Beat the System

-Temple

Woman keeps tryin' to please her old man. Oh no.
He doesn't understand.
He hits her with the back of his hand.
He's the system.

Baby's cryin' as he's slapped around, oh yeah,
And as he hits the ground,
He makes a sort of piercing shrieking sound.
He's getting beat by the system.

: Don't you comprehend what I'm here to say?
Don't you realize there's a better way
Than the system?

All the brothers cryin' 'cross the hall, oh yeah.
You know they feel so small.
They'll do their best to just ignore it all.
They're getting beat by the system.

: When are you gonna stand up and get wise?
From the masses, some will have to rise
And beat the system.
We gotta beat the system.

No one wants to face up to what's happenin'.
Nobody wants to know.
But everybody, yes everybody, knows.
Everybody leaves it alone.
And it grows.
And it hurts to get beat by the system.

: For those of you outside who stand around
And pretend not to hear the muffled sound
Of people
Getting beat by the system:

No one wants to stand up to what's happenin'.
Nobody seems to care.
Just keep on standing, yes keep on standing, there.
Everybody's semi-aware.
They don't care.
But it hurts to get beat by the system.

Man walkin' up and down the street, oh yeah.
Smiles at all he meets.
He's looking for another one to beat.
He's the system.

We gotta beat the system.
FADE ((Ad lib repeat last line))