Black Agenda Report
Black Agenda Report
News, commentary and analysis from the black left.

  • Home
  • Africa
  • African America
  • Education
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media and Culture
  • Political Economy
  • Radio
  • US Politics
  • War and Empire

Sold Singers
Raymond Nat Turner, BAR poet-in-residence
17 Dec 2013
🖨️ Print Article

by Raymond Nat Turner

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

The battle is no longer in the streets

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

Now, we fightin’ for those leather seats

 

Sold Singers

by Raymond Nat Turner

 

Singing against backgrounds of crackling flames,

So low their bass reverberated Booker T,

Drowning out shouts and shots of the no-names

The big voices all crooned way, way off key

Mint-fresh faces of Franklin, Cleveland and Chase

Inspired their song with an “Amazing Grace”

Restricting our rhythm to a mellow pace:

 

“Black is beautiful, but green power

Sounds sweeter, not rocking the boat—

Being dutiful, seize the hour and

Let us lower our note…”

 

Singin’ shufflin’ ditties, once the 70s swung in

They rocked like Booker T and other sold men

Oh, so low they’d “Sing a Simple Song”

“The best things in life are free…”

“So What” “if loving you is wrong…”

“…You can’t prove that by me”

They’d even get down, like James Brown,

On bended knees, screamin’ and beggin’

“Baby, please, please…”

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

The battle is no longer in the streets

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

Now, we fightin’ for those leather seats

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

I-I-I-I…

I know the white man done you wrong

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

So vote for me, and make us strong

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

You’ve suffered enough, heaven knows

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

E-lect me, and I’ll heal your woes

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

I-I-I-I…

I wanna be you next Congressman

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

I promise to ban the Ku Klux Klan

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

And look into all racist attacks

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

From the hills, across the tracks

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

So don’t protest or demonstrate

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

E-lect me and I’ll negotiate

 

BABY, PLEASE GO VOTE

I-I-I-I…

 

“Promises, promises, promises…” and

Makers come and go…

‘Til we sing: “We Shall Overthrow!”

 

Raymond Nat Turner can be contacted at upsurgejazz.com.

 

Raymond Nat Turner © 2013 All Rights Reserved

Do you need and appreciate Black Agenda Report articles? Please click on the DONATE icon, and help us out, if you can.


More Stories


  • Economic Freedom Fighters Statement on the Death of Queen Elizabeth
    Sinawo Thambo, Leigh-Ann Mathys, Sixolise Gcilishe
    Economic Freedom Fighters Statement on the Death of Queen Elizabeth
    14 Sep 2022
    The brutal history of British imperialism should not be forgotten in the wake of the Queen's death. The South African organization, Economic Freedom Fighters, recounts the many crimes…
  • The Global Fragility Act: Washington’s New Tool for Controlling an Indomitable Haiti
    Travis Ross
    The Global Fragility Act: Washington’s New Tool for Controlling an Indomitable Haiti
    14 Sep 2022
    Haiti is the first target of the Global Fragility Act. Haiti's "fragility" is caused by decades of U.S. interference, and the restoration of its sovereignty is the way to resolve that nation's …
  • Chile’s Boric Is Becoming More Right Wing by the Day
    Carlos Aznárez
    Chile’s Boric Is Becoming More Right Wing by the Day
    14 Sep 2022
    Chilean president Gabriel Boric was hailed as a leftist leader. In fact, his administration has joined the U.S. in condemning Latin America's revolutionary leaders, and voters rejected his …
  • Latin Americans Reject Resource Plundering by Same NATO Countries Fueling Military Conflict in Ukraine
    Camila Escalante
    Latin Americans Reject Resource Plundering by Same NATO Countries Fueling Military Conflict in Ukraine
    14 Sep 2022
    Liberals in the U.S. may be confused, but the Latin America left are clear that the NATO alliance is their adversary and that its actions must be opposed everywhere in the world.
  • Black Agenda Radio September 9, 2022
    Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley
    Black Agenda Radio September 9, 2022
    09 Sep 2022
    Racism and political corruption in Mississippi, how U.S. sanctions impact Black Cubans and the entire country, and the first of a two part discussion on Black politics in San Francisco.
  • Load More
Subscribe
connect with us
about us
contact us