Dossier

I was a target
Ahead of my time
I was a child of roses
I was a child of riots in the streets
I’d give last rites
To anyone “mess wit me”

Following Malcolm
Listening to King
I was labeled dangerous
When the tide began to swing
I was rolled over
But came out on top of everything

Now over thirty years later
I’ve come to rest my wings
Through “Freedom of Information”
I found I was watched through everything
It’s all down
In my dossier

I was a rebel
I couldn’t be tamed
I was a wild one
Mama’d always say
And she wondered, “Why my child?”

I was taken
With experimentation
I was trying to find myself
In the midst of a changing nation
i was fighting
Inside
Trying to find that righteous man

Well you run into these brick walls
And you start to find dismay
When the new light of today
Exposes the ghosts of yesterday

It’s all down
In my dossier

Maybe in all I have learned
I can help affect some change
(I think it’s gonna rain today)

Maybe these kids runnin’ ‘round these days
Might learn a better way
Either way

It will be down
In their dossiers
It’s all down
In my dossier
 

I didn't know this piece would still have relevancy 15 or so years after I wrote it. I dedicate this song to the African American freedom fighters of the 50's-70's who paid so dearly.