew, too, it's true, oh hear me, Mr. Boss

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Can you hear me?)
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
(Oh-whoa)
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham? (Mhm)
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam? (Oh)
(Whoa-ho-ooh-whoa-whoa)
Can you hear me? Can you hear me?
(Whoa-ho-ooh-whoa-whoa)
Listen to me (Oh-oh)

[Verse 2]
Didn't I get all A's in school? Oh, yes, I did now, Uncle Sam (Word)
My books did not have covers on 'em still I did the best I can (Yep)
Now how come I can't get no job? I just don't understand
(I don't understand)
Don't you love me anymore? Why can't you tell me, Uncle Sam?

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man? (Didn't I die?)
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
(Yes, I did, oh, yes, I did)
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Whoa-ho-ooh-whoa-whoa)

[Verse 3]
I've lived the life a citizen's supposed to
So why I gotta be the illegitimate nephew?
Remember me, Uncle Sam? I fought your war
And went all out not knowing what I was fighting for
Sam, why'd you let 'em rape my great grandmother
Then go to the oak tree and hang her brother?
When they were slaving, there wasn't a fuss
So where was you when they was in my yard burning the cross?
Do you love me or what, Uncle Sam, what is it?
You wanna maim me and claim the grand wizard?
Let that pass and marched for a just cause
Then got uncivilized rights with unenforced laws
Passed your curriculum, got a diploma
And can't get a job 'cause my skin has color
You say things changed between now and then
Now I wanna know the difference between me and him?
(Can you, can you, can you, can you hear me?)

[Chorus]
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
(Hear me, Uncle Sam)
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?
(Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
Didn't I die in Vietnam and didn't I walk in Birmingham?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?

[Outro]
Can't you hear me, Uncle Sam?
Can't you hear me?
I'm your nephew, yes it's true, oh, can't you hear me Uncle Sam?
Can I sit upon your bended knee just like the other man?