The south London rapper’s title track from his recently released third album, a slick and candid summary of the dilemmas and hypocrisies of social conscience, racism, social media, and protest in a time of political unrest and uncertainty. To explore and enjoy more by Dave (aka Santan Dave, real name David Orobosa Michael Omoregie) including the rest of the album, out on Neighbourhood Recordings and produced by Fraser T Smith, see also the other embedded links below.
I sometimes wonder, "What would I do in the next generation?"
In 1940, if I was enlisted to fight for the nation, or
In 1960, if I had to fight for the rights of my people
And laid down my life on the line so my grandkids could live a life that's peaceful
Would I be on that? Would I be frontline? That's what I'm thinkin'
If I was alive in the 1912 on the Titanic and it was sinkin'
Who am I savin'? Am I fightin' women and children, or am I waitin'?
I wonder, "What would I do in the next generation?"
Battle of Karbala, if they captured me for the sake of my father
Would I stand on my honour like Hussеin did it, and tell them to make mе martyr?
Would I really get smarter? Forgive my oppressor or stick to the creed?
If I got locked inside like Nelson Mandela, but never was freed
I see a white man dance to rumba, ain't study Patrice Lumumba
But get on the stage and sing like sungba, lajaja-ja-ja, sungba
Fuck it, I wonder, "What would I do in the next generation?"
Would I fight for justice? Is it the reason my mum named me David?
How can you be king, how can you be king, don't speak for the people?
Them man try draw me out and compare like me and these niggas are equal
I'm a Black man and this bozo sayin' my music socially conscious
While the mandem troll the responses, this world's gone totally bonkers
I sometimes wonder, "What would I do in the next generation?"
But I'm knowin' the answer, 'cause what am I doin' in this generation?
Afraid to speak cah I don't wanna risk it my occupation
We got kids under occupation, my parents, they wouldn't get that
The people that died for our freedom spoke on justice, couldn't accept that
I talk by the money on all my accounts, so why don't I speak on the West Bank?
Remember growin' up prejudice, the damage 7-7 did
Extremists and terrorists, I was afraid of the Taliban
Can't speak out on illegal settlers, now I'm afraid of a shadow-ban
What would I do in the next generation?
Critiquin' African leaders
For sellin' our country's natural resources to the West for peanuts
If they don't hear, they'll feel us
I question what I'm alive for
Now, can you say you're alive if you ain't got somethin' you're willin' to die for?
What am I willin' to die for? What am I doin' in this generation?
I get in my head sometimes, I feel like I'm in despair
That feelin' of total powerlessness, I get that sinkin' feelin'
That good ain't defeatin' evil
I put that pain on vinyl, but feel like that shit ain't movin' the needle
Retweetin' people, raisin' awareness, in all fairness
Ain't gonna bring Chris back to his parents
But there's no other option, it's a process
Gotta stand and protest cah they want man silenced
Cah they want man dead or they want man hopeless
In the next generation, I spoke with my ancestors in the night and I showed them
They spoke with tears in their eyes for the brothers they lost and said it was progress
"How can it be progress?" I asked him, confused, disgusted
They said, "David, just so you can fight this, you know how much sufferin' touched us?
And you got a chance, we come from a time and a place where you couldn't get justice
Had to find peace in the fact that we all answer to the one what we trust in
And in our generation, we did do peaceful protest, just like you
Burnt buildings, just like you, did boycotts, just like you
Sat in a hostel powerless, did feel powerless just like you
And I know that it may sound strange, but we made some change and we're just like you
I know that you question your character, I know that you suffer in silence
I know that it don't feel right when you go to the club in Victoria Island
'Cause how can you dance in the club? There's a hundred people beggin' outside it
I know the sins of your father, I know that you're desperate to fight them
So step in your purpose, speak for your people, share all your secrets
Expose your emotions, you might not see, but there's people that need it
Never demand it, and if God can grant it, manifest it and receive it
Your name is David, and that covenant sacred, you gotta promise you'll keep it"
Deep it, let man talk on the ting, but I bleed it
Man wanna speak on the scene, but I seen it
Tried in the fire by Ghetts, I'm anointed
Kano passed me the torch, I received it
God told me I'm the one, I believed it
Shout Hollowman 'cause he helped me achieve it
I'm the youngest of my brothers, father eased the burden on our mothers
Give these niggas money, see their colours
Don't mix me with them, I'm not the one
Grind and miss the summer, when it comes, I'm Abraham, I sacrifice the sun
Where I'm from, they sacrifice their son
Hold up, I ain't finished, I ain't done
My ancestors, my ancestors told me that my life is prophecy
And it's not just me, it's a whole generation of people gradually makin' change
There ain't a greater task
Shift that, make a name, make a start
They don't know what they're facin' when they ask
With the will of David in my heart
The story of the boy who played the harp
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