[Verse 1: Victor Brown]
And though it's been too long
Too many years have passed
And though the time has gone
The memory still holds fast
Yes, as strange as it seems
We still live in the past
The essence of a black life
Lost in the hourglass
And ever since we came to this land
This country has rued the day
When we would stand as one
And raise our voices and say
You know there won’t be no more killing
And no more talk of class
Your sons and your daughters
Won't die in the hourglass

[Verse 2: Victor Brown]
And ever since we came to this land
This country has rued the day
When we would stand as one
We got to raise our voices and say
You know there won’t be no more killing
And no more talk of class
Your sons and your daughters
Won't die in the hourglass
[Chorus: Victor Brown with Background Vocals by Brian Jackson and Gil Scott-Heron]
A toast to David Walker
A toast to Martin King
A toast to all the leaders
Who had a golden dream
A toast to all black fathers
Who live their lives in vain
A toast to all black mothers
Who shoulder this life in pain
A toast to the people
A toast to the people (We’re talking ‘bout you)
A toast to the people, yeah
A toast to the people, yeah