Story Behind The Song

This is a true story of an African American slave talking about his enslavement; how he and his family were sold to different salve masters many, many times. He pleads with the slave master to recognize the humanity in himself and in his slaves. Because the story is true, the original language is used to reflect the time, the mood and flavor of the story. Imagine, if you will, the predicament of this man... he and his family being sold like property and treated worse than animals. It is not to dwell on the past, but to recognize the truth of the past and express hope for the present and future. The 'N' word is used in the lyrics with appropriate sensitivity, due respect and poetic license. It expresses the language and setting of the time, with no offensive intent. We want that to be known and appreciated. This song is a work in process, especially the music. Some of the lyrics have been changed and another verse in progress.

Song Description

This is a true story of an African American slave talking about his enslavement; he and his family being sold to different salve masters many, many times. He pleads with the slave master to recognize the humanity in himself and his slaves. It describes the auction block setting and the inhumane aspects of the peculiar American slave trade from the perspective of the enslaved ones.

Lyrics

We Is Human

I been sold so many times
I can't remember
And when I think about it
It makes me lose track of time
I lose track of time

Some folks call me Spook
Some folks call me Coon
Massa, he calls me nigga
But I know, Lawd I know
You made me human... I is human

First dey sold my pappy
Den dey sold my mammy
My sistas and brothas dey was sold
Dey was sold, like dey wasn't human... but dey was human
We is human

Dey was standing on dat block
Wid dem chains round dey necks
Auctioneer keep hollering
Who... who... who's bidding next
Who's bidding next

Kin I git five huner'd
For dis here strong nigga wench
Kin I git five huner'd
For dis here strong black buck
Kin I git three huner'd
For dis lil' nigga gal
Kin git three huner'd
For dis lil' nigga boy

Who... who... who's bidding next
Who's bidding next

Kin I git one huner'd
For dis nigga baby
Kin I git fifty bucks
For dis nigga baby
Kin I git twenty-five
For dis nigga baby
Kin I get twenty-five got-dammed dollars
For dis nigga baby

Sold... sold... for 25 dammed dollars
Nigga baby

Dat baby be cryin'
Lawd dat baby be cryin'
Let chew know he human

Dat baby still cryin'
Dat baby still cryin'
Let chew know she human

We is human
Massa is you human
Is you human
We is human
After all you done to us
We still human, we still human

Massa is you human
Is you human
We is human
And we free

Massa is you human
And is you free
Massa is you human
And is you free
We is true human
And we free Lawd, Lawd... Lawd we free

We is human...
And we free, free, free...



Copyright(c) by Bilal Yasin El-Amin
The Propagation Congregation
December 25, 2017

Playlist Creator	Playlist Name	Date Added
Ronald Arduini	Blues On	9/16/2020
Ronald Arduini	Lyrically touching songs	9/16/2020
Ionut Mirel Udrea	My Top Songs	10/3/2019