New Agenda

It ain't nothing but an "us" thing
And it's time for us to step it up and respect
(Amen, ooh) (come on)
That level of sisterhood
That's been holding up our neighborhood
And if it wasn't for our mothers
There would be no brothers (amen)
And if it wasn't for our sisters
There would be no misters (ooh)
So it ain't nothing but a "us" thing
She's strong and that's a fact
Now it's time for us to take up the slack
Step it up, step it up, time to go to work

History hidden from me (oh)
To hide my identity (come on)
So I'd never feel
I am somebody (yes)
You've gouged my eyes (come on)
I see more clearly
You've tried to rob my humanity (told you now)
My spirit you tried to break (tried to ignore)
My soul you tried to take (don't hide your face)
There's no need to be afraid (by any means necessary)
'Cause I won't do unto you now (come on)

Amen (hey)
All that we've been through (tell everybody now)
Our time has come to rejoice (oh)
A new agenda's due (gotta step it up)
Amen
It's time to know the truth (give a little bit)
Our time has come to rejoice (respect)
A new agenda's due

Time to step it up, step it up
Better check yourself
I can bet if I check what we got left

(No, no)
Because of my gender (no)
I've heard "no" too many times (no)
Because of my race
I've heard "no" too many times (no, no, no, no)
(No) but with every "no"
I grow in strength, that is why (that is why)
African-american woman, I stand tall with pride
You want to know what it takes (tell 'em what they wanna know)
To rid yourself of me now (what's the plan? I wanna know)
There's nothing you can do (not a thing you can do)
Accept me for who I am now (gotta step it up)

Amen (come on with it now)
All that we've been through (hey)
Our time has come to rejoice (yeah)
A new agenda's due

Check it out, check it out, gotta check it out
It's a new thing, check it out, come on with it now
Time to step it up, come on, come on, step it up (hey)

Amen
All that we've been through (step it up, son)
Our time has come to rejoice (no time)
A new agenda's due
Amen (feel the vibe, feel the vibe)
It's time to know the truth (give it to 'em now)
Our time has come to rejoice (hey)
A new agenda's due

Step it up, step it up, it's time to step it up
Step it up, check it out, come on

Time to step it up, step it up
Better check yourself
I get vexed to protect what we got, left her alone
Looking for your own, here it is, I know what I'm saying
But the plan ain't playing at the rain
Gotta step it up, uh, to discuss a must
It ain't nothing but an "us" thing
Rewind back to the time
Where the color of our mother, had 'em call it a crime
Brother, what in the world? And the world says where
Is the black man's support the women and children?
Time to step it up, step it up, it's playoff time
And the rhyme go to check, so check yourself

(Amen) time to step it up, step it up
(A new agenda's due) here we go

Amen (hey)
All that we've been through (tell 'em 'bout it now)
Our time has come to rejoice (oh)
A new agenda's due (got to step it up)
Amen
It's time to know the truth (give a little bit)
Our time has come to rejoice (respect)
A new agenda's due (check it out)
Amen (all that we've been through)
All that we've been through (yeah)
Our time has come to rejoice (this is our time)
A new agenda's due
Amen (hey)
It's time to know the truth (it's time to know the truth)
Our time has come to rejoice (and it's time to rejoice)
A new agenda's due (respect now)

Amen
All that we've been through
Our time has come to rejoice