2Pac - Changes

[Verse 1: 2Pac]

It's time to fight back," that's what Huey said
Two shots in the dark, now Huey's dead

Annotation:

Huey P. Newton, the founder of the Black Panthers, was shot dead by a drug dealer in Oakland in 1989 at the age of 47.

Reports say there were three shots.

2Pac’s parents were active members of the Black Panther Party. Also refers to the FBI’s history of targeting and monitoring Black and other supposed revolutionary figureheads and implementing strategies to eliminate them by smearing their public image—or worse, assassinating them. You only have to look at their sister organisation the CIA, who have repeatedly instigated coups and assassinations of International leaders.

[Verse 3: 2Pac & Talent]

And still I see no changes, can't a brother get a little peace?
It's war on the streets and the war in the Middle East (Ooh, yeah)
Instead of war on poverty
They got a war on drugs so the police can bother me
And I ain't never did a crime I ain't have to do
But now I'm back with the facts, givin' it back to you (Ooh)
Don't let 'em jack you up, back you up
Crack you up and pimp-smack you up
You gotta learn to hold your own
They get jealous when they see you with your mobile phone
But tell the cops they can't touch this
I don't trust this, when they try to rush, I bust this
That's the sound of my tool, you say it ain't cool
My mama didn't raise no fool (Oh)
And as long as I stay black, I gotta stay strapped
And I never get to lay back
'Cause I always got to worry 'bout the payback
Some buck that I roughed up way back
Comin' back after all these years
"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat," that's the way it is

“Changes” is Pac’s timely meditation on race, class and politics.

The piano and chorus are sampled from “The Way It Is” by Bruce Hornsby and the Range.

To see annotations on this song by the cast and author of the Broadway musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, which tells a powerful story of today using Pac’s music, see here.^[[1] https://genius.com/2pac-changes-lyrics]

No comments